The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-07-16
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SnnerstitiOus CredulitY.

instead ofdying out with advancing knowl-
edge. seem of late to have received an inn
petus and TO be pervading all classes of
people. 1t is doubtful whether this is the
effect of the teachings of Spiritualists, the
growing proportion OF the German ele-
ment, or the increasing influence of Woo
dou practices on the part OF the hordes OF
negroes who are working their way in en-
larging numbers from the South into every |
portion of the North. Be the causes what
they may, it is undeniable that supersti- |
tious practices and beliefs are Increasing, |
and are not confined to the ignorant. The
notions ridiculed by Addison century and
a half ago are still prevalent. A screech-
owl hooting at night alarms the hearer as
the roar of lion would do. A rusty nail
or crooked pin is invested with prodig-
ious powers. The ticking of the q death
watch " is a prognostic of the death OF
some one dear to us. The loud cracking
of furniture in a room or the breaking OF
a looking glass-both of which accidents
are often caused by a sudden change of
temperatures hOrrifying, and causes us
to expect the death of a near relative. Sud-
den chillS coming over us signify that
an enemy is at that moment moving on
the place where our grave will be some
time.
The practice of seeking for water by
means of magic applications is very COM
mon in all parts of the world. The pro-
cess employed by these practitioners (usu-
ally reverend-lOOking old men, whose ap-
pearance is calculated to allay mistrust) is
to take in their hands in apeculiar manner
triangular branch of witch-haZel or will
low, with which they pass over the ground
until the wand turns in their grasp, with
the angle point downward, under which
exact spot they promise that wa
ter will be found. These water
witches assure you that when they
come to the right places they cannot
control the wand, the strength of the in
fluence on it being various, and according
| to the depth of the water from the sur
face operated on. In many mining regions
the same methods are applied to ind mln-
eral deposits, the wand employed being
usually made of thin and flexible metal
prepared for the purpose, for which magl-
cal virtues are claimed. ...-.r 80 :.
To discover lost articles tits usual to spit
on the palm of the left hand, and strike the
deposit a sharp blow with the fOreflnger OF
| the right hand. Then by following the
direction in which the farthest particle OF
the spittle has been splashed we shall find
the thing sought. This means, however,
can be used only within the circumscribed
limits of a room or playground.
With regard to charms, here are some
which are still in common use. II when
walking you get pain in your side, lit a
stone, spit where it lay, replace it, and &c
on, neither speaking nor looking back
and the pain will leave you. Are you
afraid of Spooks or any supernatural NOD
COLLINS, press your thumbs into the palms
of your hands and the ghosts Will moi
come near you. To make your vinegar
sour, write on piece of paper the names
of the three most viXenish women yor
know, throw the paper into the cask, anC
the vinegar will become as acid as you cal
desire. Purslain placed in your bed vii
prevent visions, specially of i'll omen Of
discomfort. Sew a fOur-leaved clover il
any portion of your wearing apparel an(
good luck will follow you wherever yol
go.
Our farmers SOW their flax on the on
hundredth day of the year; their clover
!, seed in March, when the almanac sign is IL
the Grab, so that the roots may spread ant
hold fast, and the frOStS OF winter cannO
draw them out. Fences must be mad
when the sign is up, else they will sinl
down in the ground. Houses must b
shingled in the down sign, to keep tn
; nails from coming up. L know avery nm
old woman, a believer in signs for plantin:
garden-truck, who once planted her pc
tatoes in down sign, and when she cam
| to dig them declared she would neve
plant them so again. for they got down S
t deep that she could scarcely find them
Timber must be cut in certain signs {
t keep it from rotting. Cattle and hog
, must be slaughtered when the sign is W
} so that the meat may swell when cooked
l Potatoes must be planted in Libra, so tha
they will weigh heavy or grow large
} They can also be planted in the Lion t
make them grow strong and large. Pea
= and beans must have their poles stuc
: when the sign is up. So with hops, or the
; will never climb. Cucumbers must 3
| planted on the first of May for the tir;
: crop; for the second crop, plant on WIFI
7 suntide, when there will be tremendou
e yield, because there is always large crow
of people keeping that holiday.
The belefin lucky and unlucky days an
numbers is equally widespread. Whoevt
happens to have been born on any OF II
unlucky days, unless provided with a tall
9 man to ward off the evil, must take 'p'
: luck" and play grab game all the day
I of his life. No business of important
81 Il
6 of hanging, trimming the nails or cuttin
. the hair. Do not move on Saturday, fl
: if YOU do you will not stay long. Satu
h day is also an especially unlueky day to
: married on.
: These superstitious beliefs are kept u
in the same manner in which they wei
e transmitted to us from our Scandinavia
ancestors-by teaching them to childre
| 70
people sit by firesides and tell ghos
/ stories. until every listening child's ey'
n grow large and glistening with feaI
Is Thus, impressions are made on Il
- plastic mind which years of study al
d intelligent reasoning do not always ernC
cate. How many persons are afraid
n 90 into the dark alone or to pass gray
i ward in the night? How many neig
borhoods on the continent, as well as
a Europe, have their haunted houses, Wi
O local traditions which are related with
e least the affectatiOn of belief! My intele
le in the subject has led me to investigate u
v causes of the noises and visions more thu
re once represented to haunt certain place
N In several instances where L have e
D, pressed this intention | have been IN
with earnest arguments to dissuade n
le from making the attempt. Several OF the
explorations were made in secret, witho
$, any previous announcement. Such lnqt
,e ries have brought me to the conclusi'
e that the ordinary noises heard abo
re so-called haunted houses are produced
ne rats, mice, flying-squirrels, owls, hawk
Vi bats and other animals which usually hf
4 Dor in deserted buildings. The ertraoTt
1T na7y noises are made by cracking or q
m cayfng timbers, falling plaster, etc., b
X sometimes by thieves, who resort to the
= places for the purpose of hiding their plu
s. der, and who seek to make the suspect
| places avoided by the people of the Wei
G. ity. The lights seen lowering and NTH
e. around haunted places, whether hous
ID or dark, dismal retreats, are often carrl
ne by the persons referred to, and their ocC
sional appearance strikes terror into {
hearts of the beholders. Another and mo
common cause of these luminous appe;
ances is found in the phosphoric eXha
tons arising from the compost-piles, Z
t. caving timbers and tissues of all kin
n. which abound in such localities.
N In one famous haunted house on {
b. road between Yellow Springs and Ken
Ohio, these exhibitions were specially NJ
to ed. The people throughout that regi
! hesitated to speak about the place, and
in xtrhi