Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-07-09
SUPERSTITIOUS CREDULITY.

The folles of superstition and cresuli-
ty, instead of dying out with advancing
knowledge, seem of late to have received
an impetus and to be pervading all class
es of people. The notions ridiculed by
Addison century and half ago are
still prevalent. A screech-owl hooting
at night alarms the nearer as the roar of
a lion would do. A rusty nail or a
crooked pin is invested with prodigious
powers. The ticking of the death
watch" is prognostic of the death of
some one dear to us. The loud cracking
of furniture in room or the breaking of
looking glass-both of which accidents
are often caused by sudden change of
temperatures horrifying, and causes
us to expect the death of a
near relative. Sudden chills com
ing 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
process employed by these practitioners
usually reverend-looking old men,
whose appearance is calculated to allay
mistrust) is to take in their hands in pc
culiar manner triangular branch of
witch-hazel or willow, 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 water will be
found. These water-witches assure
you that when they come to
the right places they cannot con
troll the wand, the strength of the in
fluence on it being various, and accord
ing to the depth of the water from the
surface operated on. In many mining
regions the same methods are applied to
find mineral deposits, the wand employed
being usually made of a thin and flexible
metal prepared for the purpose, for
which magical virtues are claimed
To discover lost articles it is usual to
spit on the palm of the left hand, and
strike the deposit sharp blow with the
fore-finger 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: If when
walking you get pain in your side, lift
stone, spit where it lay, replace it and
60 on, neither speaking nor looking back,
and the pain will leave you. Are you
afraid of spOoks or any supernatural hob
COLLINS, press your thumbs into the
palms of your hands and the ghosts will
not come near you To make your vine
gar sour write on piece of paper the
names of the three most viXenish women
you know, throw the paper into the cask
and the vinegar will become as acid as
you can desire. Purslain placed in your
bed will prevent visions, especially of i'll
omen or discomfort. Sew a four-leaved
clover in any portion of your wearing
apparel and good luck will follow you
wherever you go.
Our farmers SOW Their fax on the one
hundredth day of the year; their clover
seed in March, when the almanac sign is
In the Crab, so that the roots may spread
and hold fast, and the frosts of winter
cannot draw them out. Fences must be
made when the sign is up, else they will
sink down in the ground Houses must
be shingled in the down sign to keep the
nails from coming up. | know very
nne old woman, believer in signs
Tor planting garden-truck, who once
planted her potatoes in down sign, and
when she came TO dig them declared that
she would never plant them so again, for
they got down so deep that she could
scarcely find them. Timber must be cut
in certain signs to keep it from rotting:
Cattle and hogs must be slaughtered
when the sign is up, 50 that the meat
may swell when cooked Potatoes must
be planted in Libra, SO that they will
weigh heavy or grow large They can
also be planted in the Lion, to make
them grow strong and large. Peas and
beans must have their poles stuck when
the sign is. So with hops, or they will
never climb. Cucumbers must be planted
on the list of May for the first crop
Tor the second crop plant on Whitsuntide,
when there will be tremendous yield,
because there is always large crowd OF
people keeping that holiday