The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-24
CURIOUS NEGRO sUPERsTITIoxs.
Birds Play an Important Part in
Them-The BaIefuI Effects of Som

From the sprlnaeld RenublIcan.

Jure.'
From the Sprinfield Republican.
Negroes are a very superstitious race
and birds play almost as important a MARI
in their superstltions as in those of ~,
ancient Romans, whose movements vera
50 largely affected in the flight of birds
and other auguries connected with them
For instance, if bird takes refuge In the
house, as sometimes happens in a violenr
storm, or during great stress of bad wealth
err in winter, negroes consider it a certai,
sign of death in the family, and the,,
think the same if a whippoorwill aligh+s
IN the porch and sounds his note there. If
grave is dug too short that is likewise
considered as a sign that another mann
Der Of the family will die shortly. or If anvr
one sweeps beneath the bed on which? a
dead person is lying, Il is supposed thar
TINS act VIII bring ill-luck probably an
other death in the family.
Another superstition connected with
Dlr1S Is that II bird gets hold Of the
combings of any ones hair and tv,isfS
them into its nest that person will baye
hsaqache as long as the bird makes uss
OF ttle mar. On one occasion, a lady conn
planned in the hearing of her houser19iJ
OF her frequent headaches. Il can telI va,
the reason" said she. 1T is because Won
throw the combings of your hair ouf %
the window, and the birds get them AMI
pul them IN their nests. Burn up an tbe
nd iLT you COMB out of your head and YOU
Negroes have a superstitious reverence
III uQVeS on account of the dove sent
y i Dy Moan from the ark, and consider
IL IS sln II u. 10 shoot one. They have number
70 the door and crows it IS a sign thar
company is coming. If your nose itcbes
ms ms Is also sign that company is com-
ing IL your hand itches, il is a sign Won
are gong to receive a present: if vOur FOOT
lIches IL is sign you are going to stand
on strange ground Southerners who vyers
slavery homes e.af rtaf...
DlDed these notions in early childhood from
their negro "mammies," between whom
an9 themselves warm affection existed.
anu hehce tney We're apt to retain tfng8
Of superstition to the end of their DAYS
despite all the advantages OF education ami
culture they enjoyed
In old times negroes believed so 6rroI,,
IN 'conJure' that have actually known
an able-bodied negro woman pine away
anu aL amos aIIhost come to her death simply from
tne 6ellef that she had been coniured bv
an old negro woman on the place. who was
created by the other negroes with being
a Wllch. Inc imaginary victim arose one
morning ana FOUND two sticks stuck up
under her window. This she thought h
be magic Incarnation performed bv tha
supposed witch, and she commenced pin-
inB away 10 snch an extent that her mas
ter had to sent her away to a hospital and
keep her there many months before she
recupera ted.
With their superstitious temperament.
we need not wonder that negroes are great
persons for seeing visions These visions
are StHeIdlly OF religious nature, but
sometimes there is a streak of shrewd
worldly wisdom in them, as in the fol-
lowing: A negro named Peter was sus-
pected of having killed and eaten a fine
young heifer belonging to a farmer in his
Vicinity The offense was traced back to
him so clearly that Peter attempted no
denial, but excused himself by saying
he had seen a vision and heard a voice
saying to him, arise, Peter, Stay and
eat"
on one occasion a supplemented, prim-
tive old negro was exposed to an agony
OF superstitiouS terror that was at once
pltitul and ludicrous. He was blowing in
a field, a few miles from town where
an aeronaut had made an ascension in
balloon, in the sight of an admiring
audience. After pursuing his airy course
for some time, the balloonist thought
proper to descend in the field where the
old negro was blowing. The latter with
mouth open and eyes expanded with awe
and wonder, stood watching the descent
of the chariot from heaven, as he took
1t to be. When the balloOnist stepped
forth, gaudily dressed, and adorned with
spangles, the poor old negro, overwhelm-
ed with awe and terror, supposed him to
be the Lord a. his second coming, and,
falling on his knees, offered him up the
most fervent prayers. AS soon as the
balloonist took in the meaning of the
scene he endeavored to reassure the poor
old man., but found considerable diff
Guilty in doing so.