The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-03-30
WITcHcRAFT.
A Majority of the Citizens of the United
States Believe in 1t.

Witchcraft is at the present time be-
lieved in by majority of the citizens
of the United States. The larger num-
Der of immigrants from the continent
of Europe are more or less in fear of
such powers. To these must be added
no inconsiderable proportion of per-
sons of English and Scotch descent;
for strong vein of superstition is dis
cernible in many Irish, Scotch, and
some English. whose folklore" diff
fused in nursery tales and neighbor-
hood gossip, has entwined itself strong
ly about the fibers of spontaneous sub
conscious mental imagery.
Where colonies of immigrants have
remained isolated. retaining the use of
their own language. the influence of
witchcraft is more easily traced. The
interior of Pennsylvania affords better
illustrations of this. and on larger
scale, than any other State. It has
been but two or three years since suit
was brought by a man against his
mother. mo of the counties ef Penn
syl7ania, to recover damages for dog
which he charged her with having
killed by witchcraft; and he not only
brought suit, but obtained judgment
witnesses testified as to their expe-
rience in witchcraft, and only one said
that he had never had friend or rela-
tive who was bewitched.
In divers villages in Pennsylvania,
some of them in the Dunkard settle
ment, are women who are supposed to
be witches. Some are shrewd enough
not to apply their arts for strangers,
Int 70
stated in an article in the New York
San some years ago, they will sell
charms to ward off lightning. dry up
wells of the enemies of applicants. force
COWS to give bloody milk, cause sick
ness in the family, destroy beauty, sep
arate man and wife, and re-unite es-
tranged lovers.
In the interior parts of the Southern
States, where large proportion of the
white population cannot read, and
there is little admixture of society.
| there are "'witch-doctors," who, as
suming that all disease is caused by
witches secure thriving practice in
counteracting their influence, The
Philadelphia Times, on the authority
of reputable correspondent, who
gives many facts to sustain his repre-
|
poor whites have believed in witches,
and the belief is deep-seated and in
curable."
The African population brought this
belief from the Dark Continent, and it
persists among them to this day.
though the progress of religion and
education is doing something to check
it.
tIv 4nA in ion
parts of the United States more than
fifty suits instituted by persons against
those who they claimed had bewitched
them; but under existing laws the ac.
cused could not be prosecuted except
where money had been obtained under
false pretenses, or overt acts of crime
had been suggested or committed.
During pedestrian tours in New En-
gland, in various parts of the West
and in every Southern State, have
frequently stayed for the night at the
houses of poor farmers, laborers, fish
ermen, and trappers. In such jour
neys | have Invariably listened to the
them by suggestion, and have founC
the belief in witchcraft cropping out il
the oldest towns in New England
sometimes within the very shadow ol
the buildings where learned ministry
has existed from the settlement of the
country, and public schools have fur
nished means of education to all class
es. The horseshoes seen in nearly
every county, and often in every town
ship. upon the houses of persons sug
gested the old horseshoe beneath which
Lord Nelson, who had long kept i
nailed to the mast of the Victory, re
ceived his death-wound at Trafalgar
E =Rea,. Il u BuckLeu. in Cc7ataLrQ.