The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-04
CHARMS AND AMULETs.
FETIcHEs WHICH PEOPLE WEAR
ON WATCH CHARMS.
icarsbs and Golden Eyes From Ancient
Egypt-scais From Babylon and
Fossil Triiobltes aud Lack
Pcnnies.

adorned with an Egyptian scarab
worth -. 900. Its appraisemeut 10 SO
high not so much on acco unit OF its ex-
luisite workmanship as because IL was
'ound in the sarcophngus OF Ramcses
The Great. and Is believed to have been
he royal seal. Tho beotle was the
emblem OF the Creator in the mythol-
ogy OF the people who lived in ancient
Egypt and great numbers OF scarabei
are discovered with the mummies In
the tombs
In the tombs OF the Pharaohs have
also been found very curious repre-
sensations OF the human eye in gold.
Some OF them arc left eyes and 9th.
ers right. They are beautifully exc
cuted. the brows lids and pupils be-
ing carved out OF little rectangular
pieces OF metal 1t is believed that
they were carried about by people for
q protection against diseases OF tho
eye which IN Northern Africn have
always been extremely prevalent
The glare OF the white. sandy plains
produces dangerous opthalmiu, while
every modern traveller is familiar with
the little flies which lay their eggs
within the lids tho Larvae Matching
therefrom feeding upon the tissues OF
the organ.
After the Oriental manner tho ma
tives OF Egypt have always been en-
tircly neglectful OF remedial measures
for the treatment OF such complaints
In the olden days they wore these
golden eyes for the purpose Of ward
ing of the evil influences which were
supposed TO cause such diseases. A
person whose right eye was sick would
carry the corresponding optic carved
In metal and vice versa. Probably 1t
was the eye OF the goddess Isis which
was represented. When the good god
Osiris WINS set upon NY the Egyptian
satan. whose name was Typhon, and
cut to pieces. tho fragments OF his
body being thrown to TIE gnomes
she wept so much that the river Nile
was formed by her tears. Subse-
quently she managed to collect all the
bits and made him us good rs new
again. Recently it has been quite a
fad to hang counterfeits OF these
golden eyes upon watch-chains.
1t is upon watch guards nowadays
that amulets such as these are mostly
worn. They are supposed to possess
all sorts Of virtues supernatural. 1t is
astonishing how many people, even in
this enlightened nineteenth century,
have faith in them Although belief
In ghosts and witches no longer pre-
walls. yet the dread of the mysterious
unknown in nature retains moro or
less influence over every human mind.
Individuals are often heard to say that
they have no superstitions. but in
reality there is no one who does not
cherish few secretly. The form in
which this weakness is most common
ly exhibited Is an unreasoning faith
that luck inheres in certain objects.
You pick up n copper cent in tho
street and put it in your pocket book
for duck penny" IL is an amulet
pure and simple.
Thus the little cylinders OF stone
which tho Babylonians OF old EN-.
ployed for seals are often seen dang
ling from watch chains. For the
same purpose jewellers mount in gold
or silver small fossil trilobites--
crustaccans found in rocks that were
formed perhaps 10. 900. 600 years ago.
| the ancestors of modern Holsters and
crabs. Gamblers and actors are o!
all people most given TO superstitions
respecting luck. and it is not surpris-
ing to find that they arc greatly adj
| dicted to amulets OF various kinds.
carrying them on their watch guards.
in scarf-pins and set in rings for the
| fingers. Miniature boarS tusks and
the shells SO much affected by gypsies
are both Of very ancient PriapiC
origin, What they signify can be
easily found out by any one who cares
| to inquire.
Horse chestnuts and potatoes car.
ried in the pocket TO keep off rheuma-
tism or for other superstitious pur.
poses are amulets. Tho virtues sup.
posed to be possessed by amber bead:
are variously familiar, says tho Wash
jngton Star. Belief in the super,
natural qualities OF amber is very ole
indeed. 1t rose originally from it'
peculiar electric quality. from which
was derived tho word electricity '
electron being tao Greek name foI
amber Miniature arrow heads cut
out Of jasper and carnelian are found
to this day by Arabs in the desert
sands and strung in necklaces foi
charms The Etruscans OF old used &c
mount similar arrow heads in gold.
and one sees them worn even now IL
scarf pms. Thus is tho stone ago
brought down to the very present
time.
Peoples fingers. cut from tho hand:
| OF the dead. arc sometimes carried n,
amulets by the ignorant and supersti
tious Dried lizards sewn up In
leather serve tho Same purpose. The
Indian hunter will cut the shape OF an
animal out OF stone. have IL blessed
By tho medicine man and believe thai
IL gives him good fortune in the chase
OF the beast represcnteds When he
kills one no dips the fetch in the
blood. Perhaps he wraps about il
beads signifying money. and attaches
TO IL little arrow heads which repre-
sent the executive function OF slaugh
ter SO rs to secure as much hell
from tho unknown as possible. he
| hangs charms all over his Derson. In