The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-13
BUILDING TRADITIONS.
LEGENDS CONCERNING STRUCTURES
INTENDED FOR MANS USE.
q dice OF n Building site-The Devil Said
20 BE Mighty Buildcr-Human Sacri-
flee and Its Substitutes Modern Cerc-

| ures intended tor mans habitaton 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 propitlatory rites
| ieemed necessary to insure the safety or con-
tinuance Of tho new dwelling. Many OF our
| modern ceremonies are harmless Surylvals OF
| these ancient usages, and these customs them
| selves arc still perpetuated by synbollcal
| substitution.
II we are to believe ancient authors. many
| tribe, were of CID guided TO their future
| homes by mysterious agencies. The Phoc9ns
| claimed TO have been lei to prosperous land
| ing by n seal, Cyrenians by a raven, tho
| lrpini by a wolf, etc, etc So the sites of
| buildings were frequently chosen by these
| wise animals Six vultures indicated to Re
| mus and twelve to Romulus the location of
| the future mistress Of the world Sometimes
| these intelligent guides transfer the building
materials to "a propitiols spot. There are
many traditions in England and Scotland, as
well as on the continent, Of such Interference
| in the choice of building site.
It has been the custom in nearly all lands
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
in- the earth SO in Scandinavia, the JOtuns
or giant gods performed these mighty feats
Of construction. In Germany, il was tho
dwarf inhabitant Of the mountain cave, in
the more romantic lands OF southern Europe,
the fairy or witch. lathe middle ages, these
gave way gradually to tho devil, whose in
iiuenco and reputation spread with the
growth Of Christendom. I'm time he
proved to be a mighty builder although his
labor was always performed for his personal
advantage, and to the loss OF the owner Of
the habitation
The devil disliked the building Of churches,
and is seldom credited with assisting in their
construction. but frequently tried 10 prevent
their erection. he is the champion bridge
builder in many old world lands, and has
bestowed his name on many bridge, a., for
instance, that on st. Gothard Pass, over
stream which he alone could span An an
ccdote frequently rclated OF these building
enterprises j., in the words Of the poet, told
Of This:
Showed you II the valley bowlIo.
Marked with the imprint of his shoulder,
A5 be was bearing % up this way
peasant passing. cried Herr. Jc."
and the devil dropped il in his fright,
and vanished suddenly out OF light
These stones are shown in many places in
Germany, Norway and Denmark Ono at
Lundborg has the impress OF his form where
he lay down 10 rest before attempting the
ascent OF a ste p hill In. another place are
eleven large stones. Ii IS said tine devil was
carrying the twelfth up a neighb0ring hill,
when he stopped 70 rest He was unable to
resume his burden, which bears the imprint
Of his shoulder blade a certain church wall
in England is said to bear the imprint Of his
foot. where he stamped 10 show his defiance
of popery
4 victim is usually required, as the price
Of his satanic ma jesty's services rs an arcAi-
tect Many stories are told OF outw.tting
him. when a human sacrifice was required.
\ Swiss peasant obtained dabolic aid in
binding a bridge across a valley, cheating
the architect with goat German tales u
similar substitution are numerous, a fox.
wolf, dog, cat, or cock being the sacrifice
It was an universal custom formerly 10 cause
a dog or cat To enter new house first, a.
proptiatory victim. In Yorkshire. it was
thought necessary TO bury dog or cat under
the church walls, its ghost haunting the
church yard. As the devil required victim,
It was said i'll Lancashire that any one coun-
selling or planning repairs to an old building,
or the building of a new one, would die with
in year
From this notion of the devil as builder,
there arose custom prevalent in many
places during the Middle Ages, and surviving
to modern days in Asia and Africa. This
was tho sacrifice Of a living being upon the
commencement of a new ediiice, usually by
burying alive within the walls. Greek and
Latin authors contain many illusions to this
practice.
A pathetic tale is told of LiebenStein
castle, in Germany. \ young child is said 20
have been walled up in its foundations.
having been purchased from It's mother To
prevent It's cries, it was seated and given play
things While munching n roll as the walls
went up, it said, Mother, | can see YOU
Then later, Mother, | SEQ little Of YOU
STILL" and finally, 'Mother, | see nothing Of
you now"
The border castles Of Scotland were, ac
cordng TO legend, washed with human blood
by their savage builders, tho Picts.. Bally
portrco castle, in Clare county, ireland, Is
said 10 have been erected by the Danes, who
pressed into service workmen from fax and
near and made them labor night and day
without rest or food, and when any dropped
with fatigue or hunger, he was at once inn
INJURED within the walls.
Medieval legends abound in instances Of
such sacrifices. In Africa, hundreds Of vic
tins suffered when new palace was COM
menced
Substitutes were afterward chosen, when
human sacrifices had been abandoned. In
Bulgaria the shadow Of some one passing was
walled in. The person thus losing his other
self would it was thought, die within year
4 doc, cat or cock is still used in many parts
of Europe Danish traditions tell Of a lamb
being buried under the altar that the church
might stand mistaken. In Germany it is
said that a long term of good weather may
be insured By walling in cock.
Modern ceremonies at the laying Of tho
corner stone of building are doubtless sur
vivaIs OF these ancient heather sacrifices
Religious rites are still held, but the victim
is no longer represented either in person or