Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-23

| %~W ers, with which the
| WxW~ ~ gentle zephyrs may toy,
MVMVSSVET but a modern individ-
| NSW N>SyND ual-a dusky daughter
Ham-who has lived
In this wicked world for something less than
forty years. She is not only prophet, but q
healer as well, and among her dusky brethren
| is both admired and feared, for she Is great
| ''hoodoo."
She also has her followers among intelligent
white people as well; in fact, it was through .
friend Of mine, who thoroughly believes in her,
having heard Of them desired to know more,
80, vending my way to this desirable section Of
Washington and following rather tortuous
alley ornamented with remains Of watermelons
and groups of pickaninnies summing themselves,
after little inquiry found the abode of the
saint.
IN THE PREsENcK.
knock and was ushered into the sanity
presence, and found before me Q well-built
negro woman about forty years old. The room
contained two trunks and q small table, on
which was tin basin containing large min
eral water bottle, which was surrounded by that
rich fluid which the Potomac supplies and
nearly filed with the same opalescent liquid
afterward found this played o most i'm
portant part in her seances. The saint disap-
peared for moment and returned bringing
with her two chairs, one Of which, as abe handed
It to me, parted with its legs, but after some
little tinkering replaced them and sat down.
few questions developed the fact that
not only did she hold communication with
spirits and with all the planets. but she dag
nosed and cured diseases and had q system Of
theology peculiarly her own.
These powers came to her when she got
religion sixteen years ago. She told me these
things IN a meek and self-deprecatory way, q
II she regarded herself as the humble mouth
piece OF higher power.
GAZING INTO THE BOTTLE.
then asked her if she could tell me anything
or if she had a message for me. She placed
one hand in the basin and with a far-away look
in her eyes gazed at the bottle as if she were
casionally she shaded 1t with her other hand;
presently, in dreamy sort Of way and In q low
voice, she commenced to speak. Occasionally
she mumbled something to herself, and by way
Of explanation said:
''You know has to call the people sees, man
and woman, and has to speak Jus what the
spirit tells me. I sees five men who want to
see You on some business-one is a short. thick
set man, who wants to see you in perticular-
they comes from . great way and Is coming
soon. You is going to three big cities and in
one Of them sees you inside great long room.
mighty 'prospus' inside. 1t looks like you il
going to get some money, deed it does. sees
a lady with yaller hair, who is rapshus fond Of
you. / sees another little low short woman
with brown hair; she has some jewelry-'pears
like chain, q gold collar button and q ring
She says she loves you"
On being told that I didn't recognize any Of
them she seemed somewhat confused and disap-
pointed, and said: you know 1 kin only JUS
tell you what sees and draws"
She says she draws these pictures to her by
means Of the water and at the same time the
''sperit" talks to her. The water is holy water
and is made 20 by praying over it for a week
or two, ordinary water being used After
reaching this peculiar condition of sanctifca-
ton ''if any fly went over ii he would sink right
to the bottom" / looked, but there were no
flies on it, or in it, either.
PHYSICAL 'MIsHRIEs"
then asked her If 1 had any ailments Of any
kind Long and intently she gazed at the bottle,
frowning occasionally and now and then shad-
ing it with one hand mumbling to herself the
meanwhile. Presently she said: "You's got a
physical misery on one side-all up your arm
and ches'-sometimes in your head and some
times in your feet" This was news to me and
sounded interesting so Iasked the nature Of this
physical misery" and on which side it was
mumbling she said: "You know the sperit don't
give no names OF spells-it JUS speaks generally,
the name don't make no difference, but il pears
to be mostly on the left side.'
OF this new and peculiar affection had not
been previously aware, but 1 evinced much in
terest in it and asked what should do to ..get
shed" Of this physical misery"
was told 'to eat no flesh or dead bodies for
nine days, or maybe for three moons, and per-
haps for year. 1t all depends on what kind
Of spells you have" 1 was also to carry one of
her potato fills, "a panacea for all ills). In
the meantime Sha IN for
would be entirely unconscious of it this mysteri-
Gus proceSs Of healing would be going on, and
maybe on the ninth day it would all fall off
and leave me perfectly well and cured" She
offers great Inducements to become vegetarian;
besides perfect health you can live several CEN
turtles, provided you have 'potato I'LL"
THE POTATO FILL.
I told her this physical misery had been
troubling me very much and that would
do anything to effect q cure. After consentine
to become O vegetarian for 30 long a period as
might be necessary, signifed my desire for a
potato fll, which, to my surprise, she hest
tated about giving me, saying she didn't care
to let everybody have one" but finally she con-
scented sent and became . the happy possessor Of
most mysterious thing, withered and puckered
like persimmon in January. One end had
been cut of and then fastenedso on by pins ar
ranged In the form Of o star and crescent-
'oe mystic sign OF Venus and de moon" Tbs
interior had been followed out and in il was
placed Gas subsequent investigation proved) q
small quantity Of blue vitriol, some 'salfire"
(sulphur), three white beans and nine pepper
seeds. Each was put in with a prayer and
sealed by the Holy Spirit" This composite
wonder was to cover with salt, wrap In Q
paper and carry it in my pocket.
While she was out Of the room getting the
potato fl" peeped under the table and saw
more mysteries, as she called them There
were two large bottles, one containing clear
water, in which were some twigs with buds on
them; the other bottle contained reddish fiuid.
In which were two pieces Of dark wood stuck
all over with toothpicks. Both bottles we're
tightly corked. There was also CURIOUS look
ing red clay image about foot long and a
lemon stuck full Of pins. After having dis
posed OF the potato M business questioned
her about these things.
TO REMOVE SPELLS
She said the bottles and lemons were TO rs-
move 'simpls missries' and spells, but the
image had more important use. "You know
sometimes people is got spell on them and
they don't know what 1t l.; then makes Q
graveyard image (graven image, do YOU
think?) and buries It and then prays over this
here image and the spell goes away.
Most the sickness comes from the SPELLS and
con1ur OF other people, Sometimes they takes
several mites Of devils work and puts il In 4