The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-06
THE EVIL EYE IN POLITICS.
superstitions of Statesmen and
others.

- 7FANAHAAN III tANiNDufA DASpAttn.
Although much as been written In this
country about the "evn eye" and other
analogous superstitons of the old world.
few people have an idea of the extent to
which these beliefs In the supernatural
play part In the political and admins
trauve affairs of Europe. An impression
prevails that il is only nervous women,
young children and feeble-minded men.
whose intelligence has been warped by re-
ligious extravaganza. who are at all in
huenced by what sober-mlnded Ameri-
cans would be tempted to style mere fairy
tales. But this is not the case and Il is
precisely among the self-sty1ed free
thinkers and atheists that are to be found
those most prone to defer to the require
ments and demands of this or that pecu-
liar belief
Incredible though it may appear to the
readers of the Dispatch, the recent cabinet
crisis at Rome, which perturbed the whole
OF Europe sending down the funds sew
eral points on the Stock Exchange OF ev-
cry capital In Europe, was entirely due TO
the belief on the part of the majority of
the national Legislature In the possession
lof the evil eye by one of their members, a
deputy of the name OF the MARQUIS Mau-
rigi, who represents Caserta at Monte CIT
eric. 1t is necessary to insist upon this,
since on no other account is 1t possible to
explain the recent upset of the ministerial
apple cart in the Eternal city. The Mar
quis proposed certain minor changes IA
the present system Of military promotions.
So frightened were his felow-deputIes of
mourning his displeasure, or, to speak more
correctly, the baneful effects of his evil
eye that the vast majority OF them, for
getful of their obligations to the cabinet,
voted in favor of his motion, and against
the Minister of War, who I'm consequence
thereof, resigned and refused to continue
in office on the ground that he had no de-
sire to incur the disastrous effects of fall
ing foul of "jettatore."
Lest / should be charged with romancing
by those who hesitate to believe that the
destinies of one of the great powers OF
Europe can be swayed by what people IN
the United States would regard as a child
ish superstition, ] would merely draw at
tention TO the speech delivered In the
Chamber of Deputies Immediately after
the announcement of the resignation of
the Minister OF War by the radical depu-
ty Antonio di Laurenzana. He had occa-
sion to address the House In connection
with a piece Of despotism of which the
Project of Caserta, the constituency repre-
sen.ed in Parliament by the jattamore
| Maurgi, had rendered himself guilty. II
had hoped" exclaimed Laurenzana, that
the malignant influence derived from gu
pernatural sources by Marchese Maurisi
might have served to nullify the essen
TALLY human and terrestrial malignant IN
fuence of HE fellow townsman, the Pre-
feet of Caserta. But my expectations have
not been realized. The two malignant In
! nuences In question, instead of conteract-
ing one another, have combined, and have
served to overthrow the government. A
pest upon these malignant influences which
are exercised to the detriment Of our ooun-
try"
As he uttered these words small NIL
nority OF the deputies present burst into
sarcastic laughter But at least three
quarters of them arose from their seats
with looks Of horror and terror on their
blanched faces and rushed helter-skelter
from the chamber, pointing as they ran
either their crooked fingers or else pecu-
liarly shaped charms of coral, ivory or
gold against Signor Maurlgi for the pur-
pose of averting the effects of his evil
eve 1t was a ridiculous scene I'm one way,
and yet there was an element OF sadness
about 1t which served to hush the voice
Of the scoffer For II was pitfpl to think
that the national destinies OF great ma
ton such as Italy should depend In any
way upon the belief In so childish and idle
a superstition.
The most remarkable feature about
the fight from the chamber was the fact
that It was headed precisely by those pol
iticians and statesmen who affect 10 De-
Iieve In the existence of neither God nor
"a ruh occasion of
deriding everything pertaining TO Chris
tianlty as foolish fairy tales, suited only
for the intelligence of old women and
children. And in this connection j may
state that although ex-Premier Crispi
towers head and shoulders above every
other italian In statecraft In Intelligence,
I'm mental vigor and in breadth of mind,
and. In spite OF the fact that he ranks
in the opinion of the outer world on the
same plane as Prince Bismarck, MIR.
Gladstone and the late Senior Canovas,
vet there Is no one In the dominions or
King Humbert who Is a more fervent be-
lever I'm the power OF the malignant in
huence Of the evil eye, for the purpose OF
shielding himself against which he tnva-
riably carries about with him, attached 10
his watch chain, a peculiarly shaped red
coral charm. which he does not hesitate
10 point at anyone whom he believes to
be "A jettatore
When. after the attempt made upon the
life Of King Humbert by the Anarchist
Acciarito, about a year ago, the Chamber
of Deputies repaired In body to the OUR
inal palace for the purpose Of offering
TO the monarch congratulations on his es-
cane from death, carriages were placed
at the disposal of the members for the
purpose. in each Of them there We're
four five and even six legislators, piled
one on top OF the other. one landau alone
and a roomy one at that had a solitary
occupant. who was Stunned by all his
colleagues 1t was this same Marquis
Maurigi. Of whom the most extraordinary
stories are current I'm Rome. Thus, they
tell there Of his making his appearance
one evening ia the cardroom OF the Hunt
club. wheteupon one of the players i'm
mediateiy lost $1,000 which was all he
possessed in the world. while the winner
at the same moment fell backward from
his chair to the ground, fracturing his
spine, and "A third let drop a jeweled
cigar holder worth thousands OF dollars
which broke 10 pieces on the ground.
~, apntFtar of.nugfnp rUh au he anpaarrI