The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-26

not because the things do not exist
For the belief Is an instinct. implanted
during those unrecorded ages when the
human animal was struggling upward
10 the full use OF ita reason. Il reap
peaN whenever civilized man engages
In any pursuit Of absorbing interest
where luck Is all powerful, as In seek
Ing for gold. diamonds or treasure
trovc. One would scarcely End a dig
ser In South Africa who had been for
lunato without some object which nc
cherishod-oommonly a diamond oi
odd shape. but perhaps any bit Of rub
blsh which caught his eye at some mo-
ment OF triumph. II man OF intelii-
genco and culture. he would laugh at
his own fancy. but be would not part
with tho thing Dlggers who were not
fortunate Knocked. but they fell into the
groove fast enough when their luck
changed
The police tell ne tina. TO End a piece
o. coal In the pocket OF a man arrested
IS sufficient proof for them that he be-
longs 70 the criminal class. living from
day 10 day upon bis wits. at the mercy
OF chance and IN ceaseless fear OF de-
tectlon. Ne does not ask how the coal
viii bring him plumber and save him
from the constable-he obeys an In
stinct. The proportion OF elderly and
substantial citizens who do the like
IL not TO be computed. but doubtless Il
is large The fact Is that belief In tails
mans descends. without n break. from
fotlshlsm. Sir John Lubbock defines
that religion. 80 20 call Il, as "the
stage In which man supposes that be
can force the deitios 10 comply with
his desires" II Is not worth while TO
rldleulc the notion. nor 20 ask how on
earth a reasonable being could conceive
that the possession OF something he
picks up upon the road. a pebble. a
stick. a bit OF twisted root. Will give
him power over the gods. Il Ia beyond
our understanding IN this advanced
age. After all his study and medita-
ton Sir John Lubbock can only sug-
gest that this case Is akin 10 the belief.
alao universal In past times. that he
who gets into his hands any object
belonging TO his enemy obtains au-
thoriiy over him. THE negro sup
posca that the possession OF fetish
representing a spirit makes that spirit
hts servant" Obviously. however, this
II not an the explanation needed. For
In mos, cases the fetish Ia not made, Z"
but natural--a thing picked up. as we
have said. The question seems to be
a mystery lnsoluble now. But Il was
ineligible at certain stage In hui
man progress. since all mankind be-
lioved In fetishos once and. In n meas
urc. do still. undor the form OF tails
mans.
The most famous OF them. perhaps.
In authentic hlstory-for We have no
space for fables-is that discovered In
tho tomb OF Charlemagne az AK "a
Chapelle We never met with a clear
record Of lts adventures. The story
goez-almost contemporary that the
ambassador OF Haroun Alraschid made
Il for the wife OF Charlemagne 10 keep
her husbands love forever For this
purpose Il proved trlumphantly sue
cessful--we have left the domain OF his
tory nov. When the lady died Chnrls-
magne could not allow her 10 be bu
until bis confesaor. guessing where the
difficulty lay. removed the talisman.
Forthwith the priest rose In favor
became archbishop Of Mayence and Inn
rerial chancellor. Thinking his pro-
motion enough, he threw the unhal-
lowed object into the lake OF Nigel
helm. Instantly Charlemagne began
10 raise a palace on the bank. plumber
ing Ravenna TO adorn Il. nor would he
quit the lake until the chancellor
dragged Il and recovered the talisman.
BY wha, token this legendary treasure
was recognized IN the emperor's grave
We cannot tell. unless description ex-
ist Il Ia round. OF finest gold, with
two rough sapphires In the middle. aad
other gems The town OF AK Ia Cha
pelle presented Il to Napoleon l.. who
presented Il 10 Fox, earl OF Holland.
Aflerward It came into the possession
Of Napoleon III. and stlll exists. no
doubt.
Dr. Dce's tallsman IL also historic
and also survives In the British mu.
scum. Ia November. 1882. DR.. Dee was
praying. when, IN blaze of light. the
Archaneel uriel appeared. and, smiling
gave him a bali OF stone. polished
black-yery like a piece Of coal. In fact
Herewith DR.. Dee summoned angels
when he would. and they gave him In
valuable information. But the wors, Of
Il was that he could not often under,
stand, and never could recollect. whgi
they told him. 1t Ia very rare" say.
be IN his biography, yea. evenin oul
days. for an operator or master 10 heal
angelo speak articulately. When the,
do speak Il Is like the Irish--much u
their throat" That expression. yea
even IN our days" Invites a common
4 tary. But TO receive daily communion
Y tions Of the utmost interest which on'
lcan rarely Interpret and never remem
Der must be terribly trying for a ma
r&gician In the long run. DIR. Dee con
ndod hls troubles 10 a certain Kelly
who, familiar with the Irish mode o.
speaking, understood the angels per
fectly, and, what Ia more. Transcribed
their remarks. But most people know
what singular results. uncomfortable
for poor DIR. Dee. followed that asao
citation. Several tallsmans survive II
Scotland. Sir Walter Scott had on
called the Toadstone. which he priced
lie said Il had been preserved In III
family, unnamed. from whom he got Il
for several generations. often pledges
for considerable sums. and always 70
dsemed. Stewart Of Ardyarlich pos
eeases q crystal. renowned In age