The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-26
SUPERS1|NOUS NEGROES.
Movements are Connected with "SiSus. {"
Tokens" OF a "Pe1Ch."
HOW jim "HOoDooED" JOHN.
The Whole Plantation was Aroused Be-
cause Jim Struck John with u Hot
Iron Bar--Other superstitions Prevs-
lent Among the Uneducated Negroes.

A Southern woman in q letter to
Providence friend tells of some amusing
superstitions among the negroes.
She writes: You OF the North know
but little of the strange ideas among our
colored people here. where every move
ment is CONNECTED with some "sign" or
"token." and you are constantly warned
not to do this or to do that to escape the
power of some "feiich."
Seeing quite a commotion among our
servants few days ago. sent for one Of
the oldest and most intelligent among
them to learn the cause.
"David,"I said, "what has happened
TO frighten the boys and Rirlsf"
He looked around as IL afraid of being
overheard, hesitated for a minute, then
said. 'srrubble, missus, trubble"
What trouble. DAvidi Tell me, and
porhaps i can prevent 1t"
"Nc. no, lnifsns; no help now; he must
60. ...%So sHp," >, -, 90 and 90 wn.r., Tai, M.
the whCle story"
He told me in bis pathetic way what
can better tell in m, own words:
Our man, John. had been down to the
blacksmith shop to have some work
done, and while there had got into an
alteration with the smith. Jim. which
ended In a quarrel, and as John had
reached forward to strike. Jim had
caught red-hot iron bar from the forge
and struck him across tie bare arm.
burning deep into the flesh. leaving a
John imn ediately fell to the floor terri
fied at the terrible doom in store for him,
while the others fed to tell the story.
'But David" 1 interrul ted. "a burn
on the arm is not poiug TO kill him,
will send him down some ointment ana
it will heal in a few days"
Oh missus, don't you know" said
the man, and then came the superstition.
"If by any possible chance, either in
tentional or accidental. person burns
another on the bare flesh so as to le I'VE
scar or brand, the victim Is 'hoodooed"
and Immediately comes under the power
of the aggressor, who. although he may
never see his victim again, holds entire
control over him aud may at any tine
vampire-like, draw his own sustsn-
ance from the one whois 'hoodooed,"
and while he becomes strong and healthy
the other loses flesh, strength aud vital
ity, becoming bloodless skeleton ana
finally dies.
Knowing how real and terrible this
all seemed To them, would not
smile. but proposed going down TO see
the blacksmith and trying to buy him
off. But ith shocked face David said
it was impossible. Tdere was no escape
from the terrible doom. That the mo-
ment the man had burned John he was
sold TO the devil and must accomplish
the deed before him whether he wished
TO or not.
But" said David. his face lighting
up, the devil will get Jim at last and
will shake him over the hot Goals until
he lets go OF Johns soul, and il flies
away. He can't get that"
i went down to the stable to see John
aud found him with his face buried in
a ha nil ofI Nu
could not comfort him or shake his be-
lief in the fate In store for him. His
wife and children were, nearly frantic
and the other servants moaned anu
groaned In symptthy You cannot i'm
aRine how demoralzed the plantation
was, and l really feared John would die
of terror.
Onlya short time ago Martha, our
dining room girl. caught my hand as 1
was about TO raise the curtain In tue
breakfast room, begging me not to look
out, ana later / should know why. Af.er
] had eat.n, she inforne me, some one
had killed a cat In the yard the light be-
fore and II had looked upon the spot
before eatlng, the hairs OF the deal AMI
mai would nave been mixed with my
food anu choked me- OF course l was
deighted 10 have escaped such ia. ell
Again Fred vas pruning one OF the
trees on the lawn a, the limbs fell
they happened To form cross, when,
with tears We were told, Aome one of the
faulty would de beforv another moon
and although several moons have passed
aud we are still here. tie old beleI is too
firmly Impressed in their minds 10 be
shaken by one failure.
The maids always start down stairs in
the morning with the right loot lir.t, to
insure gooi day. and place bit oil
wood in glass or water at light TO pre-
vent fires.
could give you pages more of these
strange superstitions, but nave given
enough to snow you with what we nave
to deal.