The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-04-13
THREE POPULAR supERsrIT1oNs.

| OF man, QOWncaSG anu GRAVE, Why
unhasting, unresting, must march unit
the day of doom. The Wandering Jew
sometimes buried in Armenian con
vents, or the deserts of Central Asia
in the burning plains of Africa, or the
snowy heights OF the Caucasus, sud
denly appears in the haunts OF more
civilized Europe, and tells us, as an eye
witness, the sad story of the cruclfixlon
and his share in the contumely cast up
ON the God Man. He had thrown him
self into the flaming city of Jerusalem
under the Roman swords; he had fought
against Gauls, Saracens and Germans;
but no lance would enter his body, no
arrow pierce the heart that longed to
be at rest. The wild elephant had
crushed him under foot; venomous SER
penis had bitten him; but he could not
die until Christ himself had returned to
Judge the world. This legend filled the
people with terror and emotion, and
probably arose from some eloquent
preacher, who thus personified the Jew
ish nation under the figure Of a single
man, scattered through the world and
destroyed by persecution. Matthew
Paris is the first historian who speaks
of it; an Armenian bishop, visiting the
monks of st. Adams, had conversed
with the Jew about the year 1923, and
from that time he appeared at intervals
in several of the cities of Europe, al
ways dressed in the old Roman cos
tune, much worn, with a long beard,
naked feet, and a sad, melancholy ex
preston He refused all presents but
a few pence, which he gave away to
the poor. At Strasburg he appeared
in 1880, and informed the magistrates
that he had passed through their city
200 years before, which was verified
by a reference to the city records. The
last time we hear of him is in the city
Of Brussels, in 1913.
Another no less popular superstition
was the existence of king and Pontiif,
united in one, named Preston John, who
lad ruled a vast empire for centuries, |
n which more marvels were to be seen
han in Mohammed's paradise. No tray
Ter to the East dared to put a stop to |
his absurd belief; some even pretended
% know the place. The kings of Por-
ugal sent several expeditions into In
Tia and Abyssinia, to assure themselves
If the reality, for this immortal Pope
gave many All hours anxiety to west !
,rn Popcs, for fear lest schism should
spring from SO distant a quarter In
about 1907 there was a curious letter,
written perhaps by some partisan OF
he reformation, to the King of France
md Emperor of Rome, in the name of
'restor John, inviting them to settle in
lis dominions, which he described as
he richest and finest in the world. In
lis dominions they would see the tabled
'hGnix, the griffin, the roe, the seven
orned bull, centaurs, pigmies and drag
rs. There sprang the fountain OF etcr-
al youth; there grew the tree of life,
rom which was drawn the holy oil for
sc in the sacraments of the church;
nd when the King and his Court sat
own to table they needed no cooks, for
spiritual chef prepared the dishes.
Another mystical being was Anti
'hrist, who was supposed to be born
4 Babylon, and whom the Jews were
eady to recognize as their Messiah.
he year | 900 was fixed upon by the
host learned doctors as the time of his
ppearance and the end of the world.
We have a terrible picture given by a {
temporary of the desolation which
eigned throughout Europe at the APP
roach OF this fatal term; there were
,arful signs in the heavens and on the a
arth-eclipses, comets, meteors, tenn {
ests, floods and plaques. Superstition :
the real evil of public mis- ,
~; the dead were raised; the living
ere struck with sudden death; spec
'es and demons came from the abyss.
Len thought of nothing but how they :
'ould appear before God; they gave up !
leir wealth to churches and converts:
icy thought it useless to till the earth
nd occupy themselves in their daily
lsks; their fields, houses and shops
ere deserted for the altar. At length
le last day of the year 900 arrived;
e whole populace, in tears and prayer, RI
DIVIDED the churches, and waited in =