Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-04-08
POPULAR sUPERSTITIONS.

HcIt dIc lew peIoOho WIN VIII uChHOUL-
edge that they are superstitious but there
are stillIless, who are not, in some degree,
under the influence of superstitious fears.
There is almost universal apprehension
of something supernatural. Those who
laugh the loudest at ghosts, and hobgob-
lins, will still quicken their pace, as they
hear some unusual sound when passing
the graveyard at the gloomy hour of mid.
night. The calm and intellectual philos-
opher, whose reason spurns all imaginary
evils, is compelled at times to be ashamed
of himself and he finds that Imagination
has the mastery over judgment. The rea-
son of the universal prevalence of these
feelings, is to be found in great degree.
in the impressions we receive in childhood.
which the future Judgment may pronounce
to be foolish, but the influence of which,
ina greater or less degree, is felt through
life. There is undoubtedly much in the
peculiafi!y of our present condition, to
give the mind strong tendency to appre.
hend supernatural events. The mysleri-
Gus union OF soul to body-the awful phe-
omenonofdeath-the departure of friends
we love, from present scenes, and their
entrance upon a condition we know not
what, and into worlds we know not where
the certain knowledge of spiritual ex-
istences unseen and unheard, all prepare
the mind to be easily excited by occurren-
ces, apparently conflicting with ackEowl-
edged laws. But it is generally in child.
hood that we receive those impressions,
which future years are unable TO erase.
And lest any, from the selection of this
subject, should anticipate a mirth making
performance, we forwarn our readers that
it will not be our endeavor to amuse with
witty speculations, but to interest with
facts.
1t is fact, humiliating though it may
be, that there is hardly an individual in
any land who does not att times experience
momentary inconveniences from such feel
ings. And there are great multitudes who
have an undoubling confidence in the real
ity of ghostly interference in mortal con-
Germs.
Those who are not habituated to rehec-
ton, often retain undiminished till dying
hour,a belief in those signs and omens
which they were taught in childhood
They do not question the truth of those
ideas, which have been insliled into the
mind in early infancy, and which have
been the motives to which parents have
firstlappealed, in imbecle effort TO govern.
HoF often is child told that unless he
ceases crying, he shall be shut up in dark
cloaet, where the ghosts will come and
petlim. And what an indelible impress
iiof mustsuch a,threat produce upon the
lfnt mind? With the unrefecting, SUI
peIsltion is consequently strong. Their
maids are not sufficiently cultivated to
How off the load which has been imposed
III them. The better informed, who are
j3customed to examine their feelings, and
squire into the grounds of their belief,
their judgments from these
inreal fears, but are generally through
ife in some degree under the control Of
he strong prejudices, which were early
nculcated. The belief in supernatural
appearances is so general, and is produc'
i've of such evil consequences, that the
subject deserves sober treatise.
L We shall first alude to those appear
= d.
inces which are unusual, and which, to
he uninformed seem supernatural, but
which are capable of explanation from the
Known principles Of philosophy or natural
cience. The fire balls, usually known by
he name Of .with-ihe-Lantern,' or /,
Will-o'- '-the-Wisp,' so often seen dancing
'ver The marsh, produce great terror, and
'ften serious injury, Now here there is
q delusion. A person actually sees
ight where there is no human being who
ears it, and not being acquainted with the
hemical principles OF inhammable gases,
nd spontaneous combustion, he naturally , ,
that it must be some appariton
ent as a warning to the village. Perhaps
! few days scne accident occurs, or
ome neighbor dies, and he feels Without