BELIEF IN “MAGIC”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 265, 30 January 1928, Page 14

BELIEF IN “MAGIC”

GIRLS’ SUPERSTITION LOVERS’ CHARMS Astonishing cases of belief in witchcraft and evilly disposed fairies which have been brought to light recently in Ireland and Cornwall indicate that many an ancient superstition retains its hold on the minds of people who live in rural areas. But even in London, it seems, “witchcraft” in many forms is practised. Mr. A. R. Wright, president of the Folk Lore Society, told a “Daily Mail” reporter recently that London is “full of superstitions.” He said: “In all parts of the metropolis are to be found people who carry about such objects as holed flints and dried potatoes, which they are convinced will protect them not only from bad luck but also from all sorts of complaints. “I knew a very learned young scientist who wore nine strands of red silk round his neck as a cure for nosebleeding. That this ‘charm’ might be perfectly efficacious it had to be knotted nine times by persons of the opposite sex. He declared to me in all seriousness that although he had for some time been prone to nosebleeding he never had an attack while he wore the silk band. “The favourite charm—one used by numbers of women also—is a string of sky-blue beads. These are declared to be wonderfully efficacious in warding off bronchitis. “There is such a demand for ‘charms’ and ‘lucky’ objects that these are now manufactured in the mass—and it must be an extremely profitable business.” For Lovers Mr. Wright declared that to-dav many a young girl in the East End of London practises a form of witchcraft. “It is quite common in the East End for girls whose lovers have proved faithless to resort to ‘magic’ in an attempt to bring the false ones back. Many of them buy a pennyworth of ‘gum-dragon,’ or ‘dragon’s blood’ (the juice of pterocarpus dracos) and burn it. saying a few appropriate words the while, in the belief that their lovers will thus be lured back.” Mr. Wright mentioned that another favourite substance used by London girls is the herbal root called potentilla tormentilla. It is believed that if this be burned at midnight on Friday a false lover will be so dreadfully tormented that he will quickly return to his jilted sweetheart.