Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-20
From Chambers Journal
Three Popular SuperstitiOus

Over all the middle ages we see the weird
figure OF a man, downcast and grave, who, un-
hasung, unresting, must march on to the day of
doom. The wandering Jew, sometimes buried
in Armenian converts or the deserts of Central
Asia, in the burning plains OF Africa, or the
snowy heights of the Caucasus suddenly ap-
pears in the haunts of more civilized Europe
and tells as an eyewitness, the sad story of the
crucifiXiOn, and his share in the cOntumely cast
upon the God man. He had thrown himself
into the flaming city of Jerusalem under the
Roman swords; he had fought against Gauls,
Germans, and Saracens; but no lance would
enter his charmed body-no arrow pierce the
heart that longed to be at rest. The wild Gle
plant had crushed him under foot, venomous
scrpents had bitten him, the hungry lion had
torn him, but he could not die until Christ him
self should return to Judge the world. This
legend filled the people with terror and emotion,
and probably arose from some eloquent preach
er, who thus personitied the Jewish nation, UNI
der the figure of a single man, scattered through
the world, and undestroyed by persecution,
Matthew Paris is the first historian who speaks
of 1t; an Armenion bishop, visiting the monks
at 81. AlDans, had conyersed with the Jew about
the year l22S, and from that time he appeared
at intervals in several of the cities of Europe
dressed in the old Roman costume much worn,
n long beard, naked feet, and a I'd, melancholy
expression. He refused all presents but few
pence, which he gave away TO the poor. At
uC appeared III l0SU, and informed
the magistrates that he had passed through
their city two hundred years before, which was
verified by reference to the city registers. The
last time we hear of him is in the city of Brus-
sells in IVA.
Another no less popular superstition was the
existence OF king and pontitf, united in one,
named Prester John, who had ruled vast en-
pire for centuries, in which more marvels were
10 be found than in Mohammed's paradise Nc
traveller TO the east dared put a stop to this alb
Surd belief; some even pretended 10 know the
place. The kings of Portugal sent several expe
dirions TO India and Abyssinia to assure them
selves of the reality, for this immortal pope gave
many an hours anxiety to the pOpes OF the west
for fear lest schsm should spring from so dis
tant a quarter There was a curious letter
written perhaps by some partisan of thu
Reformation, to the emperor Of Rome and king
of France, in the name of PresteT John, abou
1907, inviting them to settle in his dominions
which he described as the richest and fin st il
the world. There they would see the fablet
phoenix, the griffin, the roe, snd the seyen-homet
bull, centaus, pigmies and dragons. Their
| sprung the fountain Of eternal YOUTH Their
| grew the tree of life, from which was drawn tn
| holy oil used for the sacraments of the church
and when the king and his court sat down Z
| the table they needed no cooks, for q spiritua
chef prepared all their dishes
Another mystical being was Antichrist, VIII
was supposed to be born in Babylon, and WHOM
| tHS oShb NDAC ASduy W lSSO9ullc ue illCil NIUE
slab. The year 1000 was fixed upon by tn
most learned doctors as the time of his appear
ance and the end of the world. We have tel
rible picture given by contemporary of tn
desolatot which regned throughout Europe q
the approach Of this fatal term; there were feal
full signs in the heavens and on earth--eclipse
comets, meteOrs, floods, tempests, and plague
Superstition aggravated IL tie real evils of pr
misery; the people spoke Of frightiuf mir
the dead were raised; the living strue
sudden death; spectres and demons car
tne abyss; Men thought of nothing
they should appear before God; they
their wealth to churches and conve
thought it useless to till the ground and . q
themselves in their daily tasks; their fee.
houses and shops were deserted for the ALTA
AZ length the last day Of the year 500 arrived
the whole population, in tears and prayert
crowded the churches, and waited in trenholm
expectation the soundings of the seven trump
cts and the appearance of Antichrist; but tn