Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-11-27

1iy1ilrainia 9rre gress.
Wizard CLIP.

one of the must fertile tracts of wheat coun-
try tn be found. The section Is well water
I'd being bordered by the Potomac and
Shenandoah rivers, with the famous Ope
quun a. supplementary. A background OF
ro,al mountains seems to stand quad on
every side-a phaIanx of navy blue uniform,
invincible, everlasting. About the center of
this county, mid way between Shepherds
town aud Winchester, Va, lies hamlet OF
historic interest. Unlike Goldsmith's
Sweet Auburn loveliest village of the
plain" it can lay no claims to artistic fn-
ish, is not beautiful for situation" even,
and boasts nothing of marble, little of brick
and still less dense population. There
are no manufacturing conveniences, excerpt
SAW mill Flour an meal are prepared
some miles away, and ice Is put up IN the
good old fashion. during the winter season.
IL has the usual number of shops, combln-
nc in each, shoes, pins, potatnes. and sugar
There are no hotels, no boarding houses, no
ice cream parlors, no saloons of any kind,
aud no Libraries, As each resident buys his
own books from the county town not far
away and makes hi+ own ice cream. Pave.
ments are not wholly unknown, enterpris
M citizens on Main street having supplied
them elves, without town ordinance
There are few other streets to pave, and no
eagerness to modest the narrow, grass grown
paths. that answer the purpose of solitary
pedestrians. Lpvelorn couples, and others
who wish to talk ~ they walk take the mid
lie of the street, in no danger from rushing
lorsemen or electric cars. An interesting
village ii is, however, with the school houses,
;hurches-Ihe latter accommodating the ten
i ifcrent Protestant faiths of its independent
hinkers, and Bible readers-ils MaOnic
hall, its delicious quiet, its blue skies, its
'ool SPRING, it, shade, its magnificent sun
rises AMI sunsets, and its munifceut
hospitality. Visitors return year after year
and make the summers times of rejoicing -
dany things cou be said of this hamlet,
nesting among the waving corn and lncu-ts,
tut u scrap from its very early days will be
more Interesting item of lis history, which,
like the wierd sisters OF Macbeth, cannot be
left out without vital loss to the narrative
More than one hundred and fifty years ago,
when the viiage had but two streets, aud
CIV convenierce@, aud may be defined as
half ia hollow, half on hill, and all in
he mud, certain devout woman of Ro
nan Catholic persuasion. prayed and work
ID earnestly for the salvation of her Protes-
ant husband For long time her efforts
seemed Ruthless, but rs her prayers multi.
piled, help came from an unexpected quar-
er. The little town became the center of
Nondrriu phenomena. ! he witches reveltd
II every quarter, delighting most in and
bout the home Of the praying Catholic -
strange noises disturbed the day and made
hight hideuuS. Mysterious clippings coud
,e heard in various places, aud woe came
lpon the wa>hwnman who put out a "lnng
inc" of good clothing, for sun aud wind
rhe clippers Invisible and industrious, left
little worth ironing or wearing The old
mans faith began 10 WAIVER, H. his wardrobe
uttered. Everything he put out of hi-
nand, everything he took hnld of, the mys-
FERROUS clippers seized. Once, when he pre-
pared to put on his boots, long spiral
Gather strap heightened on in g.. .rasp,
eaying only the soles of the boots on the
Anor. The mystery thickened and the clip.
bling increased. Som, thing must be done,
and religions neighborS were appealed to.
Without elIecting anything Then different
religious denominations in town came 10 the
house to preach, or pray, or sing away the
witches. or praciiy them The Methodist
parson had hi. hymn book matched out OF
his hand and thrown into the yard, and hi
head knocked in no feeble way The Epi>
cnpal divine while reading from his prayer
book had it forced from his hands aud
thrown out Of the window by the same ~
perna,ural pnwer. At his wits end, the un-
regenate husband suffered the wife to send
Tor a Catholic priest, Soon one came with
his ntrrces,inns and holy water,aud ,ileuced
the witches, baptized the old man, placed
him in safety under the watch.car OF the
molly church, saving his soul as wei! as his
body and clothes. For ouch deiversnce, a
lively gratitude sought expression, snd one
hundred acres Of good wheat land wa- deed
ed to The Catholic Church forever 10 thu
day nm annual rent is colec ed or this tract.
and the amount paid over to The Bishop 6
the diocese. 1t j. still known Il. the Priest
Place, aud continues "A monument of priest
lv power over witches, wizard, and familiar
though wieri spirits. After the the hsr.
vest is gathered il is a favoriie resort OF f,h.
ing parties and picnics Any one can YER
ify the statements made by visiting Wiz ,rd
Clip" a. the village is Familiarity known
aud walking out about one mile west will
find the Priest Place. The old house where
the witches worked so induslriously
for the salvation of soul, has gone to du-t
with the old occupants, but any OF the in
habilanis of the village can point out the
site and verify what have said |, stem-
IN me- that my excursion nm the ~beuau