The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-13
HISTORIC BLOOD STAINS.
Superstitions Attached TO scenes Of VIC
Ience and Mystery.

Superstitions Attached TO scenes of Vio-
Ience and Mystery.
Connected with some OF our old country
seats are romantic stories OF strange blood
stains still visible-the silent, indelible
witnesses of tragic scenes committed in
the distant past, says the London STAN
dard. At Condover Hall, Shropshire.
there Is said to be a blood stain which has
been there since tho time of Henry VIII,
and cannot be effaced. According to "A
local tradition, which has long been cur
rent in the neighborhood 1t is the blood
OF Lord Knevitt, the owner OF the hall
and estate at this period, who was treach-
erously slain by his son. But this story,
which Is utterly at variance With facts
bearing on tho history of Condover and
its owners In years gone by must be
classed among the legendary tales OF the
country.
The Cothele, mansion on the banks of
the Tamar the marks are still TO be seen
Of the blood split by the lord OF the manor
when, for some supposed act OF perlidy, he
slew tho warden OF the drawbridge.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, on one occasion.
enjoyed the hospitality OF Smithills Hall,
Lancashire. and was so impressed with
the well-known legend OF the Bloody
Footstep" tha: In three separate instances
he founded fictions upon It,
A curious story is told by Miss Jackson
In her shropshire Folklore" or blood
stains at Piaish Hall, near Cardington.
This legend runs that party OF clergy
were assembled at Plaish playing cards.
All the doors were locked when suddenly
they burst open without any apparent
cause. Again they were locked. but pres
entity they burst open second time. and
third. Then the old gentleman ap-
peared in the midst OF the company, and
they all rose and fled excepting the host,
whom the others bssely left face to face
with the enemy. None ever saw that
wretched man again. either alive or dead.
Only great stain OF blood, shaped like
human form, was found on the floor OF
the room. and despite all efforts, the mark
could never be washed out" Ever since
this occurrence the house has been
haunted, and at midnight ghosty troop
OF horses are heard, with such noise that
none can sleep.
The Cornishman knows from the red
filmy growth on the brook pebbles that
blood had been shed there--a belief still
firmly credited. Thus, some years ago
writes Mr.. Hunt, In his Popular Roman
ces OF the West OF England" "a Cornish
gentleman was cruelty murdered and his
body thrown into brook. l have been
shown stones taken from this brook with
bright red spots on some vegetable growth
upon them. 1t is said that ever since the
murder the stones in the brook are spotted
with gore, whereas they never were so
previously TO this period" Accordingly
10 another strange Cornish belief told OF
ST. Dcnis' blood, IL is related that at the
very time when this decapitation took
place In Paris blood foil on the stones OF
the churchyard OF st. Denis. Ever since
these blood stains are reported 10 be
specially visible when calami. yIejf any
kind is near at hand.
The red poppies which followed the
plowing OF the fields OF Waterloo after the
Duke of Wcllington's victory was said TO
have sprung from the blood OF the troops
who fell during tho engagement. and tho
fruit OF the mulberry. which was origi-
nally white, tradition informs us became
empurpled through human blood. a notion
which In certain parts OF Germany ac-
counts for the color OF the heather. Defoe
speaks OF certain camp called Dar-
row Hill. and writes: They say this
was Danish camp and the roads hero
abouts being overgrown with DaneweeG,
they fancy it sprung from the blood ot
Danes slain In battle. and that IL cut upon
certain day OF the year bleeds."
In Wales the dwarf elder Is nicknamed
PLANT OF the Blood OF Man." and the
walltlower u known in Palestine az the
"Blood-drops OF Christ" Among other
plants which are said 90 owe the dark
stained blossoms TO the blood-irops which
tiickled from the cross may be men,
toned the wood sorrel. the spotted pelsi.
carla, the arum, tho purple orchls. and
the red anemone; while French legend
accounts In the same way for the crimson
spotted leaves of the roodselken.