Wichita eagle., 1888-08-14
BUILDING TRADITIONS.
LEGENDS CONCERNING STRUCTURES
INTENDED FOR MANS USE.

INTENDED FOR MANS USE.
Choice of Building site-The Devil Said
to BE a Mighty Euilder--Ruman Sacri-
monies.
There are in various parts of the world
many curious traditions concerning struct-
ures intended for mans habitation or use.
When the nomad finally strikes his tent and
adopts fixed structure in some chosen spot
for his future home, much Importance is
usually laid on the manner of selecting this
spot, then upon certain propitiatory rites
deemed necessary TO insure the safety or col4-
tinuance of the new dwelling Many of our
modern ceremonies are harmless survivals Of
these ancient usages, and these customs them
selves are still perpetuated by syInbolical
substitution.
If we are TO believe ancient authors, many
tribes were of old guided to their future
homes by mysterious agencies. The Phocseus
claimed to have been led TO prosperous land
ing By a seal, Cyrenians by a raven, tho
Irpini by wolf, etc, etc. So the sites OF
buildings were frequently chosen by these
wise animals Six vultlres indicated to Re-
mus and twelve TO Ronulus the location OF
the future mistress Of the world. Sometimes
these intelligent guides transfer the building
materials to "a propitious spot. There are
many traditions in England and Scotland, as
well as on the continent, of such Interference
in the choice OF a building site
II has been the custom in nearly all lands
to attribute to ancient races, or to certain
mysterious beings the construction of gigan.
tic works, ancient castles, walls, etc. Among
the Greeks, these structures were attributed
to the Titans, a race of giants once possess
lug the earth. So in Scandinavia, the Joturs
or giant gods performed these mighty feats
OF construction. In Germany, IL was the
dwarf inhabitant OF the mountain cave. in
the more romantic lands of southern Europe,
the fairy or witch. In the middle eyes, these
gave way gradually 10 the devil, whose In
fuenco and reputation spread with tho
growth Of Cnristendom. in time he
proved TO be a mighty builder, although his
.@bor was always performed for his personal
advantage, and to tho loss of the owner Of
uhe hatltation.
The devil disliked tho building Of churches.
and il seldom credited with assisting in their
construction, but frequently tried 10 prevent
their erection. Ee is tho champion bridge
builder in many old world lands, and has
bestowed his name on many bridge, as, for
instance. that on st. Gcthard Plss, over a
stream which he alone could span. An an
ecdote frequently related of these building
enterprises is, in the words of the poet, told
of this:
showed you II the valley q bOwlter
kai with n ir-1r,r 81 Cfa.Iisv
AZ he was bearing up this way,
A peasant passing. cried Herr Je,H
And the devil dropped Il In his fright,
Aad vanished suddenly out of sight.
These stones are shown ia many places in
Germany, NORWAY and Denmark One az
Lundborg has the impress of his form. where
be lay down to rest before attempting tie
ascent ot a stop hill In another place are
eleven large stones Il Is said tho devil was
carrying the twelfth up a neighborin. bill,
when he stopped to rest. Ho was unable 70
resume lis burden, which bears tho imprint
of his shoulder blade. 4 certain church wall
in England is said 70 bear the imprint Of bis
foot. where re stamped 10 show AIS defiance
OF popery
A victim ia usually required, % tho Price
Of his satanic majesty's services a. an arcb.-
tect. Many stories are told O. outwittiag
him, when human sacrifice wss required
A Swiss peasant obtained diaLoi.c AID H.
building bridge across e. valley, chcGtiug
thu architect wita goat German tales Ol
similar substitution are uu11eTocs, n fox. a
wolf, dog CT, OK cock being zoe seh-sacc
Il was CT universal custom formerly &c csuse
@ do. OF cat 20 eT1tnr new houss GTze, a.
proJat.a.ory victim In Yorkshire. IL vas
thought necesszrv 70 bury dog or CT u5der
tie church walls, its gb01t Eafzo+iog ia
church yard As the dcvi required victim,
it was sad in Lancashire tha. any orc coan-
selling cr planning reTrlirs u ar Old baiidiar.
or the building Of . Few oos, would dss wiz
IN a year.
From this no..oa Of the devil as & hzil6sr.
there arose c-sston prevalent n F-a-y
places during rhe Middle Ages and ,sIrv.v4Ur
70 roodera days Ia A1a ard Afr1oa- tbs
was the sacrifice u a living be!Ez upoo It's
cooroenc-oeat o. Dcv e41ce, rnazliy IL
oury.BS slsvs within tie uA4la Greek ard
Latin authors cot.saln mary als1sscas 70 thia
rarioe
A psbe.sc tais e tod q IIet<ex1esn /.
css-e. ia Germany. A youar e.-iId "a said TO
ha~c besa -ai1sd Up IN ia focr1s.osx.
having been purcSxsei fscaa ia Enoss.r. 70
prcvUr IL crlss, IL vss seated "a given play
.kinSs VILE Erneasss . r-l 81 tbo sails
<t1. Up, /: I'D, @Aotk=. ca. ses yoo.~
Ias. is.1, "xosee-, sre hrSs q 30
s-s11, = Es f5fly. "Irher, sss aetaizz q
yca ac~.r
TIE bc-Ssr cax.les c. Scotland wc:>. a.
core.ng - lsgzad, washed vttG Esz-l1z s.ted 4
u- tar Es-Ggs bz1l61-s, s@s Fscsx Ea.sT. .
pc-uvs eas1e, Ia Gre o1us.T, I-e.a<d. y
raii - hs-e e<ea seect>d By te> D<-aa, WHO !
y-esao6 inso zs-vfes wc1kDsa tro-a f.z g.. 4
>eS-. AZ -1-as tax. labor E4Ses s=G da-
1.tEoa. rs. CT foss, ez! vSsa az erocz<a .
VIA fatigue CT ha-Ter, TO ~as e. s<,s i>.- 4
--z-el w.Ansa ia Te--A
ge5.zrcl l%ssS6s eac1st f. s1x.A,c,s Q. /
ma aac-s>sz- Il Afyse> su.Az><sx 81 ~.<- !