Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13

Rev. Dr. Buckley says II sim 10 Powerful In

From the Century
witchcraft is at the present time believed In
by majority Of the citizens Of the United
States. The larger number Of immigrants from
the continent Of Europe are more or less in fear
of such powers. To these must be added no
uncomfortable proportion Of persons of English
and Scotch descent: for q strong vein Of super
stition Is discernibls in many Irish, Scotch and
some English, whose folk lore" diffused
In nursery tales and neighborhood gossip. has
entwined itself strongly about the fbers of
spontaneous sub-conscious mental imagery.
Among the moro ignorant members Of the
Catholic church OF every nationality the belief
produces q mysterious dread, against which
men ana women cross themselves and resort 10
various rites supposed TO be etficacious-
Mhere colonies OF immiSrsn have remained
isoisteo, retaining their own language, the IN
Euence OF witchcraft is more easily traced.
Inc interior OF Pennsylvania affords better
illustrations OF this. and on Q larger scale than
any other state. Ii has been but two or three
years since suli was brought by q man against
ms mothcS IN one Of the counties Of Pennsyl-
vania to recover damages for dog which he
charged her with having killed by witchcraft.
and he not only brought suit but obtainod
Judgment from justice OF the peace. Various
Witnesses tessined as to their experiences IN
witchcraft aud only one said that he had never
had friend or relative who was bewitchcd.
In divers villages of Pennsylvania. some OF
them In the Dunkard settlement are women
VINO are supposed to be wfches Some ars
shrewd enough not to apply their arts for
strangers. but to those whom thew know as
sailed In an article in the New York Sun some
years age they will sell charms to ward of
iiShtuing from buildings, dry up the wells OF
TIE enemies OF applicants. force cows TO give
bloody mlik. cause sickness in the family de-
stFoy beauty, separate man and wife and re-
unite estrangcd lovers.
In the interior parts Of the southern states,
where large roportion OF the white pouula-
uon cannot read, and there is little admixture
OF society, there are witch doctors" who, as
Stunning that al disease is caused ~ witches.
secure thriving practice in counteracting their
influence. The Philadelphia Times on the
authority OF . reputable correspondent who
gives many facts to sustain his represe MT tious
says; For generations the poor whites have
peneyed IN witches. and the belief Ia deep
seated and incurable.''
The African population brought this belief
IRON tie dark continent, and IL persists among
them TO this day, though tho progress OF reli-
sion and education is doing something 10
check it
have recently noted in various parts OF the
United state more than fifty suits Instituted by
persons against those who they claimed had
oewitched tGcm, bat under existing laws the
accused couli not be prosecuted except where
money had been obtained under false pre-
lenses, or overt acts OF crime had been sas-
sesteG o. committed.
During pedestrian tours In New England,
various parts OF the west and in every south
ern state, have frequently stayed for the
ni2a' at the houses OF poor farmers, laborers,
fishermen and trappers. In such journeys
nave Invariably listened to the tales OF the
neishborhood, stimulating them by sug-
gestion, and have found the belief in witch
craft cropping out Ill the oldest towns in New
EnSiand, sometimes within the very shadow of
the buildings where a learned ministry las
existed from the settlement OF the country, aud
puonc schools have furnished means Of educa-
uon TO ali classes. The horsesEoes seen in
nearly every county and often in every town
ship upon the houses Of persons suggested
the old horseshoe beneath which Lord Nelson,
who had Ions kept it nailed to the mast OF the
victory, received his death wound at Trafalgar.