Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-03-04

0'-T- - ~ eFeSCA Nv p rtt
then would Be. what mysteries are
cafieatured and therefore giolated.
The man WHO employs such means
simply says 4 AaI agself out 81 tie
fold q Christ aliI want Is II vim Ill
cards The charm vi preserved III
an cd mah Who liza served ii .a
wars Of 1918 and 1915 Anotss
man. comfade Of biz, whom he Int
carried wounded Of battlefield, had
gwen him, when at the pointo death,
n's Flneky bag and told him to mako
. new one The veteran did not know
from what distinct ibe nan til I.asl
saved Gor ! day 81 two had come; bs9
knowledge Of the charm itself was ev-
identity inadequate; lie protested that
he had never tried ii; but the bap
and the bones were there, a little blue
siIk bag, worn and frayed, with a
name worked upon ii that looked like
Ellza--a girls name who was young
some 90 years ago, We may suppose.
and who put a ring, Or perhaps 4 few
golden pieces, her scanty earnings.
into the bag and gave It to her lover
before 10 went away. II was fall Of
a toad's bones whom we saw it.
There IS, as the London writer says
something striking in the cruelty and
viekednesa Of the people who assisted
q and derived profit from these in
carnations. AN things considered.
we must hold the world to be better
than it used to be, because there are
few people nowadays who would en-
gage in the horrid rites which are des-
cribed as essential to the requirement.
Of the boons desired. During the
reign Of the Orleans Regent Of France
viewed by historians generally as
probably the wiekeat man that ever
liged-the practices ofwitchcraft we're
Of q revolving character. AT night
sometimes in the presence ofthisprince
there was sort Of diabolical seance
held at which tribute was paid to the
devil IN The hope Of obtaining favors
from him.
Nowadays it would probably DO
difficult q find Individuals. even
among tho most abandcnSA sslidists
aud saoifefs, who could b capable Of
enjoying a burlesque Of this nature
were it only for amusement. There
is certain reverence for the faith Of
others, and a finer feeling among
mankind which would act as a re-
straint.
One Of the reasons why the belief
in witohorsft has declined and the
sale Of the soul to the Evil One no
longer exists is that many people who
might be disposed to make some such
bargains a. the neoromantic legends
describe are skeptical Of the existence
Of a personal being Of diabolic char
acter. Experience has also seemed to
demonstrate that he is able to obtain
material enough for his purposes with.
out entering into special contracts.
Above all, however, is the general
spread Of intelligence which reeog-
nizes the ohildishness and absurditY
Of the old beliefs and chronicles. In
remote ages shrswd and cunning
men knew the yalus Of a hold over
the population through Ito supsrstl.
tons feafs, which were the rsadisst
means al hand Thus, not only many
impostors. but also some Of the wisest
and best men, such a. Roger Bacon,
zsalousIy cultivated this impression
among the ignorant that they posses
sed occult powers by special contract
with the enemy Of mankind. Then
also tbege were none Of the protso.
tons which tho human race now ems
ioys when svssy Individual life Ii sa-
cfsdly guarded BY the state. The
future vas full Of uncertainty and
menace. The poor were at the mercy
Of the great. Under such ciroumstan-
ceH it may be imagined with what ea-
gerness anything was sought which
promised To act as a shield mulets
and talismens constructed with mya-
terious and profane ceremonies which
would ward off evil and insure good.
The fact that the attendant rites we're
Of wicked and blasphemous charac-
ter wac no objection, nor vast more
potant ono that the penalty attached
to the lease Of temporary happiness
was endless perdition. The average
human existence was Of 90 miserable a
character that the idea Of any relief,
however brief it might be, was eager-
| ly grasped at. Thus SCORE of years
spent in possession Of riches and pow
or seemed we'll worth purchase at
even so terrible a price as eternal
damnation afterward.
--------a, . .as--.-----------
nea.A remedy resting on the basis
I r Y. Il. L