The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-06
SOME LEGENDARY LORE.
That OF Canada Full OF the Activity
Of the Middle Ages
Devil
And the Superstitions Have q
Very Strong Hold on the
Rustics-
The Legend of the Werewolf Bslisi
That Spirits OF the Dead Return
TO Earth.

pride. the enemy Of God. but as the me
dileval devil OF monkish legend, the petty
prosecutor Of man. In the rural districts
Of Canada satan Is supposed To be very ac-
tive. His company may be looked for on
all OCCASIONS The accidental appearance
of a little child in the room often tstrays
the presence Of the evil spirit, as the poor
innocent is sure 70 bewail itself vigorous
". The prince Of darkness may be- met
az a ball in the guise OF a handsome young
man, who excels all the rustic gallants in
appearance. lie wears gloves 70 conceal
his claws and disregards the trammels Of
conventionality by keeping his hat on his
head 70 hide bis horns He selects the pref
test girl in the room as his partner, but
his choice is Usually the village coquette,
whose vanity OF levity has exposed her 20
the evil influence In the midst Of the
gayety a piercing cry is heard. a strong
odur Of birthstone becomes perceptihle, and
the attractive cavalier Is waited out OF the
window. carrying with him some useful
domestic utensil-as, for instance, a stove
or the frying pan The giE may escape
with a sharp scratch Of a claw, particular
" il she should happen 10 wear cross or
a cIuciix. Canadian rustics never an
swer "Entrez" when a knock is heard az
the door. they invariably respond "Ou-
1ez" This is founded upon an old legend
Of a young woman who replied 'Entrez'
20 such a summons, when the devil came
In and carried her of.
When one is starting in hurry to bring
the priest TO the sick, the devil is stimu-
lated to the most lively activity, for then
It il the question OF the loss or gain Of a
soul. On such occasions an endless vari-
ETY. of the most Unforeseen accidents are
sure to happen. The horses are found un-
barnessed, or the harness breaks without
any reason, and strange lights flash before
the horses eyes. Prudent sons guard
against such contingencies by providing
themselves with two vehicles. Then, If
an accident happens TO one, the other re
mains available.
The werewolf legend constitutes one Of
the most omber OF the traditiOnary beliefs
existing in French Canada. The story Of
a human being assuming a VOLTS shape is
certainly one Of the most generally diffus-
ed throughout the world. and the we're
wolf story comes down TO us from old RO-
man times. The French Canadian believes
that IL a person does not partake Of the
sacrament for seven years he viii turn
into a loup garou-a shapeless animal
without head OF limbs The loup garou
might also assume the form Of a Wild
at night he was obliged TO range through
woods and desert places. At dead of night
the loup garou steals from his bed. Climb
ing the highest tree in the neighborhood,
he hides in its branches and is instantly
transformed into bestial shape lie Is en-
dowed with supernatural speed and
strength. A fierce creature, with appetites
exaggerating those Of the animal he re
sembles, his especial delight Is in slaugh-
terng and devouring little children. When
be returns to human semblance, he may
be recognized by his excessive leanness,
wild eyes and haggard countenance. In
order TO regain his estate Of humanity it
IL necessary that the blood Of the monster
should be shed This kindly Office being
performed by friend, a complete restora-
tion results.
In many parts Of the country cats Of
three colors were considered lucky. There
fore the fortunate possessor Of a puss mot
tied with black, white aud gray should
preserve the animal carefully. When "A
Canadian lumberman is sufficiently fortu-
nate to shoot deer he wraps himself at
night in the skin in order 10 keep of
witches.
The souls OF the lost or spirits in purga-
tory naturally occupied prominent posi-
ton IN Canadian folklore The dead fire.
quently returned 20 the world. Among
old fashioned persons there were few who
had not held converse with a spirit or rev
enHnt Ia punishment for sin the dead
were often detained on the scene Of their
past misdeeds One dead person could not
help or relieve another. The wrong com
nitted on earth could only be righted by
the intervention ~ a living being The
evil spirits were unable 10 cross the bless
ed waters 81 the river ST. Lawrence with
out the help Of Christian. These haunt
ing spirits were numerous and Of varioug
descriptions.
The aurora borealis, called les marion
cites, les eclairons, les lustrious, are sup.
posed 10 be lost souls. Il is common
practice among the country people 20 sing
aloud TO keep OF evil spirits. They bciev,
that the sound 81 an instrument or 10,
human voice raised ina song viii cause the
marionettos 10 dance. However, dire mis-
fortune threatens the reckless being who
adopts this method 81 amusing himself
unless tine prccuuti1n is taken Of touching
him In time with palm that has beer
blessed. lie gradually Yields 10 "a weirl
fascination. his eyes dilntc. his voice grow.
feeble and before morning dawns his bodl
lies stiff aud stark in death, while his SOU
has flowu TO join in the giddy whirl Of LEI
luSfrlpua.
Firenies. known as fen Toilets. called D.,
country people q Toilets. are also consider
ed 10 be lost souls, whose goblin light
lure the unwary 90 destruction sac
prcrogative POSSESSED by nrehics in com
mon with other lights at the country. le-
briliiant perhaps. hur whose seduction
are quite a. much 90 be dreaded a sim
pie charm will curb the malicious design
Of these airy, gliueriug imps lf the oi
1ect a. their persecution can retain suii
Gent presence 81 mind Co thrust either
needle ur "A sharp knife into the nrarcs
fence, q Toilet j. obliged 20 stop short i
his coursr. One of two things must thc
happen-eithcr the q Toilet will impal
himself upon The -harr ir~trWnent nu
thus find dcliveran,-. 90 el-e BE- win -
hAust himself BOO Frantic efforts 10 pa.
through the rye a. tile needle. au attemT
which proves quite as difficult % the faI
tastic spi-it ~ the most substantial moi
tails. THIS gives the traveller time Co see
the shelter Of a dwelling Popular 81
ence Monthly,