The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-13
Radium Revives Old Dream
Science May Discover in It the Elixir of Life Which
Every Age Has Sought

kAoo 0OO6AAS
the first centuries OF the Christian
era. these pursuits were followed in
n way or another until a recent
time. 1t Is even probable that the
first knowledge the Romans had OF
this theory was brought home from
the Nile. where Il already was old.
and there is reason to believe that the
early Greek physicians harbored a
similar ambition and worked at 1t.
In the middle ages and the renais-
sance period tho work Of the alchen1-
lists reached its height and 1t continue
ed to flourish independently or az a
side branch Of chemistry until with
in the last hundred Years.
For centuries there was the delu.
sion that the so-called philosophers
stone held the secret Of perpetual
youth. as well as the power of trans
muttng the haser metals into gold and
silver. The precipitate or sublimate
OF this strange. mythical substance in
its full strength was supposed to
transmute metals, and in weaker dos
es and infusions to restore youth.
But there were many other theories
OF which the more persistent are still
Of interest. ,Gebir and Roger Bacon
believed that the secret Of the elixir
OF life lay in aqua regia. a dreamed
stances. especially gold. The aqua
regis Of today Is. Of course. a mixture
Of nitric and h~ydrochloric acid. and
1t does dissolve the purest gold. but
1t was unknown to the alchemist.
Both Gebir and Bacon held that pot
able gold-that is to say. gold reduc-
ed to drinkable form-was the elixir
Of life. and centuries were devoted by
these alchemists and their followers
to efforts for the dissolving Of the
yellow metal.
Roger Bacon called the attention Of
Pope Nicholas ~. to a story that an
old man blowing in Sicily had found
a small phial containing a yellow
liquid. Thinking the substance dew
and being hot and dry under the ard
ent southern sun. he had drunk the
substance and been Immediately met
amorphosed into young and radiant
being.
Somewhat later. about the time
that wine drinking became universal
IN Europe. Raymond Lully advanced
wine was the elixir of life. He called
what We now denote as alcohol aqua
vitae ardens. and held that. could 1t
be isolated. 1t would restore all who
drank 1t to former states. When al
cohol was distilled the followers Of
this theory held that the alcohol was
not the pure essence. but that 1t, in
turn. contained the true elixir in mi
quantities-probably the fusil
OIL: In this theory there is again
evident the inclination to regard the
exciting and e%xhilerating drugs as
youth %restorers. Earlier dreamers had
seen the property in bhang. hemlock
and hellebore, while Lully felt the
ravishment of wine and decided that
1t U have the properties Of renew
ing life.
Paracelsus and other alchemists
out both of these theories.
At a somewhat later period, in
italy. France and Germany the craze
a!chemic investigation led to the
dabbling In every manner of poison,
with the result that what little knowl-
edge had been gained was used for
the Italian chemist, furnished the
original knowledge of poisons which
enabled Nine. de Brinvilliers and her
lovers to carry on their series Of afro
cities. La Voisinsand her crew of
and magicfans-all poison
ers Of the worst kind known to his
their work largely upon
the traffic in drugs which one Of the
In her TRAIN prepared. The
mass. performed by another Of
satellites. was another Of the out
Of the passion of those days
for the u~nknowable.
Possibly he most romantic Of all
the dreams Of perpetual youth was.
excited on the occasion of
America. The name OF
MIN who went out to find it and the
story Of his adventures form one of
The most alluring chapters Of the
earliest history Of the continent. Juan
Ponce de Leon was governor Of Por-
the italian women on his plantation
the tale Of a wonderful island to the
north Of the Bahamas, known as BIZ
mini There in a paradisian valley,
in ever-blooming trees, BY
never-fading verdure, sparkled a
font. unfailing and marvellous.
10 GUAM OF this spring and battle in
It's jewel-clear waters was to be re-
stored to everlasting youth.
According to this woman a great
canoe full of the natives of the ISL
and had set out some time before to
reach this island. They had v
returned. so she was. certain they
had found the island Of the blessed.
Tor they were strong. mon and skillfui
mariners. and it was certain that the
sea nor storm could have overcome
them.
Accordingly Ponce dc Leon set out
with several %galleons. After endur-
many hardships and weatherine
perils which only the mariner who
has ~navigated that portion Of the seas
can appreciate. the cavalier gave up
mission but one Of his CAPTAINS in
another caravel succeeded actually in
landing on the tabled Bimini. There
found the glorious waters Of new
er-ending youth. the blooming trees
and emerald lawns. Alas! the waters
were wondrous in their beauty. vet
they did not make one young. Poor
Ponce! Poor Leon! He lived to get
to Florida. where his adventurous
career came to an end.
Thus. in every age and many euis.
es. men have sought this restorer Of
the years. 1t is possible that mod
ern science, which has accomplished
30 many fmpossibilities, is to con-
even this? z
m A H"@~- |