The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-16
MODERN WITCHCRAFT.
The Death of the "Wizard of the
West" Reveals Strange
Superstitions. +.

That an extraordinary amount of
superstition still exists in some of the
agricultural counties, particularly in
the west of England, has been demon
strated recently, says Cassell's Sotur-
day Journal. by circumstances which
have come to light in connection with
the recent death of a Taunton oracle,
who was known throughout Somerset,
Devon and Dorset as Billy the
Piper" He was for many years looked
| upon as the Wizard of the West"
and a large bundle of letters which
were found in his house reveal to an
astonishing extent the credulity OF
certain people in these parts.
Billy, who was seventy-six when he
died, had lived in the same house for
forty years. He commenced life by
hawking pipes, but doubtless the ac-
quaintance he formed with country
folk while he was peregrinating with
humble ''clays" opened his eyes TO
their superstitious beliefs and induced
| him to pose as a past master of witch
craft and fortune telling. And it was
not only simple villagers who were
reckoned among Billy's clients. Farm
ers and well-to-do people frequently
| consulted him-the former believing
that he could cast disease out of their
| cattle, the latter regarding him as an
| infallible aid in the discovery and
punishment of those who had done
them wrong
Billy was a thin, wizened old man,
and in his long Inverness cloak and
| sombrero hat was a familiar figure all
| the country round. His fingers were
| covered with rings, and a dilapidated
wig, which covered the top part of his
| face, rendered his appearance ex-
| trelnely curious. 1t is said that when
he visited some parts OF Somerset
| offers of hospitality were so numerous
that he had to exercise his choice.
This rose from an idea hat 1T was
lucky to have 1.-THE wise man" under
the roof. The letters which were
| found in the house at the old mans
death are mostly from illiterate peo-
pie.
In many references are made to in
| closures for valuable services" One
woman Notwithstanding is going
wrong at my house today? | don't
know whose been, or if they caused it
without coming. Mother was going
to have the chimney swept, and the
man isn't come yet, and l expect he
will come after dinner, so | shan't
have a chance to burn the water as
you said. Also l thought of going to
a grand site at Exeter, but they have
caused my father to want to go, n
we can't both get away. Also they
caused the girl not to be able to do
her work fast enough"
An example of the absurd idea that
the wizard could divulge the name OF
a persons enemies is found in the let
ter of a Devonshire girl, who said:--
''She came back again last night. L
hope you will try and stop her, as it
makes me quite i'll, the thoughts OF it!
| wish the old thing was dead, as I'm
afraid there won't be no peace for me
while she is living. There is another
woman that she is very friendly with,
who goes about to places with her, so
I've been told. Her name is. I've
done all you have told me. | forgot
to tell you before that she takes in
work what / used to do"
A Devonshire farmer, equally sim
pie, wrote:-''I thought l would drop
you a few lines to let you know how
things are getting ON We have not
lost anything since, but the things
seem to be taken in a very queer way
sometimes. As they was not to work
Yesterday one of the horses fell into
the hedge-trough, and they were
obliged to get two or three men to
help it out again. l have done and
am doing every morning what you
told me. / should like to know who
my enemies are, that l might beware
of them" 4,
A Bridgewater client" growing i'm
patient, thus addressed the wise
man:-''Dear Mr.. Brower-I have a
ried out your instructions, but | find
it don't infect the parties yet. Do you
think you could recommend any other
thing to find them out, as | fancy
want to know who it is that is doing
me wrong?"
Gesture and Facial Expression.
Gesture has been brought almost to
a science in the French schools of act
ing. 1t has been argued out and re-