Four White Horses and a Brass Band

by Violet McNeal

Violet McNeal ran away from her family’s rural Minnesota farm in the late 1880s and fell under the spell of conman and patent medicine “doctor” Will Archimbauld, who hooked her on opium and promises of fame and fortune. Violet soon learned to become Princess Lotus Blossom and was the best pitchman, nostrum seller, and conwoman to roam the west in a torch-lit wagon.

Four White Horses and a Brass Band is Violet’s story of life on the road with the medicine show, and reveals the secrets of the conman’s trade. Sick and nearly dead with addiction by age 30, she submits to the tortures of withdrawal and the “cure” to create a new life.

First published in 1947, the Feral House edition features an extensive afterword on the history of the patent medicine trade and evolution of the lure of miracle cures and healers. Also included are a glossary of the grifter’s cant and samples of scripts used by Violet and other infamous “doctors”.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Mary Robinette Kowal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very compelling, although I am certain it was somewhat dramatized. Still, the woman can tell a story. From a research front, I found this to be very useful, particularly the places where she documents entire Medicine Show pitches.

[Della Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this out of print copy at the request of my son. He was intrigued by the story. An autobiography of a drug addict and con artist during the turn of the century. It was an interesting look at the inside world of con artists. A predatory older con artist pulls her into his con artist world when she is a young teen. He doesn't explain the 'medicine' (opium) that they share every afternoon in his office. She is captived by his declarations of love. He then takes her away from the small town to more glamorous big cities. When she doesn't learn the con tricks fast enough, he is quick to turn abusive. Cutoff from any other chance to leave, she becomes capable. Soon she is addicted to the life and even excels in the craft. She gave detailed descriptions of the different types of con artists and their techniques that plyed the gullible world. You will understand P.T. Barnum's quote " There is a sucker born every minute." The con artists are not only fooling the people but themselves as well. They parade in fine silks, furs, and top hat, drink and dine at the finest restaurants, and enjoy a multitude of vices. But, the life wears them out very quickly. The constant drug use becomes the main focus for them. They unfortunately don't know about addiction problems and co-enablers. By the end of the book, she has tried multiple times to quit the opium and cocaine only by relying on other drugs and alcohol. Only when she realizes that any addiction prolongs the agony does she finally goes cold turkey. She meets and marries several men through her life. The ones that she pulls into her con artist world turn dark and abusive. The two men that stayed out of her world eventually help her out of her addictions. I felt sorry for her downward spiralling life. It took a long time to read this interesting yet depressing book.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Hattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I had not received much attention at home as my younger sister had diabetes."

This only partially explains how McNeal ends up running complex 'mind reading' scams with a partner while high on opium. The descriptions of the scams are so detailed you'd have no problem running them yourself. They're often ingenious, sometimes horrifying (fake tapeworms, anyone?) and some sound suspiciously like the modern wellness movement.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little of McNeal's huckster charm translates to the page. She is very detailed in describing the different scams and techniques her and other "snake oil" salespeople used, but although she also details her loves along the way...everything is just a little bland.

Jack Black's Crime Doesn't Pay also has a sedate tone, but it's still a superior work of the genre primarily because of the depth of his journey, rather than better writing.

[Michael Kunz · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story about drugs, domestic abuse, and conning innocent people. Told from a charmingly nostalgic perspective. The discrepancy between the light tone and savage subject matter makes this a page turner. The fact that it's one of the only first-person accounts of the burgeoning snake oil trade during the turn of the twentieth century makes it historically relevant.

[Mario Manzano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read and is like a comic book- great glossary of slang. Definitely worth reading for people interested in history.

[Myla Vang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violet McNeal is a young girl from the rural Midwest. She takes a train to St. Paul, looking to better her life. After weeks of job searching, she finds an ad in the newspaper for a business called "Remedy Co". Despite her old, worn-out clothing, Violet is hired immediately. This part of the book was boring, but it quickly changed paths. Violet falls in love with her boss, Will. He entices the naive girl to smoke with him. She smokes small pellets and feels dizzy. She had no idea Will was giving her opium. She became addicted and part of Will's medicine show.

After marriage, Violet is exposed to Will´s abusive nature. He punches her and pinches her when she does anything to disobey him. She travels with Will around the US, scamming people with fake medicine. The book was hard to read, especially because the author, Violet McNeal, introduced new people randomly. It was hard to keep track of the characters. The boo also got boring in the middle, which is where I stopped reading. I gave up on the book because everything was repetitive: scam people, smoke opium, and move to a different town. There was suspense in the middle of the book because the back states that Violet gets arrested and has a withdrawal in jail. Eventually, I didn't even want to read this part because the writing style was too confusing.

I was surprised when Will and Violet got into a train wreck and Will exclaimed, "Good God Vi... You've lost your child!". I didn't know what he meant by this because Violet was not pregnant. Later he explains, "You must be ready to take an opportunity wherever you find it." They were both refunded their money for the tickets and got a free ride to LA.

This book was interesting in the beginning. I loved this book. The middle, on the other hand, was boring and confusing. The random character names that show up seem like an inside joke. They seem like you would have to live in this time and be in the medicine show business to understand who they were. I tried so hard to read this book, but due to its confusing nature, I simply could not finish it. I give this book a 2/5 because of the confusion the book caused.

[Kevin Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most sophisticated writing, but it's a compelling story and a great first hand account of an interesting period and subculture in US history.

[Peter Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph, whether you take it as a memoir, fiction, or documentary. Which is it... or some combination? Doesn't matter: you'll enjoy reading this twice just for the perspective. Be drawn in immediately by innocent Violet, who's so easily captured in the web of Will's manyfold evils. She's empowered by Will's wealth and tutelage, but simultaneously enslaved by his under-the-table lifestyle, savage beatings and relentlessly plied drugs. Street-smart Will turns Violet into a master of his own craft, first teaching her to shill for him as he pitches patent medicines on street corners. Soon Vi is confident enough to stand up and sell on her own -- or forced to? And we see Will take advantage of her as he lives the high life, keeping Vi in enough drugs and finery that she doesn't question the finances enough. Between the physical abuse and the creeping clutches of drug dependency, we fear sweet Vi is captured with no way out. Awesome historical perspective on the legalities, education, and economy of the early 1900s. And probably, if you take it as such, the best and most detailed documentation of how snake-oil salesmen made their money, including "down to the word" pitches, techniques and tricks with enough detail for the reader to imagine they could be employed today. Despite how the story ultimately ends for Vi, the reader is rooting for her the whole way, and despite suspecting how the story will end, it's still a delightful read to the last page. Can't recommend a book more: even as cynically I wonder whether Vi was enough of a con artist to write a trumped-up memoir... it doesn't matter, because there is enough in it that couldn't have been made up, and it's a great enough story, that it'll stay on the shelf as one of the favorite reads of all-time.

[Cynde Moya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet was the second Medicine Show woman. She tells a tall tale, and this one is full of slang, cultural descriptions, and reveals a few tricks of the ballyhoo too. She describes the Museum of Anatomy racket (For Men Only), and don't miss her description of the Johnny and Lucy lecture, sure to make some man faint.

[Cindy Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant!