davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
QUACK MEDICINE OF NERO'S
TIME STILL BEING USED

A patent medicine older than Chris
tianity, and which enjoyed a great repu-
tation as late as 175e, was called Orvie-
tan. The world charlatan originated in
connection with the sale of this nostrum.
From the time of Nero till late in the
eighteenth century, orvietan was the
great panacea, curing everything and
being the sovereign antidote to all poi
sons, including snake venom. Prominent
among its sixty odd ingredients was a
powdered flesh of vipers. Known for
centuries under the name of Theriaca.
or mithradote, one Lupi, a Tuscan, man.
aged to secure a practical monopoly for
his formula. which he named after his
native town, Orvieto. Several of his fol-
lowers managed to secure, about 1928. the
sole right to sell orvietan throughout the
papal states, and violation of this
priceless monopoly was punished not
only by a fine of 1000 ducats, but by ex-
communication.
"A cart-tail physician. Desiderio Des-
combes. despite the papal protection OF
Lupi. managed to build up an enormous
patronage for his brand of orvietan. 1t
is to Descombes that We owe the word
charlatan. This word is usually derived
from the Italian ciarlare, to chatter, but
1t seems unlikely that Descombes would
care to boast of his oratorical prowess
although il was the sole secret of his
prestige.
1T has been surmised that he derived
his pet title from scarlatto, in reference
to the brilliant coat he wore when
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
BOATMEN OF HALIFAX
IN NOVEL BOAT RACE

LAS the season draws to an end some
day is selected as the occasion for a
farewell regatta. The date usually falls
winter in Canada, and the latter part Of
that month is apt to be too cold for
comfort OF course, every one turns out,
and there is a grand splurge, but no par
ticular originality could be claimed for
this meet were it not for a custom that
has been observed for generations.
Late in the afternoon the individual
rowing championship of the Northwest
Arm is decided for the coming year. 1t
is a most informal race. Any one who
wishes to enter can take his boat to the
head of the Arm and find a place for
himself. 1t is a matter of indifference
whether his boat be light or heavy, or
what stroke he may choose to use. En-
tries are not even recorded, but at a
specified time the starter shouts, Let 'er
go" and the race is on. At the harbor
end of the Arm a slender cord is
stretched from shore to shore. 1t is
few inches above the surface of the
water and three judges decide which
boat touches it first.
1T goes without saying that there are
other races and other championships, but
it is amazing how deep an interest is
taken in the frea-for-all scuflle. The
winners name is published prominently
in all the newspapers, and with the fair
sex he is the most popular amateur
champion of them all. 1t is curious
fact, by the way, that the same man
has very seldom won this race for two
consecutive seasons"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

ABOUT THE SHAMROCK

IA rose by any other name would be
as sweet, and the fact that the shamrock
of old Ireland is an entirely different
plant in various sections of the Emerald
Isle in no wise affects the romance that
attaches to the name. The plant gen.
orally called shamrock and which is
largely exported from Ireland Under that
name, is one of the hop clovers, Trifolium
aninus. 1t is a mistake to think that this
plant will grow only in Ireland. 1t will
grow and thrive in any temperate climate
when properly cultivated. In fact, there
is no plant known as shamrock which Is
peculiar to ireland. White clover, for
instance. known in various sections Of
Ireland as shamrock. grows in the United
States in great abundance. Black medic
and wood sorrel are designated as sham
rock in certain localities. The wood sor-
rel may. in fact, be the shamrock Of
song and story. Ordinary red clover is
sometimes called shamrock in the United
States.
But, after all, pretty sentiment should
not be interfered with by botanical ex-
perts--what matters their Latin names.
so long as the three-leafed bit of green
grew near the cottage Of the fathers In
the ould country?
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

mounted upon his little stage on the
Pont Neuf at Paris. Something really
striking in vesture was necessity, for
the Pont Neuf was crowded from end to
end with quacks and mountebanks Of
every description.
1t is consoling to learn that although
Descombes obtained royal appreciation
and fee from the Queen of $50 crowns.
he was unable to cajole the Paris FacuI-
ty of Medicine into an Endorsement of
his methods. The royal approval, how
ever. sufticed to win him a fortune He
finally died of the plague. despite his
possession of what should have been a
suffciency of orvietan to safeguard him
from all possible contagIon.
'Orvietan finally lost its vogue ahout
100, although it is said to be still used
IN Normandy by a low class of veteri-
nary practitioners writes a contributor
to American Medicine. The famous
quack remedy is older than Christianity.
for 1t was known long before Galen. who
puollshed formula of his own, contain
ing sixty-four ingredients
The last trace of il existed in Tho
United States under the name of con-
fectio democrats. which old practition-
ers will recall as an important Ingredient
OF the original Warburg's tincture The
confectio was made of turpentine acacia
treacle, balm of Gilead, Russian castor,
cinnamon, myrrh, and some sixty other
ingredients. making a mixture like
orvietan, except that the flesh of the
Vlpers was replaced by the dried bellies
of skunks, a doubtful Improvement from,
tne viewpoint Of either therapeutics or
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
FARMS FOR LUNATICS.

Mr.. Charles E. Doherty, medical su-
perintendent of the British Columbian
Provincial Asylum, near Westminster,
has persuaded the government to let his
patients work on a stock farm as new
and practical treatment of lunacy, and
to fit them on discharge from the asylum
to obtain immediate work.
For years the whole farm site was a
complete wilderness of forest Tents
were then erected. and DR.. Doherty sent
out fifteen patients in charge Of two at
tendants, who cleared enough land for
the erection of the present temporary
buildings. In 1907 the clearing work
commenced in earnest. Five hundred
acres are already cleared, and handsome
farm buildings have been put up, includ-
ing accommodations for ITO head Of cat
tie.
The principles at the basis of DR.. Do
herty's experiment are chiefly two. One
is that the idle confinement Of the insane
with the lack of opportunity for mental
exercise, aggravates the mental disease
rather than curing It The other is. treat
a man as sane and he, will become so.
On the whole, II 1t a unique psychological
experiment. And 1t seems to work sat
isfactorily. Insane patients assisted In
clearing the colony farm from the out
set, two or three who were lumbermen
and powdermen handling as much as
seventeen tons of blasting powder In one
month without having a single accident.
The work on the farm will be done large
ly by the patients.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

"One of the great attractions at Hall
fax, the picturesque capital of Nova
Scotia" remarked the Canadian, lis the
body of salt water known locally as the
Northwest Arm. The latter is paradise
for those who enjoy boating, canoeing
and aquatic sports of every description.
AS a visitor approaches the harbor he
observes that Halifax is built upon a
sort of inland peninsula, surrounded on
three sides by water. On the right Is the
harbor proper, while on the left is the
aforesaid arm, an ocean ford three and
a half miles long by about three-quarterS
of a mile broad. While il is navigable
by large vessels, there is plenty of space
for Wharves on either side, and it is not
used for purposes of shipping.
with the Arm lying at their very
doors, water sports are popular with the
residents of Halifax. There are several
yacht and rowing clubs, ard all through
the summer and the crisp autumn months
regattaS of every description are the
order of the day.
There is usually d military band play
ing on a float moored in the middle of the
Arm, and as evening falls and innumer-
able Chinese lanterns are lighted the
effect produced by the music, the sway
ing lights, and the soft ripple Of the
water is not easily forgotten. Nine out
of ten tourists from our great and good
neighbor, the republic of which am
now a resident. admit that these water
festivals are the principal agencies that
draw them back to Halifax year after
year.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

Again the Washingtonian resisted the
temptation and courteously declined
while the column filed off expectantly to
the meadow. He had settled deep in his
PAPER when a third chin whiskersd mem
Ter of the community approached, ILL
suppressing an excitement that seemed
to bubble from every hairy feature
How y like it up hyah n these hyah
parts?" he queried
I'm very much entertained" was the
city mans enigmatic reply.
Thought so,'' said the mountaineer
An I'm mighty glad ter heah 1t. Saw.
yer see all them folks what's headfn'
for ole man Walters sto'?" he continued.
taking careful aim at a snake DOCTOR
perched on a neighbo-sng jimson weed
and squirting forth torrent of tobacco
juice that sealed that Insects doom.
'-They's all gwine in thar ter see Dorse
Hefiins toothache: his jaws all swelled
up like er yaller Jacket he'd stung him.
Ole man Walters gwine to pull II, an
he axed me ter come over n ak yer eff
yer didn' wanter come over n see it,
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

Japan possesses two of the oldest farms
in the world. From one there goes out
each year a crop of tens of thousands
of swapping turtles. The farm has
solved the problem of preserving the sup
ply of what is to the japanese as great
a delicacy as diamond-back terrapin is
TO some Americans.
This queer farm consists of number
of ponds Certain of them are set apart
as breeding ponds. Once a day a man
goes over the shores and with little wire
baskets covers up all new egg deposits.
Some times thousands of these wire bas-
kets are in sight at time, marking the
places where the eggs lie and preventing
the turtles from scratching the earth
from them.
Matching requires from forty to sixty
DAYS, according to the weather. The
young. as soon as they appear, are put
in separate small ponds and are fed with
finely chopped fish, They eat this during
September and October, and late in Oc-
toher burrow in the mud for the winter,
coming out In April or May.
Most Of them are sold in the market
when they are from three to i've years
Gid at which time they are most delicate.
The island empire also contains pearl
ovster farm. In the Bay of Ago there
has been established plantation from
which a rich harvest is obtained,
In May or June stones weighing from
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
HOW TO MAKE OVER
THAT OLD DINING
TABLE TOP.

Here is something that you will want
to know some time and want to know
it very badly. so if you clip it out and
put it in your scrapbook you will have
occasion to congratulate yourself for
having done SO.
How often We hear the laments of
those whose round-top dIning-room ia
bles have been injured beyond repair by
incessant card playing.
This condition should not be allowed
to remain so from one season to another
when a few hours work will put the
article of furniture in a presentabIe con-
dition for the remainder of the year.
Il will tell you how to do this" says
the sister of a cabinet-maker, who from
childhood was a constant onlooker to
her fathers and her brothers methods
in the workshop. land you will be sur
prised how simple it will appear to you
after 1 have described how do up my
own table each year.
Firstly, procure some sandpaper,
numbers one, two, and three, as well
as some Of the finest that there is to be
procured, and with the toughest that
you have rub the old varrish off the
wood
Always rub with the grain, because
II you rub across the grain 1t will mar
the appearance. This applies to quar-
tered or golden oak only.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
FIND TREASURES OF INCAS
IN LAKE IN THE ANDES

ritual for some years after the Spaniards
invaded the Pacific coast of South Amer
lea. There Is a tradition, strongly sup
ported by Spanish writer's that when the
Incas were finally conquered they threw
one last vast hoard of treasure into the
sacred lake to save it from the enemy.
For nearly four centuries attempts
have been made to recover treasure from
the lake, but without success. The Span
iards made one attempt to drain it by
cutting through the surrounding noun
tain. but abandoned it after doing a
great deal of work.
An English company, named Contrac-
tors Limited, recently undertook to
drain the lake and search for the treas
ure. This company has already sue
ceeded in draining the lake. After
merely superficial examination of the
bottom of the lake, the searchers have
found many valuable objects of gold
Among these treasures are a heavy
gold band. a gold bowl, two gold
snakes. twenty emeralds in a rough
state, two curious human figures or
idols in gold, sixteen golden bracelets
and anklets. and large gold dish en-
graved with a representation of the
Inca calendar.
The bottom of the lake is covered
with a deposit of soft mud at least
thirty feet deep. An immense quantity
of the treasure may be hidden in this,
and it will be a colossal task to hunt
for II.
The 1ncas were just entering their
most civilized period when the Span
iards came and reduced them to an
archy and slavery.
Their buildings displayed marvellous
skill and their workmanship is unsur-
passed. The world has nothing to show
in the way of stonecutting to equal
the skill displayed in the Inca struc-
lures of CuZco.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

they appeared to be men of living gold.
The great barge was laden with objects
OF gold decorated with emeralds and dia-
monds, rubies, topazes, opals, amethysts,
and other precious stones. 1t is supposed
that many emeralds of enormous value
were used in this way
The barge was rowed to the middle
OF the lake, and there, with many prayers
and lamentations, the priests threw the
gold and precious stones into the water
Then they washed themselves free of gold
dust and returned to the shore.
On some occasions slaves or enemies
captured in battle were coated with gold,
manacled with gold chains and cast liv-
ing into the water.
AS the centuries rolled on the Incas
reached a high degree of civilization,
and must have outgrown many of their
earlier superstitions. They developed a
fine business system, perhaps comparable
with that Of the United States. 1t has
been suggested that at this, later period
some of the leading citizens may have
gone to the lake and dug up the treas
ures deposited by their cruder ancestors.
But investigation now shows that they
did not do so.
The 1ncas maintained their religious
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

II any American flying men are out
to make money and have sport there
are opportunities to spare for them in
Europe this year. France alone has put
up something like $4,000 in prizes, but
of that amount Eugene Renaud has Just
pocketed $4,000 by flying from Paris 20
the Puy de Dome
Starting from Paris, carrying pas
senger, Renaud had to fly to Clermont-
Ferrand, 20 miles, with hardly any
towns of note to guide him. He was
allowed only two landings Arriving at
Clermont-Ferrand. he had to fly twice
round the cathedral, and land on the
summit of the Puy de Dome, noun
tain nearly 5000 feet high. 1t was here
the danger came in. The landing place
is a plateau about 80 yard square. On
three sides there is a straight drop of
several hundred feet, and on the fourth
there is a rock wall, where part of the
mountain rises still higher.
The flyer landing has two choices, I'M
less he can stop his machine inside OF
100 yards. He can charge the rock wall
and smash his machine or he can shoot
over the edge. If he does the latter he
will probably catch his machines tail
on the edge and smash the control, SO
that he will go head first into the valley
below. Renaud, by steady practice, was
able to stop his machine inside 9-yard
circle Consequently he landed dead in
the middle of the plateau after flying
five hours and thirty-five minutes, in
Guiding one stop.
His passenger, DR.. Senqucque, member
of CharcOtS expedition TO the south pole'
had a telephone fixed from his helmet to
Renauds S. and gave him his course from
maps fixed on Renaud's back, for at
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
Foreign Countries Hang Up Great Sums
in Prizes to Be Contested For by
Birdmen from All Over
the World.

forty miles an hour conversation is i'm
possible.
The Cup for Speed.
That $4,000 is won, but there are other
prizes worth winning. First is the Cor
don Bennett Cup. which Curtiss took TO
America in 1909. and Grahame-White took
away in 1910. The race is purely for
speed, and it is going to produce about
the hottest contest seen anywhere IL any
form of sport
England is reckoning on seeing speed
up to .eighty-five or ninety miles an hour
this year. Some makers are out for
speed simply by putting big power on
to their machines, as, for example, Arm
strong Drexers idea of putting 80 horse
power on a Morance monoplane about
the size of Grahame- Whites Bleriot-
Others are making machines which will
slip through the air easier. or these
the most promising is Nieuport- who
has just flown fifty miles in forty-five
minutes on a ronoplane with an engine
of only 80 horsepower.
James Radley, who flew over San Fran
cisco not long ago, is also building some
very fast machines for the Gordon Ben
nett race Bleriot, the Antoinette Com
pany, and others are experimenting with
high-speed machines for the Gordon Ben
nett and the American cracks will find
themselves up against speed which would
make the Empire State Express look like
a way train
The Biggest Money Race.
The race for the biggest prize money
is the -four capitals" or circuit of
Europe" starting June from Paris.
One hundred and ten thousand dollars
will be distributed to the various win
ners of different stages of the race.
From Paris the aviators will race to
Liege, Hanover, and Berlin, where the
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
Party of Bold Adventures and Scientists
from England Actually Uncover
Wealth of the Ancient People
of South America

In all the pages of history there is moth
ing more curious and picturesque than
the story of Lake Guatavita, where the
ancient Incas offered up large quantities
of their immense stores of gold.
And now this lake has contributed a
new and astonishing page to history.
Bold adventures have gone out to seek
for hidden gold in it's depths, and they
have actually found it
Times without number we have read Of
adventures going out to hunt for hidden
treasure, but never before nave we heard
Of their bringing any treasure back. This
time there is no doubt about 1t. The
treasure hunters of Guatavita have sent
back photographs of their discoveries.
The sacred lake Of Guatavita lies 10000
feet about above sea level in the mount
aims Of Colombia. 1t is a spot of weird
beauty and wildness. 1t is on the out
skirts of the once great empire of the
Incas. Doubtless its distance and mac
feasibility made 1t doubIy suitable as
the scene of function that was mex
pressibly sacred to them.
According to tradition, the lake was
the dwelling place of the chief god of the
Incas, the divinity who sent them the
great stores of gold and precious stones
for which their country was remarkable.
At fixed seasons, and also at other
times when occasion demanded, they
made offerings Of gold and precious stones
to the good OF the lake in acknowledge
ment of the benefits he had showered
upon them. Such offerings were made
at the New Year, in spring, and after the
harvest season.
A majestic boat was used for the cere-
monies 1t was adorned at the Prov with
the figure of a god, and the boat and its
decorations were entirely covered with
beaten gold. A priest of great rank and
dignity was in command Of the boat, and
with him were many attendants who
rowed with oars that were incrusted with
gold.
The priest and his attendants were
covered entirely with gold dust, SO that
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
TRUE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Linden is a small hamlet nestled in the
lap of the Blue Ridge Mountains of old
Virginny. There the whisky is untainted
with government tax, and the folks are
still using Confederate money
As the city man the morning after his
arrival sat reading his paper in front of
the little shack that did duty as a post
Office he was approached by a native-evi-
ering under a neighboring sycamore
How y like it up hyah n the noun
t'ins?" was the inaugural speech.
Very much, indeed" replied the city
seeker after rural happiness. But 1t
does seem a trifle quiet"
Quiet" echoed the native in surprise.
why Ad Hudnelrs jus gwine ter shoot
er dawg over cross Their bridge in efbout
er minute. / JUS come ter ak yer don
yer wanter come long n see It. Eve'y-
bodys gwine," he added persuasively.
The city man expressed regrets that his
tastes did not run to that form of enter
tainment, and returned to his paper. Half
an hour later another aborigine came
sauntering his way. In his wake
swarmed the village populace with appe-
title for large excitements whetted by the
recent violent death of the dog. In his
hand he carried bottle Of dark liquid.
He halted in front of the city man.
tucked his other trouser leg In his boot
top. and spoke thus:
How y like il round hyah?''
First rate" rejoined the stranger.
Say" went on the aborigne, Isl AL
lens ole mares powerful sick 18th the
collie down yorder n the bottom, n I'm
ewine down thar ter 'drench' her 18th
this hyah medicine. Don't yer want ter
90 'lnng?"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09
A PATENT "GROWLER."

A Washington man has lately patented
and placed upon the market in this city
what must be crowned as the most re-
markable of the patented oddities Of the
year. 1t is what may be termed, for
want of a more elegant word In the
language, a sort of glorified GROWER -
that plebeian vessel or receptacle where
in LIQUID refreshments are served up at
mixed ale parties and other gatherings
of like nature.
Heretofore the great drawback to the
practical efficiency Of the growler has
been the attention is attracted ...E e.
All this. however. the new twentieth
century growler eliminates: even a
bishop may now carry a gallon of beer
along the avenue without exciting I'M
due comment. This boon to the thirsty
but modest consists of a screw top ves-
sci of block tin. the outer side of which
is convex, while the inner side, being
concave fits as snugly to the body Of
man as a recent Partisan creation in
gowns fits the latest favorite in comic
opera. Tho the upper rim are attached
two stout hooks.
The machine is operated by borrowing
from one of the party the price OF q gal
lon of beer. which Is delivered by the
mechanician to the white-aproned gentle
man at the corner saloon. Upon salts
factory test Of its genuineness, the latter
charges the receptacle from the contents
OF an iron-hooped keg, firmly screwing
down the metal cap. The operator now
engages the hooks Of the appliance with
the armholes OF his vest. whereby 1t will
hang supported, so that the receptacle
will coincide with the At of his ribs, and
pulls his coat over It with careful cars-
lessnes6