The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-25
Russian superstition.

Many arc the fantaslical beliefs and curl.
GUS the remnants Of paganisn still deeply
rooted In the Russian peasants daily life.
They have their nymphs of the forest and
OF the river; the spirits Of their dead an
cestors haunt tho dwelllngs of the living !;
and every country babn with whom ever
conversed has seen the ''devll'' at least
once In her lifetime, and is able to give a
minute description of his appearance. Rich
andpoor at thetime Of baptism receive asnall
cross, which they wear for the rest of their
days round their necks, underneath their
clothing,-not merely as badge Of Chris
tianity. but as an amulet to weaken the DOW
or Of the evil one. When sickness or mis-.
fortune comes, the peasant has recourse to
witch-doctor, and goes through variety
of pagan rites and incantatlops to ward oil
the evil; his religion itself, his orthodox
church prayers. the glazed look he bends
on the painted ikon, the countless genu-
fexions and knockings Oh the church pave.
ment with his brown and wrinkled fore
head, all remind one rather of negro ad.
dressing his fetch than OF Christian in q
house Of prayer. Last March tho cattle
disease made its appearance in the village
OF Ozersk, government Of kalooga, and
spread with alarming rapldlty frcm byre to
byre. Tho Zemstvo veterinary surgeon
lived some miles away, aud, instead of
seeking his advice, the peasants hung ANU
lets, in the shape of little bags of garlic,
round their cows necks, and jumped over
their prOstratc forms with one foot, holding
censer with lighted incense in the oppo-
site hand. These measures proving of no
avail they were seized by u panic, and
called together a village assembly, arguing
long and loudly as to the best means OF
frightening away the cattle plague. II was
decided that according to Tie traditions Of
their forefathcrs, their women should march
round tho Village at dead of night, plow a
furrow in the sand, and 80 chase away the
plague. AT eleven o'clock the men were
shut up by order of tue Starost, the women
and girls remaining out on the village
green. AT the first stroke Of midnight, a
girl, chosen from the band, placed horse
collar over her shoulders, and allowed her
self 10 be yoked TO wooden plow two
girls behind her laid hand under either
handle, two more took up the place OF the
plowman and guided the plow, while an.
other marched in front, holding aloft a
miraclc-working lkon. Tho plow was also
preceded by widow with Il basket full OF
SAID, which she strewed quickly US she
went along 10 mark the line where the
plow should make the furrow. No light
OF any kind was to accompany them, and
yet should the furrow deviate to right or
left Of the sandy line the charm would be
broken. Happily for the success of the
undertaking the soil in Kalooga is black,
the sand white, and the night, let US hope,
was moonlight one. AN immense female
crowd followed in the rear, beating furious
ly on kettles, stove lids, etc., and vrying to
make their voice sound Us like the howling
Of Ino Winu Ill u sIIOwsLUrnl HS pUSSlDIS.
The procession marched first to the church
door, sang weird, heathenlsh refrain,
went through tho quick step and arm watt
ing of an old national dance, and then
went On its way three times round the vii
lago from west to east. The ceremony
over, another widow, with u pot of tar,
made u black cross within circle on every
door-post-a sacred sign which bars the
entrance Of evil spirits.