The Portland daily press., 1882-01-25
THE PRESS.
A Dictionarry of Demonology.

A Dictionary OF O0mOnOlOgy.
Dictionaries, glossaries and encyclopedias
have become so abundant that complete list
of them alone would make bulky volume
There is hardly topic in art, science, physics
or literature which has not its special alphabet
ical aggregation of concentrated information.
The demand for such works is continuous, and
so it was not strange that in France, where the
sciences are carried to the most extreme points,
and where encyclopedia literature abounds,
that some one versed in devilish lore should,
some sixty years ago, issue "Dctionnaire In
fernal," described as a Repertoire Universal
des etres, des personnages, des livres, des faits
ct des chooses qui superintendent aux esprits,
aux demons, aux sorciers," and SO forth. A
sixth edition appeared some twenty years ago
with the matter largely augmented and with
500 illustrations, "among which are the por-
traits of seventy-two demons" In the preface
to the later edition the reader is warned that
ssthe enormous collection of coherent facts to be
found in the Internal Dictionary forms such
a pandemoninm of plausible observations and
germs of error that the Church only, whose
torch never burns low, can be safe guide
through its maZes."
The maze begins with "Abalam, Prince OF
He'll" who, it is said, sis very little known"
which is an excellent reason for saying very
little of his Internal highness. Pretty soon we
come to "Agian" or "Agnian," demon who
torments Americans with visions and FRANKS.
He abides at Brazil and among the Topinam-
bians, and he has provoking facility OF chang
ing his shape, SO that they who wish to see
him can meet him anywhere. But how may
we recognize this special tormentor OF Amerl-
cans? The dictionary gives but one instance
of his multiform DISCUSSES and furnishes no
rule by which he may be identified. But
Aquares you will know every time you see
him, Being the grand duke of the eastern de-
partment of He'll. he considers it beneath him
to assume DISCUSSES, and always appears as
nobleinan on the back of crocodile. He is
linguist and confers titles Pierre d'Aguerre
is the name of a man who was condemned to
death for having officiated as master OF cere-
monies on a witches Sabbath. Under the title
"Boucn (goat), we are told that "f one rubs
the face with the blood of goat which has
been boiled in vinegar, he will have, incontl-
nently, horrible and frightful visions" Fur
thermore, YOU can produce the same cheerful
effect on strangers whom you may wish to har-
ass. A good word is spoken for s'escargots'
(snails) 1t is declared that these humble mol
lusks have never been charged with participa-
ton in unholy rites. Under the title "Sabbat"
is printed story of Charles H., duke OF Lor-
raine. In imitation of the good Caliph Haroun-
al-Raschid he set out to travel through his
realm, incognito. Lodging one night at
farmer 8, ne Da0 no SOUU0r uulbuOd uib supper
than another meal was set before him. Asking
his host II more guests were coming, the farm
err explained that it was Friday, the day when
the demons and the wizards of the town, after
meeting in the forest break up into bands, one
of which comes to his house for supper. do
they pay for their entertainment" asked the
duke. mo" said the farmer; ''on the contra
~, they carry off all they can lay hands on and
make things lively if matters are not to their
liking. What can you do when you have these
4 -.&l~O VI.. ptAI I..lrn
thereupon, wishing to get at the bottom of this
mystery, sent off one of his train to Taul, some
nine miles away. Some two hours after mid
night in came legion of nncanny spirits, in
all sorts of DISCUSSES, generally limitations OF
beasts with horns and claws, and down they
sat. But no sooner had they begun to eat than
in walked the dukes squire with squad of
soldiers at his heels. Remarking that it was
hardly proper for him and his men to sit at ta-
BILE with such disreputable personages, he or
dered the arrest of the entire gang. They
proved to be a troop of robbers who took this
means of pillaging from the credulous peasan-
try. The story goes on: 1.-THE duke, who had
generously paid for his supper before leaving
the farm, punished these sham wizards and de-
mons as vagabonds and rogues. The neghbo
hood was freed for a while of its fears, but the
dread of the 'Sabbat' was not weakened in
Lorraine for all that"
The dictionary has little to say of the mod
ern developments of dark powers. 1t gives
itualism by the Fox sisters, but under the
head Tables" reminds the reader that "the
Church has formally condemned and rigorous
ly forbidden this dangerous commerce with de-
mons, who are the real agents in these tricks. "
Concerning "Tap or Gaap," we are told that
he is grand president and grand prince in
the neither world, four chiefs of that empire
being under his orders. Byleth, who rides on
white steed, with forerunners of cats who
play on horns and trumpets, is his only peer.
Magicians once offered to him holocausts and
libations and summoned him by a formula
which they claimed Solomon had discovered.
But this was delusion; it was Ham who first
taught the science of ordering up the spirits of
darkness, and it was Ham to whose service
Byleth was particularly devoted. Tap and
Byleth are not on good terms of fellowship,
aud one must understand the nature OF each,
and the respective formulas for calling either,
IL, needing one, he would avoid intrusion by
the other. The dictionary gives full instruc-
tons for the summoning and treatment of and
department during interviews with either. A
word of caution is given: Treat Byleth with
every precaution if you would become the
most powerful of men, and respect him too,
because of his great hope, which is, says the
dictionary, that he will some day remount to
Heaven and sit on the seventh throne; (which
is hardly credible" adds the veracious and
trustworthy chronicler and encyclopaedia.