The evening times., 1895-11-11


the first floor.
Two years back, on the eve of All Saints
the good lady was standing In the court
yard, in company with some other women.
when all of q sudden a terrible crash was
heard upstairs. The group at once dis
persed and the takers rushed to their re-
spectivc rooms, each one fearing that
truant child or a rowing cat might have
caused the smash in her apartment.
The landlady also proceeded upstairs,
feeling. however, no uneasiness. as she had
locked her doors and had the keys in her
pocket. She entered the room and found
everything in order, but was impelled to
give a look TO the cupboard, in which all
her china was stored. She opened the door,
which was also locked, and TO her dismay
ascertained that the three shelves on which
soup tureens, dinner plates, dishes cups,
glasses, etc.. had stood. were swept OF
their contents, which were strewn all over
the floor and were shivered to atoins.
The landlady's first thought was that
one Of her children might have caused the
damage, but a moments reflection con-
vinccd her of the error. The outer door
and the door OF the cupboard were both
locked and the keys had Not left her pocket.
There was no other communication to the
cupboard, nur could shock from the
street account for the mishap. as the shelves
were firmly fixed to the wall
The rumor Of this mysterious occur
renee quickly spread through the house,
and very promptly the people decided that
some nlisch ieyous goblin had done the
damage. From that hour the dodgers saw
or fancied they saw-strange apparitions.
Shadowy forms were noticed ascending
and descending the stains, bells were rung,
weird means heard 1t dead Of night.
In q short time the house acquired the
reputation Of being haunted and the in
habitants hardly dared to leave their rooms
after dark. This state of affairs went on
for some time, until the landlaGy appealed
to the clergy, who, in compliance with
her wish, soleinnly exercised the house
and adjurcd the "bogies'' To leave, which
request the latter, who were undoubtedly
very orthodox goblins, at once complied
with.
Another .sscare'' occurred not long ago
at Rosendael, village situated a t the gates
of Dunkirk. where a certain house was
without warning invaded by the very mis-
chievous ''sprites' who pelt passers-oy with
stones and rain blpws On all thnse who ap-
proach them. Every day, toward evening.
the. house was bombarded with showers of
the house was bombarded with showers of
pebbles. while many of those who stopped
in wonder and we were cuifed and beaten
by invisible fists.
The affair excited sensation. and the
perpetrators of the trick were, in spite
of a rigorous supervision. never discovered.
One also occasionally hears of some per-
son or other being '.possessed OF an evil
SPIRIT" and in the poorer classes the
women, when speaking of some one whose
behavior they cunsider .'uncanny," say, III
est possede'' He is passessed.
The influence of the ''eyil eye is alsu
firmly believed in. and. moreover, the fish
wives have their lucky customers" Should
such a one be the first to bug they rest as
sured that the days sale will be satisfac-
tory.
When a fishing boat starts out ii is re-
garded as token OF ill-lUck for tn crew to
catch sight OF a priest. and should anyone
say. .Bounc perche' "a prosperous catch)
he is certain to he greeted with volley of
abuse, as TO express such a wish is au in
faliibic forerunner of disnstrous results.
Split salt knives crossed. split Tni.s are
evil omeus. Sooihsayers. fortuEe-tcilers
exercise their profession openly and with
grest profit TO themselves. In fact, col
umas mi c..t lie fiilsd with the various quaint
beliefs entertained by the peasants, fish
erInsn and workinen OF frynch Flanders
However childish some OF these supcrsti-
tions may appear, they arc rot unintcrcst
ing. ard appeal TO an observer as relics Of
a distant past. when fairies. COLLINS and
spritrs were Recognized and pc0pied the
grrenswari and the forests uncontestcd
anil unc6alleBgetl.