The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-10-27

h0ht hmciNhh Jutie' inc iOilOWluy
interesting narrative:
Near the close of tho seventeenth cen.
tury that renowned Judge. Sir John Holt,
Lord Chief Justice of England, esteemed
by his contemporaries, as well as by men
of after.nges, as an embodiment both Of
the law and Of justice, was presiding at
the assizes held in and 70, his native
county Of Oxford. A decrepi, old wo.
man was put on trial, charged with the
crime of witchcraft. The history Of the
case, tho offense Of which the prisoner
was alleged to be guilty. we're laid before
the jury by the Attorney General prose.
cutting for the Grown. The Chief Justice
listened to the opening OF the case with
unusual earnestnes for there was recalled
to his memory curious incident cannect-
ed with his own early life. When q
student at the University of Oxford his
habits were wild and irregular. and he
gave no promise Of his great future emi-
nencc In company with several other
young students he had been for several
days on catouse through some Of the
country places in the vicinity of Oxford.
Young Holt had separated himself from
his companions, and riding up to a way.
side inn, without any money in his pocket,
he yet directed his horse to be fed anil
an ample dinner prepared for himself.
Strolling into the kitchen, he noticed the
daughter Of the hostess was sick, and was
told by her mother that she was great
sufferer from fever and ague, and that the
doctors had been unable to cure her. The
young collegian at once declared his
ability to effect cure. Taking a piece
Of parchment, he wrote upon it cabais.
tic word in the Greek characters, bouul
it tightly upon the wrist Of the girl, AMI
the assured her that while she retained it
she would have no further return of her
chills and fever. He remained at the
inn for several days, and the girl had no
return Of her sickness. When demand.
ing his bill, the grateful mother said she
had no charge against him, and only re.
gretted that her limited means would not
permit her to make him more ample pay.
ment for the healing of her daughter
He rode away in triumph. And now, as
he sat on the bench as the Lord Chief
Justice Of England, he knew that the
decrepit old woman on trial for her life
before him was the daughter of the wo.
man who kept the way.side inn, and upon
whose wrist he had bound the parchment
charm forty years before.
She had followed in his own footsteps
and had been using the charm for the
benefit Of her ueighbors and friends. The
Chief.Justice called her up, and as she
unfolded some old greasy rags she pre-.
sented to him the well.worn parchmen,
with the cabalistic word in his own hand
writing written upon it, 1t is needles:
to add that the woman was at once dis
charged. II the great Chief Justice had
previously entertained any doubts on the
subject of witchcrait. they we're now r.
moved.
There is a curious sequel 10 the Incl
dent above related Some twenty five
years ago the writer OF this article wa
sitting in the private office in Wall Stree
Of the late Mr.. S., then wealthy r.
tired merchant, and acting president o
one Of the principal Wall Stree; bank :
He was q quaint curious man. fond Of til,
marvellous, and disposed to belief in spir
itualism, then first coming into prominen
notice. Our conversation had been con
tnued for some time discussing Scottisl
sccond-sght supernatural appearances
and especially Kids buried treasures
when he suddenly changed the subject
saying abruptly, II can cure the ieve
and aguc." On asking how he produced
u small piece of parchment with cabal
istic word written on it in the Greek
characters, saying it must be bound OF
the wrist, and the disease will disappear
or go away, He did not tell me how o
when he had obtained the wonderful
charm. Nor was | at that time aware o
the trial before referred TO, aud sure | an
that he coald have had no knowledge o
it, \ hundred and fifty years had com,
and gone since the fallacy had been ex
posed by Lord Chief Justice Holt. lti
probable that at some time during tn
forty years preceding that trial womal
possessing the pretended charm had com
municated the secret, and given cop,
to some friend emigrating to America
and that it may have been handed dow
through successive generations, and per
haps in some cases effectng cures by al
through the imagination 1t has bee,
said that sometimes violent exercise an,
sometimes strong impressions on the min
will ward of attacks of what are calle,
fits OF ague
FLORIDA FOR INyALIDs.-I a perfect
equable climate. where soothing warm,
and moisture combined prevail be desira
bic for consumptives, il can be found %
where in the Southern States save i
south. eastern Florida. The number G.
persons whom | saw during my iourneY
who had migrated to the eastern or south
eyn sections OF the State many years be
fore. more than half dead with consumI
tion and who are now robust and vigcr
Gus, was sufficient to convince me of tn
great benefits derived from a residenc
there. Physicians all agree that the cot
ditOn, necessary to insure life to the co,
sumptive are admirably provided in III
the climate resources Of the peninsul;
That great numbers OF inyalds lind III
localities along the st. Joho's river an
even on the coast, distressing to them.
said by some physicians to be due to tn
fact that those invalids &C there after di
ease has become too deeply seated TIL
European medical men are beginning I
send many patients to Florida, cautio,
ing them where to go. II would seel
impossible for the most delicate invalid
be Injured by residence anywhere O
the eastern or south. eastern coast tro
81. Augustine down. For those WI
from various causes 6nd iha, each su,
cessiyo Northern winter, with its col
81 ah,lt,n, A. onI -.