"WITCHCRAFT" IN SPAIN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1604, 22 November 1912, Page 8

"WITCHCRAFT" IN SPAIN.

The Madrid correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph" states:—A telegram from Castellon de la Plana says that a '-Strang* affair occurred in a maritime villp.?e belonging to the Burriana township. 'Ths infcid«nt recalls ths scenes of Shakespeare's "Macbeth." , A feir days sgo the rumour circulated throughout the village that, a pretty yeiing girl, Teresa SanchtiV had bscbme the vietiia of the envy of an old woman wh» had succeeded in bewitching her; Teresa s father 'confided his fears' and suspicions to his family and to intimate friends; and subsequent observations seesied to eonfirm the suspecions of witchcraft. The beautiful Teresa was undoubtedly the victim. of some spell. She was bewitched, suffered hallucinations, and had strange attacks of "ecstasies," during which- phantasmagoric visions and demoniacal sarabands defiled • before . her distracted imagination. Teresa, pronounced incoherent words, and. invoked imaginery legendary beings, which she sav>- depicted upon the. walls of ths houses. _ , "Poor Teresa, she's bewitched and spellbound," said the neighbours. Near the village dwelt tho old woman i credited with- tho exercise of powers of witchcraft upon whom fell suspicion. Tho entire village decided .to ,visit the woman, conducting Teresa into her presence. The latter prostrated herself before the "witch," demanding,' in suppliant fashion, release from the spell. Tho story relates that the "witch"'was' deeply affected, and shed tears, but with astute prudence promised -solomnly to undo the results of tho witchcraft. This oath pronounced, the inhabitants, with guileless ignorance, returned 'home satisfied. Tho incident has occurred in Spain in tho twenti-sth csntnry, and is agitating the largo town of Burriana.