The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-12
CONTINUED from Preceding Poge.)

We carried It Immediately to the most dis
tfpguished chemist In Florence. In order
ia have 1t analysed. After very prolonged
study and consultation with other chemists.
for be had never examined anything Ike
N before. he found that the powder vas the
dried venom Of Indian cebras.
GTAis believe was the first positive
Identification Of one Of the poisons used by
the Medici. They employed the venom OF
the most deadly Of all serpents when they
wished to inaiot sudden death. The venom
usust have been administered by @eans Ut
e'knife or needle or some other cutting tn
strument, for, as We all know. IT Ii only
deadly when introduced into the cireula,
ttsn.
Three hundred years ago It must have
been q matter of great expense and difi-
Guilty TOR European to obtain cobra venom
S,em India. but no luxury WAS beyond the
rssch OF the wonderful Aedici family. The
xals which l discovered are now In the
public museum OF Florence.
The forgotten apartment opened up by
IiS udu dppll Shtiy uOCn oSSuPAou w oOAAAo
very great member of the illustrious house
O; de Medici, ona Who meditated long over
statecraft cd books and documents. and
having deciGA on his deep Machiavellian
policies planned to remove by mysterious
Ioisons those who opposed them.
When he transferred the palace to some
less important member Of his family he
closed his favorite retreat and walled 1t up
ecu ely, not wishing that the scene OF his
=. vt watch and vigil long should be pro-
~ uncomprehending eyes. Prob
We the study Of the notorious Fer
lt4 Nedici, who is believed to have
- - rown of the Grand Duchy OF
-h g., claoning his brother and his
~ lie He might have abandoned
on succeeding to the throne and
q. Ion OF the more important pal
Ia .. family.
G., n9 FORGOTTEN room was situated In a
" .ar o. the palace. Another stairway led
10 other rooms In this tower. and these
had always been In use. So enormous was
the palace that 1t would have been almost
impossible to detect from an inspection OF
windows outside and corridors inside that
one great apartment WAS walled OF from
the rest Of the building. There has been .
long discussion since my discovery among
italian historians and archaeologists con-
corning the occupancy of this chamber
and the history s{ the palace when 1t was
In use. With tAs Rtast phases OF this dis-
cussion am Not entirely familiar.
TO . step inS VA. sss Il ,p.o
the dim. romaalie, hlaeaslsiAsa medieval
past. l seemed somehow "a have entered
q stage OF human e,.AtzAtiea where ea
longed by birth. WIS tia W. when
kings and princes ylsw tAsir anenlios with
their own hands lnstsaa Of leayinH the
work to responsible statesmen and gea-
erals-tbe age when they played With lite,
death and immortality instead OF amusing
themselves With vine, women and sons' :,
Shortly after this thrilliHg experience
met in Paris tho fascinating Hindu Mahs-
rajah of KappTthaia, who had lust married
the Spanish dancer, Anita nelgado- THIS
acquaintance was the beginning Of series
OF wonderful vlslts to India, where | was
Initiated into mysteries that ara hidden
from ordinary eyes.
At another peEied, whoa vas weary VI
the excesses qt reyaHy AID fashionable
society. | detafmIned "a sxplore the mYs-
teriss Of India, bat this tine Without Z
ret,nue Of freHls and servants My
friend, The Princess NlsaneE Hqhsalehe,
better lnoFn Ia sNsiaty Us "baby,' shared
my Views aud Llsaillaf We plaRned Q long
Journey to he secFsi tesaples, Che retEaats
OF the religious deyqiees ind the mYste-
rious unknown regions Of iRdia.
We carried letters Of Introduction from
the Fren," and AUSTRIAN Foreign Minis
tors-Princoss HQheplohe was an Austytap
recommending US T. the pritish officials
In India, but va knew that these would net
help MS IN the forbiddes regions where we
meant 20 penetrate.
We were going b faca dasth u many
strange 'orms, but we issrad no,hins, TOT
We had exhausted the Jays VI Europe and
longed 10 experience new seasations.
In case Ut great danger I carried vith
mo a talismsn which ! believed would DO
Of help to me In India. II was Al immense
noonstohe. presented to me by the magnlh-
cent Matprajah of Kapurthals at the time