The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-14
2lle Aeer2ld 0nl S02Ta.
ARKANSAS MoUNTAINEEEs
The Superstition- Of a People Out of Touch
with the World.
Isl. Louis Globe Democrat. 7

TSt. Louis Globe Democrat.
Last summer I had occasion TO
spend some time among the mountains
of Northwest Arkansas, and was
thrown much in the company Of tine
simple country folk Of that undeve-
loped region, and had ample op?ortun-'
ity to study modern primitive man."
The speaker was Col. Ashley Pond Of
Michigan. "These people, for the most
part, are simple in their habits, care
less Of their appearance-they are den
sely ignorant and wholly unsophicated.
Living as they do far from the
hauuts of civilization and the hurry
and noise of modern progress, where
even the appearance Of stranger is an
event to be talked Of and speculated
upon for weeks, they are not much in
advance Of the original possessors Of
thesoil, or, I should say, rocks, beneath
the shadow of which they pass their
lives, only at rare intervals visiting the
nearest town or village, perhaps fifty
miles away. Being ignorant, naturally
they are esuperstitious, and was anna
Zed at the amount Of folk lore and
legend current among them, some Of
which would outview any legend Of
Sleepy Hollow or kindred lore, but
more often I was amused at the eX-
aggerated Importance they placed in
signs and omens, in which they de-
voutly believed.
First in importance among them
comes the moon, which is watched by
them with religious faith, and eXerts
an influence upon almost every day of
their lives. Each change is observed
with the utmost solicitude. Their corn
and running vines must only be planted
in the light of the moon, while small
grain and tubers are supposed TO
thrive best when pianled in the dark;
if a werm fenc- i laid or a gate pest is
set when Luna shows her horns it will
surely rot out in a short time, but if the
work is done when that luminary is
fullest it will last a generation; if her
horns hang down it will be wet
month, and vice versa. Even love,
courtship, and marriage are thus in
fuenced, and no weil-raised mountain
lass will consent to be welded except
when the moon is at her best
"Tree frcx* are- heir barometers in
summer and squirrels IL winter. Thus,
if the frog is heard at night there will
be rain next day, if they are silent in
June there will he drought in July; if
the squirrel is industrious when the
nuts are brown on the trees a hard
winter is presased, but if the little
rodent is lazy aud Indifferent about
gathering stores, Christmas will come
and 60 without snow; if they sport
much in the treetops the weather will
be fair; if they run upon the ground
storms will follow.
"The mountaineer is never at loss for
a compass, since he finds one in every
rock and tree, for he long ago learned
that the moss grows heaviest on the
north side; and as for a thermometer,
he little cares it be hot or cold so
long as he has plenty to eat and little
to do.
among them it is considered fool
hardy to commences q journey or assume
any undertaking on Friday, and it is
an evil omen to receive visit from
stranger on that day. The whip-poor-
will is regarded with the greatest awe,
and if one lights upon a house death
is sure to follow; and the bravest
mountaineer shudders when he hears
the gray evil making that disagreeable
noise they call laughing, for they swear
the bird is making sport of some mis-
fortune that is sure to happen.
''If hens cackle q great deal you will
have company the next day; if your
dog howls some one he knows is in
oistress;lfyou horse neighs frequently
you will soon go on long journey.
The height of i'll luck is to take your
cat along when you move, but if she
comes to you it is an omen Of some
piece Of good fortune.
"These are but a few Of the scores of
meanings which these people apply to
incidents common to their daily lives,
and he who would doubt them is con-
sidered unworthy of confidence, ard,
in fact, is looked upon in a sort Of pity
as one who is defying the fates, and
will surely, sooner or later, come to
rriafD