Mother-in-Law Silencer is Found

1920

One Nip, and She'll Be Quiet for 9 Days After

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- Horticulturists here h ave made an amazing discovery of the powers of the diffenbachia picta, a tall, slender plant, with spotted grayish-green leaves, a yellow bloom and potent sap.

For half a century or more the diffenbachia picta has flourished in the Government botanical gardens, and no one has attempted to "Americanize" its difficult name. A short time ago, however, an examination was made of its sap, and a dusky-hued laborer was persuaded to drink a dram or so of it.

The effect was instantaneous. He waved his arms wildly in the air, jumped around excitedly, but did not utter a word. The director of the garden was astonished at his silence, for all the man did was to point to his tongue and continue his fervid gesticulations. A day passed, then another, until finally nine days elapsed, yet the laborer continued mute. On the tenth morning he appeared at work, smiling happily.

"That sho' have done the trick," he said. "Can you bottle some of it for me?"

"Why?" he was asked.

"Well, boss," he responded, "my mother-in-law is coming to my house, and I want to put some of that juice in her coffee when she ain't lookin'. It'll keep her quiet for nine days."

Whereupon the officials of the garden christened the diffenbachia picta the "mother-in-law" plant, and it is known so today.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 3.