The Dickinson press., 1888-10-27
BUILDING TRADITIONS.
LEGENDS CONCERNING STRUCTURES
INTENDED FOR MANS USE.

Choice "f II Building Sitc-Thc Devil Said
to Re ~ Mighty Buiiacr-uuni,n s.ori-
fee and Its observation-disclosures Ccrc-
monies.
There are i'll various parts of .hc world
many curious traditions concerning struct-
urcs intended Tor mars habitation OF Use.
When the uoina,l finally strikes his tcut. and
adopts Il fixed structure in some chosen si,ot
for his future home, much Importance is
usually laid on the manner of selecting this
spot, then upon certain proNitiatorv rites
deemed necessary TO insure the safety or con-
tinuance of the new dwelling. Many of our
modern ceremonies are harmless sUrvivals OF
these ancient usagcs. and these customs them
selves are still perpetuated by symbolical
substitution.
If we are to believe ancient authors, many
tribes We're OF Old guided 10 their future
homes by mysterious agencies. The phocnns
claimed to have been led to alrosperous land
ing by a seal, Cyrenians by Il raven, the
1rpini by a wolf, etc, etc. So the sites OF
buildings were frequently chosen by these
wise animals. Sin v~ultures indicated 10 Re
mus and twelve 10 hU,nuluS the location OF
the future mistress of the world. Sometimes
these intelligent guides transfer the building
materials to Il prolltiols spot. There are
many traditions in England and Scotland, us
we'll as onthe continent, of such Interference
in the choice of II building site.
1t has been the custom in nearly all lands
to attribute IL ancient races, OF tn certain
mysterious beings the construction Of Eigan.
tic works, ancient castles, walls, etc. Among
the Greeks. these structures We're attributed
to the Titans, Il race of giants once possess
ing the earth. So in Scandinavia, The Jotuns
or giant gods performed these mighty i.atS
of construction. In Germany, it was the
dwarf inhabitint of the mountain cave, i'll
the more romantic landsof southern Europe.
the fairy or witch. lnthc middle aces. these
gave way gradually to the devil, whose in
tiuencc and reputation spread with the
growth of Christenlom. In time lie
proved 10 he Il mighty builder, although lis
labor WAS always performed for his personal
advantage. and 10 the loss Of the owner of
the labitaiion.
The desi il diSlikcd the building of churches,
and is seldom credited with assisting i'll their
construction. but frequently tried to prevent
their erection. He j, the champion bridge
builder in many old world lands, and has
bestowed his name on many a bridge, as, for
instance, that OH st. Gothaltl Pass, over Il;
iNtli hI't' ~ tt'iI1 Nttii Nlltl.l. .Alt III
cc,lotc frequently related of these building
enterprises is, in the words of the poet, told
of this:
Ishcwcl you III the valley n bowllcr
Marked viii, the imprint of his .,houl,ler,
rs he was bearing it up this way.
peasant, passing. cried ''IIcil. .Ir.'
And tlr devil dropped it in his fright,
And vanished suddenly ont Of sight.
These stones ARE shown in many places in
Germany, Norway and Denmark. One at
Llndborg has the impress of his form. where
he lay down 10 rest before attempting the
ascent of a step hill. In another place are
ulcvcn large stones. II is said the devil was
carrying the twelfth up IL neighboring hill,
when lie stopped TO rest. lie was unable to
resume his burden, which bears the imprint
of his shoulder blade. Accrtnin church wall
in England is said to bear the imprint of his
foot. where he stamped to show his defiance
of popery,
A victim is usually required, as the price
of his satanic majeSty's services as an archi-
tcct. Many stories are told of outwitting
him, when n human sacrifice was required.
a Swiss peasant obtained diabolic aid in
buildings bridge across u valley, cheating
the architect with n goat. German tales of
similar substitution are numerous, n fox, Il
NOil, IL QNS, tsl. VI tOCh Dclllg lHt SltIllltp.
1t was an universal custom formerly to cause
adog or cat TO enter Il new house first, Il, Il
propitiatory victim. In Yorkshire, it was
thought necessary To bury a dogor cat under
tho church walls, its ghost haunting the
church yard. AS the devil required u victim,
it was said in Lancashire that any one coun-
selling or planning repairs to an old building,
or the building of a new one, would die with
III q year.
From this notion of the devil as Il builder,
there arose u custom prevalent i'm many
places during the Middle Ages, and surviving
to modern days in Asia and Africa. This
was the sacrifice of IL living being upon the
commencement OF Il new editicc, usually by
bulying alive within the walls. Greek and
Latin authors contain many illusions to this
practice.
A pathetic tale is told of Liebenstein
castle, in Germany. AyounS child is said'to
have been walled mp i'll its foundations,
having been purchased from its mother. To
prevent its cries, it wasseated and given play
things. While munclling a roll as the walls
went up, it said, "Motller, l can sec you.'
Then later, "-Nlother, l see Il little of You
still, . and finally, "M,otller, l see nothing of
you now
The border castles of Scotland were, &C.
cording to legend, washed with human blood
by their savage builders, tho Picts. Bullv-
portree castle, in Glare county, Ireland. is
said to have been erected by the Danes, who
pressed into service worklncn from far and
near, and made them labor night AM! dav
without rest or food, and when any dropped
with fatigue or hunger, le was ut once i'm
INJURED within the walls.
Medieval legends abound in instances of
such sacrifices. In Africa, hundreds of vic.
Tins suffered when u new palace was com.
menced.
Substitutes were afterward chosen, whcr
human sacrifices had been abandoned. H.
Bulgaria tho shadow of some ono passing was
walled i'll. The person thus losing his Other
self would, it WAS thought, die within q year
A dog, cat or cock is Still used in many part.
of Europe. Danish traditions tell of q laml
being buried under the altar that the churc.
might stand mistaken. III Germany it il
said that Il long term Of good weather may
be insured by walling in Il cock.
Modern ceremonies ut the laying of til,
corner stone Of IL building are doubtless sur
vivals OF these ancient heather sacrifices
Religious rites are still held, hut the victim
is no longer represented either in person o
BY Il substitute.-F. S. Bassctt in Globe
Democrat.