, 1890-01-16
The Second of Wake
mans Letters.
THE ANCIENT BRETONS
Old Legends That Are Found
Across the Channel.
WONDERFUL STONE MONUMENTS
Druidic Beliefs and Superstitions-
Comparisons With ireland
and Wales.

-
OUfMPERI.E, Brittany, Dec. 20
1es0. LIN the Interviewing Of Pa
gAnIsni and Christianity there wai
undoubtedly large ecclesiastical
sanction entertained towards many
of the supelstitjorls practices CT the
Armoricans, the ancient Breton peo
ple. As with their race brethren .o
ireland, Wales and Cornwall thu
retention to almost the present day
~ q distinct language, and the fos-
tsring Of the clan theory Of society
lsft countless legends, superstItion'
and customs among this stolid
though remarkably impressive and
sentimental people. The most triv'
ial study Of the subject will
reveal, especially In Brittany,
Ireland and Cornwall, precisely the
Same tremendous groupings OF pa.
gan monuments; startlingiy similar
customs and practices lingering a.
ineradicable outgrowth Of a like pa
gnn influence from a common Celtic
parentAge; rude and almost bar
baric mythology, half pagan and
half Christian, from n like stock and
time; and wondrous troop oi
wraiths, fairies, elves and quaint old
legends clung 10 and treasured with
the name interesting and defiant
pertinacity. Brittany has less OF
The queer and comicai giants and
giant-iighters like Bellcrinn, Cormo-
ran, Jack the Giant-killer. Holiburn
ef the Cairn, Nancledry, Trc-
biGRan, Blunderbus, Gogina-
gog, Thunderbone and Bolster,
Of Cornish mythology. Breton
peasantry are perhaps not in the
thrall of 80 many and such vari-
ETY. Of the "wee folk" as may be
found In the "brownies," the
''spriggans," the ''buccas" or
"knockers" and the "piskies'' of
Cornwall, or tie "ban shee," the
''fArshee," the "dallnghans," the
''pookas," the 'hurlers," and those
rare little imps In green, the
sleprechauns' Of Ireland; but still
the Breton folk boast their giants
bold, as wonderful rs Cornwall's; I;
their deInonoloey Possesses kindly
elves md torturing fairy rnscals Of
equal standing and from the
saine origin as those OF
tho Irish, while / find In
numcreble portcnts, superstitions
aud supcTstitious customs precisely
the same among the peasantry Of
each country. The remarkable thing
about Ii all 10 that, while the lowly
OF Ireland and Brittany are fervcnt
Catholics, there II scarcely a Catholic
In Cornwall, Dine-tenths Of Its peo-
pie being equally as fervent Wes-
leyan Methodists, and the remain
der, Church OF England adhercnts.
Yet the same merging of the Druidlc
religion into these violently oppos-
ing forms of Christianity exist, and
the follower Of Wesley In Cornwall
In as much of q pagan, i'm this re-
spect, to-day, as the peasant follower
OF ST. Patrick in Ireland, or the de-
vout Catholic peasant in Brittany.
WONDERFUL STONE MONUMENTS.
Among all these people the Won
dcrfui stone monuments of their
early pngen ancestors ARE the haun IL
OF the "wee folk" The latter hold
possession Of them perform nightly
the old Druidic rites about them;
guard untold treasures beneath
them; entice unworthy folk to them
for all manner OF confusion and
worse; cause blights and charms TO
l.<. x.rrx.tsnht xxrtfbtK. Ill
presences; create tests of marital
fidelity or of innocence or guilt OF
crime; provide sovereign remedies
for certain diseases; give opportuni-
ties 10 those who will
bxave their presence at night
for sale of their souls to the
evil one, as well as for secret rites
which effect explanations; and issuc
forth at ali grewsome nonrs to all
manner Of folk with harm and help
on expeditions of punishment and
eirands Of mercy. All this is to
that degree of likeness and persistent
treasuring that were there no other
chronological parallels, one could not
escape the proof that the first Celts
OF Ireland and the first people of
Cornwall and Brittany were not
only common stock but were, while
pagans, o people OF common Ian.
guage, customs, and of
Interest as against the sav.
age and finally all-conquer.
ing Saxops. Another fact OF inter.
est has aided In Investing these
granite enigrnns Of pagan times
with sacred interest. When Chris.
tianity firs' strove To overthrow pa
gunisin In Brittany, Cornwall and
ireland, IL was found necessary to
tcmporize with existing beliefs.
Thus, the earliest Christian mis-
sionaries dare not at once destroy,
or cause the removal of, the oghain
stones of ireland, the huge mono
llths OF Cornwall and the mighty
pillar stones and dolmens Of
brittany. Instead, as mighty
emblenis Of the new relluIo'
were built upon them, or besile
them. Go where you will In these
three lands, each narvclously rich
in pagan remains, the great stone
cross wI,l I've seen cleaning pure
and wh'.e, upon.1r beside the en-
bletns OF the Drnidic faith. 80 in.
tense was the reverence Of the latter
among the early peoples, that no
one save Cbnriemngne, In Brittany,
ever had the power or hardihood TO
pttenlpt their widespread dcstruc-
llun. This comprom!se effected
md ever since maintained between
and Christianity
ms always been thoroughly
nd by every priest of Ire
and and recteur Of Brittany; while
|be xower OF Wesley In gaining
~. .plssc coItrcl % over The hearts Of