, 1883-04-14
Different Modes Of Taking An Oath

One of the most curious minor Incl
dents in Careys evidence is his account o
the oath which he took on becoming a
member Of the ''Irish Inyincibles-" Ar
element of childishness in the midst %
horrors betrayed itself ON this occasion
''Mr Walsh, according to Carey, admin
istered the oath while both parties held III
their hands an ordinery pen knife. Two
schOo,boys could not have begun a secret
society in more puer-ie manner. The
/ oath over the knife Was Survival oi
course-a relic Of an older state Of belief
and 1t is odd TO find this form Of swearing
still resorted 10 by men who might have
been supposed to have got rid OF suPersti'
ron when they got rid Of humanity. The
oath by cold steel is best known TO most
of US as from the scene in Hamlet, where
| the Prince Of Denmark swears his friends
70 secrecy. On the stage it seems to be
supposed that the cross hilt Of the sword
is the sacred object which sanctions the
oath. But the Scythians who worshipped
the sword blade, knew nothing Of course
about the Christian oath The highland
ers us,d to swear by their dirks-indeed
public oath on the dirk was taken not
long ago in London at a great gathering
Of Celts. Now the dirh Of course has no
cross on its handle. Apparently the cold
steel was either symbol of steadfastness
or he who swore by the knife ment to i'm
ply that, il he broke his oath, by the knife
should his treachery be avenged. Either
view of the case might be supported by
analogous facts In Scotland little boys
who have made bargain between them
selves ''touch cold iron, usually the iron
heel-plate on their boots, 10y way of ratlfy-
ing the agreements. The old II man habit
of striking the victim with stone In
sanctlpning 4 treaty, sas ali example OF
the implied belief that he who broke the
treaty would perish ike the victim. In
almost all forms of sacred oaths some sa-
cred object has To be touched. and there
by impart sanctity t" the covenant a
very Singular instance is eXempiltled both
IN story Of a covenant between tsc men
In Genesis and in the actual practice OF
the natives of Austr ,lia. Some scholars
detect trace of the same practice IN the
Greek word for an cath, with what plaus-
ability philologists may decide. Oaths by
rivers have always been very com
mon. The Gods swore by the river Styx,
and in that sacred stream, according TO a
recent Traveller in Greece, ''there Is Just
enough water to swear by" The oath
''by the bright white waters of lightning,
and by the cold rock that the sea runneth
over, is mentioned III some ancient verses
in the Volsungs' saga When We made
agreements III Ashanti, the natives swore
by the river Prah. The Ostiaks, in
swearing, put their hands on the head OF
the bear, an animal much regarded IN the
North, like the native bear i'll Australia,
and the Hindoos are said TO hold the tail
of rnw in certain solemn moments. The
breaking IF saucer is the Chinese way OF
taking an oath-the parties swearing
symbolize their wish. if they forsEear
themselves, ta be broken like the saucer.
In the Middle Ages men found 1t desira-
bic to have a secret oath, which they
would keep, while all other oaths they
broke at pleasure. II a rival politician
found out the genuine oath Of a monarch
Ike Louis NJ the King was at great
disadvantage in business TRANSACTIONS.
The famons oath Of Harold was sanctioned
by number of relics covertly introduced
under cloth while the Englishman WAS
swearing. The criminal classes apparently
think that il is not the words OF the oath.
but the kissing If the book, that Is the
sanction. Therefore they try surreP'rous-
" TO kiss their own thumbs, not having
established an understanding, as the
Satapatha Brahmana says, between their
thumbs and the book touched. Common
as perjury probably IS among the unscru-
pulcns, i; appeares that malefactors still
drea.i the ..nameless child Of an oath
mentioned by the DelphIc oracle. Other
wise Mr. Walsh would not have attempt
ed to secure the fidelity Of Mr.. Carey by
aid Of device so an;iqua.ei as the oath
on the knife. While We regret that
n.!screant So vile as Mr.. Carey describes
himself will escape the gallows, ii must be
remembered that the possible "child o
his oath will always pursue him IN hls
fancy, if not in fact, and that therefore
his future life will probably not he eA-
empt from discomfort and apprehension.