The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-16
NUMBER 8.


it howls along the highway this is con-
sidered in Westphalia as ia certain token
that funeral will soon pass by that
way. The same notion too exists in
Denmark. In the Odyssey, the dogs of
Emaus are represented as terrified at
he sight of Minerva, although she was
then invisible to Telemachus. In both
German and Aryan mythology the dog
is said to see ghosts; and whenever
Hela, the Goddess of Death, walks
abroad invisible to human eyes she is
seen by dogs. In Wales it is thought
that horses also have the gift of seeing
spectres. Carriage-horses have been
known, says Mr.. Skies, to display every
sign OF the utmost terror when the oc-
cupants of the carriage could see no
cause of fright. Such an occurrence is
said TO be highly ominous, and to por-
tend that funeral will soon pass by
that way, bearing to his resting-plaee
some person not dead at the time of the
horse's fright.
Very nearly allied to the superstition
which recognizes death omen in the
bowling of dog is that Of the spectral
hounds which are said to be OCCASION
ally heard and seen in different parts of
England and Wales. They are gener-
ally invisible, but their fearful yelping
as it is heard passing swiftly through
the air resembles the fierce and angry
note of the bloodhound. They are sup
posed to be ''evil spirits hunting the
souls of the dead, or by their dia-
bolical yelping to betoken the speedy
death of some person." In the north
they are called "the Gabriel hounds"
Mr.. Henderson relates that few
years ago, when child was burned to
death at Sheffield, the neighbors imme-
diately called to mind how the Gabriel
hounds had passed above the house not
long before. He also tells Of person
who was hastily summoned one night
ness had suddenly assumed an alarming
character. AS he set out he heard the
wild yelping of the creatures above his
head; they accompanied him the whole
way, about mile, then paused and
yelped loudly over the house. He en-
tered it and found that the patient had
just breathed her last.
In Lancashire the spectral hounds
are locally termed "Gabriel ratchets,"
and are supposed to fortell death or
misfortune to all who hear the sound.
Kennett has curious note on the sub
ject. He says: cat Wednesbury, in
Staffordshire, the colliers going to their
pits early in the morning hear the noise
of pack Of hounds in the air, to which
they give the name of Gabrlel's hounds,
though the more sober and judicious
take them only to be wild geese making
the noise in their flight" We have
here the solution of this popular super
stition, for it is well-ascertained fact
that these spectral hounds are no other
than numerous fiocks of wild geese, or
other large migratory birds.
There is notion prevalent In many
places that whenever there is calamity
at hand or in localities where some ac-
cident or evil deed may have occurred,
a spectral dog appears. This is de-
scribed as often larger than New
foundland, being shaggy and black,
with large ears and tail. Its form,
however, is so decided, and its looks
and its movements are so thoroughly
natural that many, we are informed,
have often mistaken it for a real dog.
Thus, in Lancashire, this spectral dog
bears the name of ''Trash' OIL
'Striker." The former name is given
to it from the peculiar noise made by
its feet when passing along, resembling
that of heavy shoe in miry road. 1t
does not haunt particular spots, but
makes itself visible to warn people OF
the approaching death of some relative
or friend. Should any one be so cour-
ageous as to follow this strange appari-
, tion, it retreats with its eyes confront
ing the pursuer and vanishes on the
slightest momentary lnattention.
! Another belief, not at all uncommon,
, is that the spirits of wicked persons are
, punished by being doomed to wear fol
, long time the shape of dog. Mr.
, Writ Skies relates an anecdote about q
|, Rev. Mr.. Hughes, a clergyman of the
Church of England, in the Isle Of An
I glesea, the most popular clergyman in
the neighDorhood in the last century.
? As he was going one night to preach, a
; spirit in the shape Of large greyhound
jumped against him and threw him
; from his horse. The same thing hap.
, pened another evening. The third time
, therefore, he went on foot, and on ap
, preaching the haunted spot found that
the spirit was chained. On questioning
it the spirit replied that its unrest was
due to silver groat it had hidden un.
der stone while in the flesh, and
: which was the property of the Church
of st. Elain. Many similar instances
are found scattered here and
there throughout the country, which
are implicitly believed in by the peas
antry, and not unfrequently have even
deferred the wicked from the cOmmis-
sion of crime.
Again there is a belief that the spirit
of favorite dog which has died re-
turns occasionally to visit its master
and the haunts it frequented during life.
81 was once informed. by a servant, -
says Mrs. Latham, ''whom had desired
l. 1 a.
barking of a dog, which was afraid
, would waken a sleeping invalid, that
nothing would stop his noise, for she
+ knew quite well, by his manner Of
barking that the ghost of another doc