Wichita eagle., 1888-11-17
WATCHING THE BABES.
THE WIDESPREAD BELIEF IN IN
FANcYs UNSEEN FOES.

Tho Fears Of SuperstitiOus Mothexs-Ward-
ing Away Evil Spirits-Curious Customs Of
Different Countries-Keeping on Fairies.
Detection Of Changelings.
As soon as the babe is ushered into the
world, host of supersntlous observances
surround it, in many countries, for its enc
mics are many. Aside from its natural foes,
disease, teething, collie and the like, there is a
widespread belief in unseen foes fairies,
witches, and the COLLINS that terrify the
mother long before the child is susceptible of
fright at their bare mention. The greatest
danger is that the fairies viii, in an I'M
guarded moment. exchange the healthy.
mortal child for one of their puny offspring
Mothers in every European country fear
this, and various devices are adopted to pre-
vent such an undesirable exchange. Such
precautions have reference also to other evil
spirits which may harm the infant, and espe-
claIly to the influence of the ''evil eye"
All these influences are especially potent
before the child is christened, and it is at this
early period Of its existence that measures
are taken to thwart all these evil influences
In Denmark, salt, bread and iron are placed
In the cradle, and it is thought necessary Il
Scotland TO put iron in the bed with tho
mother, that she may be protected also. Il
Brittany, even though these precautions may
be taken, it is still thought dangerous to
leave the child alone in the house, for fear
lest the 'Korrigan" viii carry it off. In
modern Greece the mother, before putting
the child in its cradle, turns three times
around before the fire, while singing her
favorite song, to warp away evil spirits.
TIE SPANISH CUSTOM.
In Spain, the child's face is swept with a
pine tree Dough, a key is hung up before the
cradle, or fennel seed OF bread and cheese are
hung about its neck. A coral necklace that
has been STEPPED in the baptismaI font is
equally effcacious The Turks load the child
with amulets as soon as it is born, and a
small bit of mud. well stepped in a jar of hot
water, prepared by previous charms, is stuck
on It's forhhead. A small bit of red ribbon is
all the Roumanian infant requires to secure
it from harm, while the Esthonian mother
attaches bit of asafetida to the child's neck.
Garlic, salt, bread and steak are first put in
the cradle of a new born child in Holland
A sufficient preventive for an Irish babe is q
belt made of woman's hair.
The following process was used in Scotland
to render the child safe from evil influences:
Sixpence was borrowed from neighbors,
fire was kindled in the room, the door locked
and the child placed in a chair before the
fire. An old woman then placed in table
spoonful of water the sixpence and as much
salt as would dissolve. She then stirred the
contents with her forefnger until the salt
was dissolved, after which she moistened the
soles of the child's feet and the palms Of it's
hands three times, gave it to taste of the
water twice, and touched its head with her
forefnger, saying: God preserve fra a
skaith." The balance of the spoonful was
then thrown into the fire.
THE OPEN BIBLE
In some parts of Scotland and Germany
an open Bible left with the child will effec-
tually keep off the fairies. Should an ex-
change of infants be made by the fairies, the
Scotch mother has way Of getting her own
child back. She must car the changeling
to fairy spot or ring in the field, or in
shady dell, where 'soughing" is frequently
heard, and she must also take with her butter,
milk, cheese and eggs. If these gifts disap-
pear after a while, she may safely return
home, to find her own child in the cradle. A
pair of tongs or knife put in the cradle
will satisfy the Welsh mother as to her
child's safety. The knife is also used in parts
of England. In the Scotch highlands ash
sap will protect the child from all evil influ-
ences, as the ash is all powerful against
witches and such folk
In Wales, it is believed that changelings
may be detected by certain summary tests
Battle the child with a solution of fox glove or
hold it in shovel over the fire. This last
test is said to have been applied as late as
1887. The changeling will die as result Of
either test. Fire is used in the same way in
Denmark, but the child is only threatened
with the test, but the hot shovel is used in
Ireland Whipping it or throwing it into
the water was deemed sure test In Dem
mark. Luther believed in changelings, and
counseled the Prince Of Anhalt to throw
suspected child into the river
A SINGULAR PREVENTIVE
But the most singular preventive Of evil
to the babe is used in Thuringia where the
fathers breaches are nailed against the wall
1t is odd that a similar custom should exist
in China, where the trousers are fixed to the
bedpost so that the waist shall hang lower
than the legs, and on them is pinned piece
Of red paper, with a charm, sending all evil
evil influences into the trousers away from
the child.
In Germany, as well as In Scotland, some
article of the fathers wardrobe is thrown
over the new born child, so that it will grow
strong. 1t is bathed in salt water, In the
latter country, for like reason. In York
shire it is thought essential to place the in
FAINT in the arms Of maiden first of all. The
lights or fire in the room where the child is
born must not, in Denmark, be permitted to
go out, or the child runs a risk Of being
stolen.-F. S. Bassett in Globe Democrat.