The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-02

Miss Ruth Rought = Dream Book ana
Soon She Was known n . witch.

MISS Huth HouGht y Dream Book ana
Soon she Was known . witch.
READING Pa Aug. 1.-Pellef in witchcraft
may not exist generally in Pennsylvania, but
in this city and surrounding townships the
strange delusion still fingers. Supposed
witches are numerous hereabouts. and the re-
mark is frequently hoard concerning many IN
innocent old lay In her dotage. There q es .
hex. "r She's a lex" The word hex" In
tho vernacular OF the Berks county Dutch.
means witch. There are actually half a dozen
witch doctors" enjoying lucrative practice
hero in Reading. md they find many dupes
among the moro ignorant classes.
Just now everybody is talking about ca
lamity that has befallen Miss Mary Ruth, who
lost her reason from nervous worry over Cos
slipping accusations that she Is witch and re.
sponsible for tho illness OF her next-door
neighbour.
Mary Ruth Is stout woman OF 80. She lived
with her sister Hannah on q modest little
property near Greshvlle. three miles below
Reading. Some years ago. while residing iu
Reading. she purchased q dream book" out
OF Idle curiosity. and for amusement tried OK
IN cauldrons. and addressing incantat ions to
the moon Some o: her acuunintances learned
of these harmless exercises and Legaa to re-
live ' and NJ " an Boses n hsfs
nined away, and was saw arnnisn,y aiicted with
a comnl ication of iseases. Numerou, doctors
nsn. h EsS . months nss NJ boy.1 e.
Then the eossirs OF tho village and nearly
under evil influence" and limited that she
needn't 20 far from her own house to discover
ears Of Mr.. Boyer, and they so alarmed him
that he cane ~ heating TO consult witch
Altar the svmptoma Ind haon doscr;hod-
fnln. ITS. aintinE attacks violent taving
tearing hair. Nr-the doctor" said impress
@ Sssa and NJ retrn
more freely than ever. and oreny accused
Mary Ruth OF witchery" and magnetism" In
SICK. She. too, visited a i'eading witch doc:
had indeed b,wtchei her neighbor Mrs. Boy
ser He answered ,hat Mr. bower was really
Mary a had don. an gave hsr
ss Pm. from ner: That NIGHT at home Mary
out Of II her attic Window and down over the
grape arbor to ,he ground. ana without CON;
up and down the country roads until she
reached Churchyille. seven miles awav, where
She hs home saeS
mornine by direction Of the officiating priest.
One day soon Rfterward she went out OF the
house and promenaded the streets IN n nude
condition. Afterward she grew violent Some
times she would assault her sister Hannah.
ard again she would throw furniture and
told her tina. he law fixed n penalty of u. 900
to the crime OF witchcraft. and that she would
be prosecuted and her sisters property taken
to,!ay the fine. This upset her completrly.
aroused Mr.. BOYER by knocking at his d. or.
prayer book in hand, desiring to know whether
Mrs. Boyer was till alive. a. che feared she
was dead> Next day she admitted to Mr..
Boyer. in The presence Of W.tnes;sss: that she
illness. The malicious gossip Ct the neis hbor:
had found lodgment In her disordered mind
and destroyed her reason. She w0s unable to
sleep and could eat but little or nothing. :.
Mrs Boyers condition has greatly Improved
within the ;, last three weeks. and now she is
seemed to 30 partially II not wholly restored
session OF her. and while laborinG under aber-
ration OF mind she 3nce more made her ap-
lo'hins. Accordingly an examination q her
condition WAS made by the county authorities.
sane asylum at Harrisburg. A strong dispo-
sition I; manifest amons prominent citizens
doctors" and Miss Ruth's ROSsipipR D0i0hbOr6