Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22
Fabled MAIDSTONE Still
Used for Curing Ills
In VWXinia Mountains
Weird Tales Told BY It's Possessor O ''Cn,es"
Said BY Medical Science to Be. Due to
Psychic Efect-CalIed *tFolklore
Remedy"
BY BLANCHE MCKNIGHT.

BY BLANCHE MCKNIGHT. e..
II UST now the maidstone should be
especially interesting, due to the
fact that Sirius, the Dog Star, the
brightest star Of all, and venerated
~ by the ancient Egyptians is directly
In the heavens above us
Recently the writer had the privilege of see
ing one of these curious stones, said to be
veritable maidstone Of proved efficacy and of
hearing an unusually interesting story con-
Nected with it. This stone belongs to an esti-
mable gentleman, W. E. Tyler, who lives in the
mountain village of Aldie, Loudoun County, Va,
in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and barely 40 miles from the Nations Capital.
The little village, with its old buildings and a
population of about $50, nesting in the Aldie
Gap. with the mountains lowering close by, Is
itself most picturesque and fairly teeming with
history. What Is now the main street of Aldie
was the scene Of several small engagements
during the Civil War, and these spots are all
6ttingly marked. On this same street. facing
the main highway, stands two-story gray brick
house, and it is here that the owner Of the mad
stone lives.
The story of how Squire Tyler" as he is
Familiarity called in his own community, came
into possession of this stone is q narrative Of
several generations, and dates back to his
great-grandfather's time, and Is q true record
Of the many lives that have been touched and
believed to have been saved by the use of this
stone.
IN a recent interview Mr. Tyler told me the
story as follows
"In 1862 my great grandSire, James Smith,
was born in Ayre, Scotland, and came to this
country when he was lad, settling in Dunn
fries. Prince William County, Va. When he
became man he engaged in a seafaring trade
owning 10 ships, which piled regularly between
the Atlantic seaports and the many islands OF
the East Indies His principal article of export
was tobacco, and he brought back with him
tea, rubber spices, various gums and much
indigo.
I'm the year 1892 on one of these trips to the
East Indies he brought back to America with
him handful of some queer looking stones
He explained that when he reached the shore
OF one of these tropical islands trio Of natives
evidently spokesman for the remainder of the
tribe lowering in the background, came down
to the shore to welcome him, eager to trade
their wares. These three jet-black glistening-
skinned fellows with heads Of fuzzy hair and
bodies greatly ornamented with beads, wild
boar tusks and cassowary feathers, advanced
TO meet him, each one Of them carrying q basket
on his arm. In one there were young kittens,
IN another venomous reptiles, and in a third
basket some odd-looking stones.
Presently the three OF them suuatted low on
the sandy beach and proceeded to demonstrate
the efficacy of the stones. The eldest native
took one of the young kittens from his basket
and placed it within reach Of the deadly
poisonous snakes. Hardly had a minute elapsed
when one of the reptiles reared his head and
struck his fangs deep into the body of the
kitten. The poor little feline set I'D a pietous
meow and was dead in 10 minutes time An
other kitten was subjected to the same inhuman
treatment, but this time the native with the
stones reached into his basket and took out
one of them and applied it to the wound 1t
was not long before favorable reaction set in
and the kitten jumped up and ran away But
to further prove the efficacy of the stones one
OF the natives barred his arm within reach of
the snakes and received an exceptionally large
dose of virulent venom. An ugly swelling set
In, but no time was lost in administering the
stone to the wound and this time it worked a
cure.
THE sea cap ain stood and looked on in
amazement, but yet he felt there must
be some kind Of trick in their strange doings.
sensing his thoughts, the natives asked him
10 submit to bite by one Of the reptiles, assur-
ing him that they would save his life with
Cne stone, but my great-grandsire declined
saying he was satisfied with results and there
lore bargained for some of the stones and re-
celVed possibly dozen. He was most anxious
TO nno out the secret of their production or
whereabouts. He was told by the natives that
the stones were to be found in the heart of a
white deer but he soon found this statement to
DC raise upon further pressing of the matter