Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-09-25
MODERN WITcHcRAFr.
Some Good Examples of II Found In
West Of England.


West of England.
That an extraordinary amount !
superstition still exists in some Of q
agricultural counties. particularly [
the west OF England. has been demo&
strated recently by circumstance
which have come TO light in conne@
ton with the death. in December las
of n Taunton oracle who was know
throughout Somerset, Devon and DO
set as billie the Piper" He was I'd
many years looked upon as the 'WiI
card of the West" and a large bund.
of letters which were found in h
house revealed TO an astonishing O
tent the crcdulity Of certain people |
those parts.
Bill, who was 76 years of age who
he died, had lived in the same hOu&
for forty years. He commenced Ii
by hawking pipes. but doubtless II
acquaintance he formed with count.
folks while he was peregrinating wit
their humble 'clays" opened his ey(
to their superstitious beliefs and ID
duced him to pose 40 past master
witchcraft and fortune-teller. And
was not only simple villagers VIII
were reckoned among Billy's client
Farmers and well-to-do people fr,
quently consulted him, the former b(
lieving that he could cast disease O
of their cattle; the latter regardir.
him as an infallibie aid in the dil
covery Of and punishment OF tho
who had done them wrong.
Billy was Il thin, weakened old ma
says Casse's Sat Journal, and, in h
long Inverness cloak and sombre}
hat was familiar figure all II
country round. His fingers were co
cred with rings, and dilapidated wi
which covered the top part of his fac
rendered his appearance extreme
curious It is said that when he visi
ed some parts Of Somerset offers
hospitality were so numerous that
had to exercise his choice. This aro{
from an idea that it was lucky to hay
1.-The wise man" under the roof. I'll
letters which were found in the hou
at the old mans death are most
| from ulllerale people.
In many references are made to 4
closures for valuable services. On
woman wrote: Every thing is goir|
wrong at my home to-day. | dor
know whose been, or il they caused
without coming Mother was going
have the chimney swept and Il
man isn't come yet and expect
will come after dinner so as | chan
have a chance to burn the water
you said. Also thought OF going
a grand site at Exeter, but they ha{
caused my father to want to go, al
we can't both get away. Also thu
caused the girl not TO be able to
her work fast enough"
An example Of the absurd idea tn
the wizard could divulge the name
a persons enemies is found in Il
letter of a Devonshire girl who say
she came back again last night
hope you will try and stop her, as
makes me quite ill-the thoughts Of [
| wish the old thing was dead, as
am afraid there won't be no peach +
me while she is living. There
another what she is very friend
with, who goes about to places wi
her. SO I've been told. Her namo
-. | have done all you have to
me. / forgot to tell you before TN
she takes in work what used to do
A Devonshire farmer, equally sir
pie, wrote: II thought | would dr.
you few lines to let you know no
things are getting on. We have n
lost anything since. but things see
to be taken in a very queer way som
times As they was not to work We
terday, one of the horses fell into q
hedge-trough, and they were obligt
to get two or three men to help it O
again. l have done and am doiT
every morning what you told me.
should like to know who my enemi{
are, that | might beware of them"
Bridgewater client" growing imp
tent, thus addressed the wise mai
Dear Mr.. Brewer: / have carried O j
your instructions. but j find it dor
infect the parties yet.
do you think you could recon
mend any other thing to find them ou
rs fancy want TO know who il
that is doing me wrong" A woma
living at WestOn-Super Mare wrot
Offering Billy two shillings il he cou
tell her who had n silk handkcrchiy
which she had lost. A Chard ma
complained that his toe was swellin
and asked for advice. A young ri
in Wellington inquired: Are yd
doing the same trade as you used q
Ii you are let me know, for | want yd
to tell me something about youn
man. and will pay you whatever
the price If you can do it,"
SWftnesN NV Handy,