The times., 1899-12-10
TIE PASSING OF OMEN.
Education Displacing the Super
stitiOns of the Negro.
Washington, However. stu Has
Many CoIored BeIfevers in the
Prophetic signs-Thc Blue Jay nu
Emissar9 Of EviI-Origin Of Many
Queer Ideas Traced to Voodooisil4.

EmisSaTH Of EviI-OriEin Of NapS
Queer Ideas Traced to Voodonissla.
While the belief in omens is certainly
passing away, through the spread Of kuowI-
edge, the superstitious side of the charac-
ter OF some colored persons is perhaps as
well Illustrated in Washington as any
where. The colorcd population of the city
is estimated at 50. 600 Through the many
educational advantages afforded them q
large portion have cast aside the procliyity
Tor basing their actions on signs which
formerly characterized the great mass of
Southern negroes. but there are many in
the Capital City who are as superstitious
as the old plantation darby. Since
the beginning superstition has en-
tered more or less into social,
religious, and political affairs.
In some instances the idea of yielding 20
the supposed wish of q mythical god or
goddess. or placing faith in being en-
dowed with supernatural powers. mas been
more marked than in others, but among all
peoples romance and realism have gone
hand in hand through the ages.
Worship OF the Mysterious.
The nations whose domains lie in the
northern ATTITUDES OF the globe have ac-
quired the reputation of sternness and the
tales of fanaticism which have been hand
ed down through generations are not prom
inent in the history of these peoples; but
it is in the southern countries that the
grotesque and weird are strongly inter
mingled with the life of the people. and
that the love of the mysterious in nature
is so closely marked. In no other race is
this more noticeable than in the African
negro In his home in central and south
eTn Africa he is surrounded by an implaca-
Bile barrier of superstition that influences
every movement OF his life. The success
OF the hunt he believes, is due 10 the
magic influence of his deity. In his wars
with other tribes victory or defeat is ac-
cepted as a reward or punishment. In no
instance does he attribute his failure to
himself. but believes he has in some man
ueT incurred the displeasure of his idol.
The elements play an important part in his
existence. The lightning is the breath of
the god he worships the thunder his voice.
The sun. moon. and stars shed their light
and heat especially for his benefit. and in
his mind are possessed Of untold powers
Whether he bows to an idol Of stone or
wOrships the sun. the same superstitious
instinct of surrounding his god with
mysterious power is predominant. The ab
solute belief in the power of his medi-
cine man" to cure sickness, destroy an eH-
emy. or provide game for his spear is un-
hesitatingly accepted, and the talismanic
properties of certain stones as a protection
against evil are among his many beliefs.
Thus in the American negro his supersti-
tious vein is traceable to hlA african an
cestor but shows today the unmistakable
changes which have been produced by his
contact with other races.
influence of the Indian.
| After the negro's arrival in this country
and during the first days of slavery, the
Southern plantations were frequently visit
ed by rowing bands of Indians and in many
( instances strong friendship was estab-
! lished between them. The wild legends
and supsrstiuons of the red men were thus
I imbbed by the negroes. Later. in 1871.
during the insurrectiou in the Island OF
Haiti many blacks sought refuge in Louis
/ lana and other Southern States. These
mixing with the negroes tended TO increase
their fund OF uncanny beliefs But the
, suDerstitions which the whites themselves
! communicated to their slaves is more no
/ ticeable today than any Of the other in
/ fuences with which they came in con-
/ tact
The colored nanny" it is said, arst
| learned on the plantation of people be
coming possessed with the evil spirit
This legend she repeated with variations
drawn from her own store OF information
on the subject, TO the planters children.
The story after many changes comes to
/ the generation today as the modern hoo
doc and nothing in the world will so
( frighten an Old-fashioned colored person
I as the thought of being hoodooed.
The terror which the will-O'-the-w wisp in
spired in a plantation negro was probably
first experienced by the whites and by
/ them conveyed to their slaves. They fully
believed if they went out after dark this
/ fendish spirit would catch and drag them
/ through marshes. all the time threatening
/ the diTest vengeance.
/ VCadcOism is one of the few supersti-
tions that has remained unchanged since
! its origin in Africa. Il is a knowledge Of
vegetable poisons which when given to
/ a person always cause a SLOW and linger-
ing death. Ii was used by the natives OF
! Africa to torture their prisoners Of war.
some Strange Beliefs.
The admonition to mot throw away your
! hair. for ii you DO bird will make nest
of it and that will set you. crazy" is a
| favorire superstition OF the colored man
my" The awe with which this information
wa received by the little white children
was always source OF delight TO their
| nurse
The -urclss" and "auuties" Of the South
had innumcrable superstitions in regard TO
! birds Very nearly every featkered thing
was credited by them with having sons
/ occult power The jay was held in par
/ ticular distrust They believed him to be
the guide ard friend of Satan himself, and
! that he was continually on the lookout to
| ensnara the weak and feeble minded. They
| said that ne visited the lower regions once
every seventh month carrying in his beak
seven grains OF sand which when dropped
! in.o the flame made IL seven times hotter.
Another bird which IS considered crea-
! ture OF evil omen by The Southern darkey
! is the yelloWhammer Unlike the jay, il
did not visit the Internal regions. but re-
ceived its instructions from Satan by ether
means. This bird OF beautiful plumage
was held in especial aversion. They be
lieyed that he who killed one would be i'm
m diately taken sick or so sOTely tempted
TO commit a sin that resistance would be
| impossible.
The modern negro who is Inclined to
superstitous fancies is always seeing
things" This usually happens when his
| mind is occupied by subject of great i'm
portance to him He is sure to see some
thing bearing on the subject OF his thoughts
which viii foretell a favorable outcome
Dreams are also considered by him rs fore
runners OF great events.
\ symbol of Good Luck.
The rabbits foot as symbol of good
luck is popularity supposed to have orig
mated with the negro OF the South, but
it probably first came from the white set
tiers. In order to make the rabbits foot
| effective as q taIismau the animal must