The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-11

A Superstition That Has Been Prevalent
with Many Noted People.
Who wore the first amulet 1t would
be impossible to say. but the adoption
of a talisman to ward off evil is of very
ancient origin.
PhylacterIes, the Greek word for am
ulets, were worn by the Israelites,. to
which allusion is made in the Scrip
lures These phylacteries were a mar
row strip of parchment. on which :vere
written passages from the Old Testa-
ment This strip was placed in small
leathern box, and bound TO the left ell
bow by a narrow strap. There was
smaller phylactery for the forehead,
the box for which was about an inch
square.
The word amulet is of Arabic origin,
and implies a thing suspended Anu
lets were of various kinds. The moon
stone found in the deserts Of Arabia
was worn as talisman against en-
chantment by the women, who sus-
pended it around the neck. 1t was
white, transparent stone. the time for
searching for it being midnight
In India a variety Of gems and stones
1re used as amuletS The most common
is the salagrama, stone about rs large
as q billiard ball, and which is pcrfor-
ated with black This is supposed to
be found only in the Gandalsi, a river IN
Nepaul The person who possesses one
of these stones is esteemed highly for-
tunate; he preserves il IN a clean cloth,
from whence il is sometimes taken TO
be bathed and perfumed he believes
that the water in which IL IS washed, II
drank, has the power 10 preserve from
sin. Holding 1t in his hand, the dying
Hindoo expires in peace, trusting IN a
stone rather than in the living God
The modern Egyptian is believer In
the Evil Eye, 10 avert which he hangs
around the neck charms supposed 70
possess q magic power. These are
usually worn by children, and consist
OF little tin or leather cases, which In
close words either from thc Scriptures
or Koran, II the children are Of MCslen
parents.
Even the Romans were not without
their charms They hung little cases
around the neck which contained =
charm. generals not disdaiuing the
same Augustus thought II would
bring him good luck 70 wear piece of
the sea-cSlf, and, therefore never Weat
without this talismau-
In Greece the priests sell sick charms
consisting OF pieces ot paper. on which
Is written the name OF the disease from
which the person IS suffering and these
arc nailed % the door ot the cham her
Piinv tells Us that any plant gathered
hy river before sunrise ay 4 person, X
unseen, sied on he lett srra of a. sgEe-
patient, without his knowing Ena. !.
is, viii cEre the disease
Queen Elizabeth, daring her last IT.
ness. wore around. her neck a charm
made u gold which hzA BEEN o.
oueathed heT ~ al Cd woman n
Wales. who declared thz, - long ~ tf1s
queen wore II soe wostd never % ia
The amulet, as was generally ias e1se.
proved 81 - anal. ard EiIzaneth- cot
Withstand her faith "a 10 ef-aFin-
rnt only sicxene6. bat c.s1 D7r'ng
tie piagG- IN LoaEou. people wore Az
,ta:s y keep az 81 dread destroyer
Sru.,yets o. a~~ersie we've T~0-n n@aT tas
heart Qusjls ot qa.e<salFe @e-a AaET
around the Eec<. aa4 a-so Tie Po~s-sf
of ;oadz
Il vras 70. a. al E-nsaa' fo- bo.tisrs
-ns sth~rs WOO ssere exposed to1&ngs-
=. wear "a is-ns-s ~ vTsy ct protection.
4 s.o-r vh&r5 g4sped ere1eSsce Is ted
~ : sr.,.sgsr a tfse tlzEs q the prinee u
C,rznge lie vsa sVauia1 f,T4s0Fsev,
and o. aefaE' esn1~snasst ~ D. saot =
s.as fs-na ;Na, ae zsz ssTs.tssrs Dc
Ta.e soldiers Stripes hsas 20 Sc Efaai
ksud - 4-zaor ae ssore. hlt = -as e.~
soF~rees tk4t he w&s ast grotsc+ea -
.eaf 3ay. b4i 50 szaalei, % 7yasrA pTazs
tie zzuxe q Las1u. So toaad ga hss
y-ersfsa- 'Ts2ls was tsEG a#aJ frsfo
..rz ard the shoss :aspz esSset
N isss be-utlfs.s -sess'. sto-Tsl.sF =
sns&Is p.4.G>z<- sAs s0ss1 ~ 6g..--