SUPERSTITION. (AthenÆum and Daily News, Madras.)

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 420, 23 January 1875, Page 2

SUPERSTITION. (AthenÆum and Daily News, Madras.)

In our former article on tin's subject we mentioned that belief in witches was a supeisdtion almost universally met with Another almost equally prevalent is the four of "the Evil Eve." This is an unpleasant faoulty, supposed to be* possessed by some peisons, of being able to "wither, 03 it were, any one they chose merely by a glance. L is acquired b\ a com tact with the Prince of D«irkrns=, who, m lelurn for bestowing the wislie<)-for power, demands the souls of those who make the compiut with him. There are, however, individuals who ure supposed to possess this faculty not only involurtuiily, bat even against their will, in which case it is not under then- control, and tiny frequently therefore injure the very persons they most lovo ; for should the involuntary possessor of an evil eye be unguarded enough to praise any jperson, animal, or even thing, and look at it at the sametune its doom is fixed, and iii spite of all the effort of the unwilling cause of the injury, its destruction is certain to. ensue. What gave rise to this singular superstition we have been unuble (0 discover, but the belief in iri 3r i 3 very widespread. It is mot with among most nations of the Ea 5 (, while in mnny countries in Europe the lower i-laßse- believe in it firmly, especially in Gi;eeoe and Spain. Many cf our readers v ill doutftlees remember a sf nking picture of Philip's, of which this euperslilion is the subject. A Spanish gi ( >ey mother is seated co-weeing down m a corner of her tent, her attitude and countenance expressive of the most intense feai* as she clasps her babe to her breast, as though to save it from some i upending danger, while' throtlgh the open door of the tent we gee the innocent cause of her alarm ; a young, bright girl who looks incapable of inflicting injury on any one,« but who, nevpi theless, is suspected of being an unfortunate possessor of the drpaded Evil Eye. In the nortli of Europe, and also in many parts of Germany we find traces of this superstitious belief among the peasantry ; while in the Highlands of Scotland, and especially in the Hebrides, the gia-, .dual dechn« of a person's liealLb,, or the sudden death of » : •cow, is commonly attributed to the baneful effects oi an evil eye. [Numerous as are the superstitions that have a woild,vvide prevalence, it is yet in the Eist that we meet with the most extraordinary and varied forms of behefs-of this nature, and any of our readers who have travelled much in eastern, countries, and at the same time entered into conversation with their inhabitants, hava doubtless heard, many a thrilling tale of vampires, ghouls, and kindred, races It is in Turkey and Asia Minor and the bordfius of the neighbouring countries, that the travel er is most frequ-n<ly regnled with stories of beings of this nature, in whose nctual existence the people of those lands most firmly believe. A vampire is supposed to be * body which, though to all intents and purposes dead and buried, ia yet endowed with a certain kind of life, and is animated by a horrid taste for human Mood. During the day jbhe vampire reposea quietly, in his grave, but as soon as the 'shades of night begin to fall, he makes preparations for sallj ing forth in search of his evening repast, and t')en, when all the world is buned in slumber, he steals out of his narrow resting place, and wanders about till he meets with the only food that will appease his hunger, ie the blood of some one belonging to the race of mankind. The victim ,m«y bo hia wife or child, or some friend, that while 111 this life lie cure** for more than lie itself, but. all considerations of love and friendship ore now to-gotten, and the sole aim, of the vampire is to slake his tliiist. No feeling of pfty moves him, as, bending over bis unconscious pivy, fo» -makes a small fncfsiou with his I long sharp tojth in his victim's vein, and then sucks his life bl od from him. Having thus satisfied his hunger, he steals back to his grave, ere the fii-st streaks of Akwn appear in the east, there to lest till it is time for the ve\t night's orgies, And meanwhile, what of Lis lmpless victim ? Apparently he is none.the worse, except that he is rather pale, and on his throat is a email blue mark, b..t that mark te'ls liim thfitjiis dotfin is sealed, and (hat ,a feaiful fate awaits "im. Slowh, butbuiely, lie du?s, and known that instantly life is extinct he too mu?t hi come one of.tlie dreaded nice ajid drag on a horrid e.xisrencyn,(j'the expense of his fell'ov ,_inen. 'Sometimes when a vnnipire is kno\vn to haunt a neighbourhood, 1 lie inhabitants join in self-defence, ond proceeding lo the bunal-iii'ounH.'open the grave, with mniiy a prayer and no little fear and trepklnt.ion, The body,which has all the j.ppearance of being still 111 life, is then t-tken up, »nJ niteVieinir pierced through 'the ctiest, is 1 carefully bum*, afier which ceienony the people believe they aio i've fiOm the thnger of visitations from a \ umpire, until a new member .of the race visits ihe district Traces of this superstition were to be found in Poland and in some pm-ts oi Gern-iuy about a'eetitufy and a halt ago, but it ia nlmost tota'lv extinct now in these countries. Tlie ima- . liinan beui'is, w lio^-ef existmce-' is still believed in in th& wtst, that boar most resemblanc*- to the vampire rocp are tlie '-iiru>a#," tales of whom- areonßasionally told to travcU lei p, in some parts of Portugal. Eeatfill beings are these •.arne Bru\as supposed to be, while theutter wratchedneas of their fat- is even givater than-lhnt of vnripires, for they ha\e(o indulgethefr hoj«i'idla-tp - vvliilest4lliVf life, thofollow-nigde-crintioii of a "B uxa," 1, given br Kingston in his LiiMinman eketohes : " In the diy-time she is like a~ny other•ion ai, perfomung the dutirs of her household in trie mo&fc exemplary manner. So u n.y be the dnujJiter ofhon^t and *>od pn-eula may marry mul have children ; she may he amiable mill is often iory beouttfij], tbou^h there U a levtain iierce exprees-on in her eve aud an ominiou* wrinkle pn her otherwise fa r brow, wlitch the BOe^iealS'Suft! enp-* pofe proceeded from care or aflfictM-" Thus ia outward appearance the Bruxa has nothing to distinguish het from other Nsomen, and the race is supposed to retain fheir in cog. nilo with BQoh jealous carp that none ran t*U who pm Bi'uxas imd "who are not.

can work »t thing* »fov^ j*vcek,7or two,,"jthpn I copie to **to,{y and don't Wtf m to g^n^, alter >>> I eUuil it up I?—', Just, when you ought to atick to it, replied the clergyman. ■' J^avu, you overseen a felluwciimb acraaay pole for, a le^ of mutton ?' Ho alway- fails within aix fyet; oi tho top, and then down ho comes by the run. ' It,'* tho sauYo with ,l\a .pn^s. of ti(>\ There's a slippery place to bo passed somewhere. JLLokLou. by your t -eth 1 and ejelidf When you get jt ].' U§/dsn SPA 1 , heai-r, make one more effort, and you, win. I ,lS rBvorr 8vor belie vo in happy thoughts, inspirations^ flashes of genius— what I eaUthtfroinauce oi intellect-, Kothing go jd • was, ever jet accomphshcd.but by plodding. ,Na.Uve talent stands a poor, chance against hard work, .When, ,ypu co^e to a difficulty, off with your coat and hammer afc.it', like a blacksmith, »t a horseshoe! Even it it beats }ou, look at the strength and practice you have attained in the very defeat. "Work bj the clock ! Don't be at raid of leaving »JF m the middle of a. diflicult pus&aga or a happy vein of thought. Train your mind as jou would your muscles, To-inorryw it wiil serve you as well as to-day- perhaps better. Leave oil fresh, but B^Jf let 24 hours elapse without making some ..progress, VRFibeouly an inch or two towards tho top of the pole. W^en you've won the leg of mutton, don't be disappointed to |nd it Leicester instead of Squth Dqwa. -The Victoria CroMis only a, bit of „ ( bi,'pu;?e aiter- v aJU.bu.tf Ji©nour lies mi success, not reward, and whethdl 1 gold* or imittqa.-ot* parslejy depend upon it the struggle 1a ol more value than tha pcize.'f— Uncle John. < • ■ , \ The Hamilton (Victoria) Spectator is informed that a somewhat eiiraoidinary occurrence took place a few montliß ago in connection with amadioal aeancu hold in Melbourne. 1 It appears that Mr Ivttz, tho well-known wme merchant, of \ Collins street Wtst, although not himself professing to bo a j believer in spiritualistic doctrines, happened to be present at a stance wheie a medium of his acquaintance was going through the customary formula) of introducing thespnits of departed persons, One ot tJieee apiuts was .announced as being that of a joung lady named .Naomi, who had d£-' parted mto.^the epnit land about tniee- weeks previously^ The message tiomuiunicated to Mr Kit? Iroin Naouu was as follows ;- " {Sena- your pcor sister some etiong turpentine." j Mr Kll2 was surpu'aud at tLi-, btcause he happened to have a sibter, Mrs Hoskins, <?f Jbranxhohne, who was ljiug dangerously Ul with hydatida •„ Fuither inquiries elicited that tho proper quality oi tpirit df tuipentine could not be procured at Bianxbolme, t»nd that the dose to be administered •wJi^to be twenty diops per day. Mr Kilz, willing to give t,her mysterious' wresciiption a trial, immediately went to the establishment of Messrs Feldheim and Jacoba, and obtained the v best prociuiable sample of the prepaiation recommended, .■wlueji. he duj} forwurded to Branxhclmc. The medicament taken by the patient, she rapidly recove'-ed under its mfluence, anu is now as well as e\er. It is somewhat remaikable, ulthough having no connection with the case, thut Dr bcott, why w us attending Mrs Hoskins for hydatids, hmiselt di«d h-om uu attack of that di.-order whilst the lady jn question was leeovenng. Hitherto we have paid but little attention to all the wonderful Btories that have been told of Mr A. coining through a solid brick wall, or Mrs B. evolving flat-irons /10m the depths of her inner conscious- * ness. But in the present case we have been authorised 'to give Uw names of the principal parties concerned, asinvestigalidn is challenged, in order that society may benefit by the knowledge ol the efficacy, or otherwise, of an aliened specific for a. disorder wlneh hua been carrying off many valuable lives. American papers state that it is reported that there has been a yrcut ialhn« oil" of lute in the market value of the labour of State puson corivicts at Aubuin, New York, and that at the iecent Jetting of confracts there was scaccely any competition between contractors and the prices offered were lower than ut any other time during the last ten years. One ' £hop contractor, lonneily employing 10G convicts, has given up his contract and opened business at Koehebter with what is called outside labour. Ihe Philadelphia Ledger sayß :—: — 41 It is probable that the price paid for convict labour in forme* jears is appioaehing that lor which thousands of free wpd are now ut work, and that is the underlying leason for vwil of competition between contractors. The whole businewof letting out the woi k of convicts at rates greatly below the \alueoi lree labour (,the only means by which contractors cun be induced to employ convicts) is one of very doubtful urTtefit to the Stute. Tlie leniote and indnect consequences of prison discipline are fiequently of more' importance to society than tho immediate und direct ; and it muy bo that the of .New York will be benefited by having its convicts idle uwuy iheir time rat her than by employing them m reducing, by unfair competition, the wages of hoinbt working men. But it is not utce&Sdry that they Bhould either 1 c idle, or tlmt they should be, allowed to.ndik tor-l««a wages than their work, if done by free labour, would be wortliT Theie is a middle course, which neither exposes the convict to dangerous idleness, the State to unnecessary expense, nor fiee laboureib to disastrous and wholly unfair* because artificial compttition." IC'ourt scandal is promulgated by the Pai is correspondent - of a New Oile.ais piper, who states that the visit ot the kmpi ess ot Austna to the Isle of Wight is not for the benefit of her health, but because ot a quairel with the Kmperor. iAb *ays ;— "The Lmprtsa suddenly quitted "Vienna some fwefljto siuce, tiavellttl day and night, took the belt railway WRb giidks Fans, and, without stopping more than five inWKle& theie, proceeded to Havre, liere ehe L-ested one ni-bt, and sailed eaily the next morrung for the LJe of JNipfrt. Inquwiti^e ey«a kept watch ou loynky. They saw -she took no baths, little exercise went nowhere, not even to the curious places ot the isJand. She looked grave, sad uulo death. 'Lhe itnghsh papers Jtnnounced that the i.mpei 01 of Austna had quitted Vmnnatojoiiuhe Empress at the It,lfe ot-Wight. Ten-mihntes after the.-c neusp'peis reached ihe island, the. Empress's chamberlain was neyoti-. ating the chai ter of a steamboat to take hei to Bouthamp- 1 ton, and the steamboat chartered, he was at the Telegiaph Oliiceuiak.nganaugeiueutfoi a special train from Southoniptcnto London. As as fir«* could be lighted and ste.im got up, her Majc s ty W as off f,»r London She did not siop at tiie embd.-Sy, refused to see the Austrian Ambassador, went to C'lar 1( ig c ' a Jiotel, and began to vi&it the public monuments -wity the untiling pei Severance of a Oollogo boy. A telegram seems to have >>een sent to the Empeior of Austna, an no uncing his wife's further flight, for lie fcbems to haxe slopped on his journey, They say she had i-.edared that it hopuisued her to London >he would fjy to Scotland ; it pies&ed trom there to IS or way. Bhe is still in Lonuon. lie is at her home in Bavaria Their marriage- was a love match, lhe families wanted him to inairy hei eldest sister. He went to Munich to see her. 'lhe youngest sidter took possessionoi bi> heart at Hist sight an<l to thet.iupiis,eand venation ot the families, and especially ot the eluei sis.er. he unuouueed that the younger smter would be I,ls wite. Her position at Vienna was nob without its diawuaas. The .Emperor's mother- was imperious, and etioie to exert great influence over him ; theie f ■weie political and financial embariassmenls which at times brought tue JSmperor to tlie ot despair. But they loved each other devotedly, an.l the happiness of tin ir iu^,ii led lite was unchequered gave by those summer clouds whioh will occasionally oveicast the sunniest homes. "Vnnne&e women are, as yuu kuow, the most dissolute in Europe, lias some beauty made the Emperor torget his first love and the troth plighted her?" It is ; robuble that many good housewives do Hot know that butter may be kept liiuu and>nice-lookmg by merely inverting over it. u Ujwer-pot covered with damp cloths. In the B,irae way, a water-pitcher enveloped in wet. cloths will keep its contents cool and grateful to- the' parched throat in hot weather. On a large tcale the same plan may be used in lhe fields. 'l\n> cont^n sof a bairel enveloped in cloths which are kept constantly wet will be so pleasant as almost Uo induce the labourer 111 the field to drink more than is good tor him. The reason why water kept this way is cool u that the evaporation of the outside dampness carries off tiy) heat from the human irame, and renc-tars a live man capable ol withstanding a heat which would cook a beeffeteuk.