A CURIOUS DEVONSHIRE SUPERSTITION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3223, 28 October 1881, Page 4

A CURIOUS DEVONSHIRE SUPERSTITION.

On July 15,1881 (says Mr Pengelly, of Torquay, in Notes and Queries), I observed a broad silver ring on the middle finger of left hand of a man, formerly of Chudleigh, now of Torquay, a painter by trade, who was working at my house at the time. In reply to my questions, he stated that he was twenty-seven years of age, and had worn the ring about seven years for the purpose of protecting himself from fits, to which he had long been subject. The ring, he said, was made of nine sixpences, given to him for the purpose by nine unmarried females, all, as was necessary, of the parish of Chudleigh, ■where he resided afc the time. The sixpences were given in response to his question, 'Willyou give me a sixpence?' he being careful not to say, 'Will you please to give me a sixpence ?' and careful also to avoid saying ' Thank you,' on the receipt of the coin—either of which would have vitiated the charm. He took the nine coins to an ordinary jeweller, who made them into a ring, bufc it was necessary for the success of the charm that he should receive nothing forhis labour. The givers and the receiver of the sixpences must be of different sexes, and the ring must be worn on the middle finger of the left hand. It had not quite kept away the fits, but they had been much less frequent than they were before he wore it;