The Helena independent., 1893-11-21
THE DEVILS AGENT.
How . New York Woman swindics super.
stitIous Italians.

How = View York Woman swindIcs Super-
stitIous Italians.
oueer superstition has strong hold
upon the more ignorant members OF the
Italian COLONY in New York city. This sl-
perstitio,, Ia based upon the positive belief
that the devil has more power in the direc-
tion Of human affairs than any other agen-
cy. The devil has not only the capacity to
inflict evil, but he can hand over good
things as well under certain circumstances.
Designing persons who take advantage OF
this startling notion are known as the dew
lis agents, and they have, or pretend to
have, the power of inducing the devil to
withhold from certain individuals such
things as will give them trouble and mis-
cry, and to give them only such things as
will bring wealth, joy and happiness.
The chief OF the devils agents is wom-
an, SAYS the New York Recorder. Philo-
mena Sicardi is the name by which she is
best known. though she has several other
titles. which are assumed under the direc
ton of the devil TO suit particular cases.
Philomena is short, slender, stoops slight
". and her age can be fixed anywhere at
from 40 to 60 The only remarkable fea-
ture about her IL her eyes. which are coal
black. abnormally large and so brilliant
that they seem at times to blaze with emo
ton.
Where Philomena came from nobody
knows. She will not tell herself. and rs
she pretends to have the secret of the fo,In-
tain of youth mt her disposal she probably
has come down through the centuries in
the sunny Italian CLINE with but little
change In her external appearance. She
landed In the Bend about 10 years ago and
has survived other devils agents who have
fallen by the way, owing to the practice OF
such barefaced swindlirg methods that
even the devil would not longer cover them
with his warmth of protection and keep
them out Of Jail.
Devils agents, according to the belief of
Italians who have faith in them, are born
and not made They Gre selected by the
devil when they first see the light of day,
but they do not become full fiedged agents
or aware of their power until such time in
after years as the devil makes himself
known to them by signs which cannot be
mistaken. When the devil comes around
and tells the agents that they belong to
him and must do his work on earth, they
become sick and die. They take trip to
hadcs, make ii contract with the devil III
his private workshop, which is written in
words of fire. and woe be unto the agent
who departsin the slightest from the strict
letter of the agreement. The devil Is ter
:ible master, but az he rewards the agents
bountfully with worldly goods and chat
tells they do not complain and Will do his
bidding until the end of time. The special
work in which Philomena excels, as told By
Prospero Ronoco IL money lender in the
Bend, is as follows:
When sickness comes into the family of
the poor Italians, they do not send for a
physician, but go posthaste for Philomena,
the queen of the devils agents. She is a
wonder, indeed, and the way she can work
the coin out of the pockets Of these people
would make bunko man turn green with
envy. When she goes into the sickroom,
she falls upon her knees, closes her eyes,
mutters something in a language which no