Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-30
pr1Ics OF BY-GONE SUPERSTITION.
Schenectady, january lOtA, 1889.

I~ua
no. ,;on and advice both for the cultivation OF /,
~. rs f.Ids and the minds of the farmers. II they
,-I be wise enough to put them III Plao"cc' WIN
:. much earnestness and zeal as you nave COM
rosed and published them, our country WIZ soon {
rh;h;, beautiful hills and dales, loaded with agri-
cultural wealth. .: ,,
;,.n.,hered with the clouds Of ignorance, which {
e YOU can clear up and exPel, II VIII redouho
n,ne 10 the honor and excellence Of christianity,
oyer aganism and error, well as to the improve
ment of agriculture.
The last time sat on grand jury, a woman OF
Du.nesburgh applied for protection from her
neiphbors, who called her witch lney sought
uncertainties to attack her wheh passing In 'he
street, and attempted to draw blood from her hedd
by striking her, believing 'hat II 'ney we're sue
cs.sfnI !, would protect them from her witchcraft
IT,. or,nd urv indicted several persons who had
.hs ass,u,ied her. She Scotch, and ono OF
IN. Grand Jurors, who we'd near her, SAID. that
.ome of her neighbors believed that she had late
~ made pass to Scotland, over the ocean IN a
arashfub. .
About three or four years ago, Martin Sitter
w. a descendant o. German parents, IN Rotterdam,
adjoining this city, stopped at our store, and said
he was on his way to the adjoining town OF 'ien-
vile, to expel the witches from the cattle OF
Dutch farmer there, who had sent for HIM tor that
nur,ose. Shortly after, that farmer stopped at
The store. and we, attempted to admonish HIM Tor
.nch Co,Iv He answered with great Pathos, that
,rhen his cons all sIunk their cdIres, ~ nds tme 20
do something for them. My son asked HIM II he
raised rye his farm, thrashed II IN winter, "heh
his cows came about the barG door, and cat the
ta.ng. or winnowiugs Of the rye2 lie answer
al IN the affirmative We then told him, the
spur or ergot in tho rye, which was eaten oy the
cows. caused them to lose their calves, and not
the witches.
would condemn 10 be hanged those convicted OF
wi,cbcraft, as they formerly did, witches would be
as numerous now as then; Notwithstanding Inc
boosted light and knowledge OF tho age
Did YOU ever know a farmer mike mitch pro-
ores. Of Improvement, to he called a good farmer,
who DELAYED sowing and planting TN cer'aih
time of the moon? The moon passes round the
earth "a the sun does day OF the year alike,
and is every day aud night equally br'gh' ana
light; but her light side is not seen by us, except
when the earth is between her ana inc sun, OF
nartly So Why should her influence then, u any,
~ GREATER nj one stage Of her passage than ut
,roiher9 Until men will cease 10 believe IN the
influence of the moon and IN witches, ihey VIII
not make good farmers.
The heathen who knew not God, saw inc sun,
and that it gave heat and light, caused the ralns
and the growth of vegetables; they thought 1t the
great and GOOD split who blessed them, &C
They also reverenccd the moon, as she l'ininined
the night: and when they had been instructed by
the revelation Of Christianity, the force OF edu-
c,,;on w,s so strong they could not forget the
vloriou, sun without which tho moon cannot be
seen. and no share of their praise for warming
the earth, and bringing forth the Crops ou' an
il bestow cd on the noon siiaply because II IS I'll
mystery. En-, every thing when loses inc ',vs
tory loses its value, with the ignorant. Inc
moon, like looking glass, only reflects the light
she borrows from the sun; and if she has any IN
uence it must be the light reflected only, for she
affords not particle OF heat that Can DC meas
ured
oil far
almanac makers or those who print them, To oml
The figure of the man in the moon, win The signs
&c in the second page OF the almanac! IL Is
mere pacan prac iice, OF value, invented To eN
cite wonder and mystery, ana ehh'eiy ooN"'""
truth Most respectfully.
AGRICULTURAL IrEMs-A Steam Plough, of
very peculiar construction, has been 'n'en'eo
France, with which it is said four miles OF gro""
can be cxcava,ed, with an engine OF o"'y e'ei
horse power, to the depth OF foot, ana the ofeao'
Of two feet, in a single hour. The earth as !"
turned up is thrown into II sort oil san, whic
throws il to Il distance of sixty feet, Its Parcui'
advantage is in the excavation OF canals.-Fd
mers' Magazine.
JOHN NJ MILL1kIN's PRoPosIrIoN.-We hav
received printed sheet, containing ProPos
ton Of this gentleman, who resides In Butte
county, Ohio. to raise fund, by voluntary su!
.cription, of 81 900, to be awarded in 1912,
three premiums of $500, $780, and $500, for til
first, second and third best improved, cultivate
and stocked ia rms in the county. Subscription
to be received till January, 1910. We have nc
room for the details; but think the plan is
good one, and that if carried cat with spirit,
will soon add thousand of dollars to the value
the agricultural products of Butler county. The
IS nothing like competition to accelerate improv
ment; and the more numerous the compctito
ihe more bs,an,ial tho benefit Cultytor.
RICHMOND, (VA) MARCH 10
disastrous explosion took place in the CO
Z mno Of the Black Heath Company, in Chests
field, yesterday morning. From note sent
the President of the company, we learn that b
tween 50 and 60 of the hands and two oversee
had descended the shaft previous to the exposio
and that three others, who were about 10 descen
Y wero killed. The last accounts from tho scel
states that nothing certain was known Of the ia
OF those below The damage sustained bv 4