The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-07

In folk lore the horse figures most as q
water sprite Neptune having tradition
ally created the animal, we should not no
astonishcd to jnd him powerful at sea
Mystic water horses, water bulls, or
cows are 10 be found in the religious sys.
tens of many nations Of old. and they
still haun, the imagination of living men
in the shape Of dapp1e gray stations and
brown steers that still rise from some
German lake
These water horses appear in many
lands In Iceland. Nick or Hnickur. also
called by other names. appears "a a gray
horse with hOofs turned backward When
the ice splits open in the winter 1t Is said
10 be the water horse coming up One
was said TO have eight feet and ten heads.
This stecd sometimes induces young per
sons TO mount mis- back when he rushes
into the water and ii is said that he can
bt tanned. but his bride must never 10
taken OF
In the Orkney islands the water sprite
comes "a "a handsome little horse, with
his name covered with weeds In the
Shetland islands, Shoopultie Is the name
given To him. rs well as Njuggle or Nick.
An old historical chronicle asserts one
was tanned aud worked during the day.
Popular accounts represent him as having
tail like a wheel Tie is usually mis-
chievous. stopping mills, carrying persons
into the sea, etc.
THE WATER KELPY.
Nearly every Scotch lake or stream had
it's water kelpy He would decoy travellers
10 mount him. and rush into the water
N~ff d fI.f.ra iis eonfl IA. CAUGHT bxr Hipn
ing over his head q bride marked with
the Sign Of the cross 4 blacksmith. sus
picious of one of these water sprites,
thrust a hot iron into its side. reducing it
to "a heap OF starch
Water horses are called Phookie and
AlgAisiy Ia lr land and are said 10 come
up out OF the lakes. some Of them being
caruivorous one had serpent body
with horses head In north Germany
Jagowd D., tHe name applied to the water
horse One is said 60 have come out of q
lake haruessed himself 10 a harrow. and
worried The other horses 10 death
Musiuiio lndisns say WiEwin. demon.
appears IN the shape Of "A horse Eastern
lore l. not without its stories Of water
horses ~ Kazwini a medieval Arab
writer saws SEA horses ire larger than
and a small name and tail
Throughout England and Scotland it
was formerly supposed that horses were
al times ridden 10y witches and fairies.
II was said that if the names and tails of
Tie bon n. were found 10 be plated and
knoiieJ together it was sure sign the
fairi bad been riding the steeds To
prevent tai, as well a. 10 guard against
sri1ffs nf witches il
the custom 10 hang about the doors of the
stables uud IN the stalls and managers
branches of ash or yew. hazel or broom.
The horseshoe. nailed up over the door,
was also eficaciOus here When the in
ma of the stables were found covered
with cold sweat or moisture in the
morning IL was deemed sure sign that
witches had ridden them during the
night
Nor We're these beldames satisfied with
tie chargers thus suireptitiously pro
cured II was wildly beloved, here and
on the continent. that witches were able
10 transform persons into horses, and
that such Stceds were ridden to the night
" rendezvous OF these bags.
VARIOUS oMEYs.
There are few omens connected with
the horse In Yorkshire. England, II IS
thought uuluclSy 70 see q white horse.
Probably here is key to tho connection
between the white steed and the Ill
omened red haired girl. In many parts
OF England it is believed that any person
riding a piebald horse is able to cure the
wLoOping cough
around the neck Of horse in York
shire some years since, was found a
string tied to bag made of the thumb OF
an old glove. containing the Lords prayer
written On parchment This was thought
to preserve the animal from evil. In the
same district. II horse became foul or
"f.llna The owner cured it by going into
Il. orchard at midnight cutting into a
tlrt from th, foot Of an apple tree and
haug,ng Il in the branches of the tree
a. 1ha turf decayed it was said the horse
would recover In ireland it is thought
thu .ou ray snb1uc an unruly horse by
wlispertrg ia lis ear the Greed.
Ii Is said that Darius king of Persia,
was chosen ruler by the neigLlng OF his
horse u hu, ing been left 10y lot TO decide
who should hold the reins OF power by
chcoiin,r the noble whose steed nelghed
first
tn horse is wen known emblem in
herldry and in ant 1t is frequently tg
ure, on the tombs IN the catacomDs'
where II Is the emblem OF the swiftness
of life la early Christian art IL typlheo
courage and generosity. and II. Martin
:, Maurice st George. 81 victor ana
II Leon are all represented Oh horseback
la Anan mythology the swift flying
cl.uds were said to be horses uothic ana
Ger1nauic tribes sometimes sacrificed
horses or the funeral piles Of their chief
taHs-E : Bassctt in Globe Democrat
Forks "A Modern Invention.
&. 4. I:e;:o.,l, N ,aaliya what "A modern