The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-09

Is the cat-and the most uncanuy OF the
feline race is the black cat-which certain
IS has a presence calculated TO call up a
familiar demon In the first pace. cats are
81 pposed 20 be possessed Of nine lives.
How or why this peculiar plurality OF life
should belong 10 the creature Is not *
plainablc, but It's electrical qualities alone
give it an uncanny interest Then witches
are always attended hy black cats and We
ind this native superstition Salem town.
in Roodly Massachusetts. having some
rare old folklore stories TO tell IN the twi
I ght sbou. ancestral witches ana right
coIa Judges VINO doomed them 20 death.
No Sa.em family viii tolerate a black cat.
Salem mothers watch their sleeping in
fants 20 protect them from the sly visit
ffom the animal 81 nine lives. which they
say Is fond Of lying on the sleeping infant
10 inhale IT'S breath. When tod that Il
was the probable weight OF the cat that
proved fatal they shake their heads In
! ominous silence. Poe's horrible tragic
/ story OF the black cat made the species
I more unpopular than ever. Hawthorne
has the most gruesomc description OF a
stea thy grimalkin crossing the streets and
/ locking up az the window OF the parlor
/ Ia 'hc House Of the Sc en- Cab es." twist
I ing its 1.-THE tail and licking lie chops. a.
/ II Il scented the dead man sitting Ia up
]
/ small tiger ever won It's way into the
/ stronghold OF the domestic circle and the
human hearts. when 10 has neither anec-
\ ton nor gratitude. can only be explained
on the basis OF hypnotism. All cats are
/ hypnotic. Their eyes alone are studies
I IN occultism Their splitting. sputterins fur
I Is charged with electric force enough 20
shock the human system and they are 50
/ tcdged about with unwritten ethics of
superstition that no one dare XIII them or
abuse, them for fear OF a judgment. And
/ they are not even edible.
/ And then there's cats. said tho captain,
Il don't believe in cats. But I've seen a
whole crew going round with faces as
long as capstan bar because cat had
fallen overheard ana been drowned. Hard
/ ~ one OF them that didn't think some
thing would happen before getting into
port"
Chicago has firm Of charm-dealers,
aud they do a big business. II has been
estimated that not fewer than 100000
are worn. including religious ones or sac
red symbols Really this phase or sup
efstition appeals 10 the mental condition
{ and acts like a faithcure. IL Is a salts
| faction TO feel that you are wearing a
chatm-if only a bit Of amber-that viii
keep on fever and contagious sickness
[ or one that will insure your life against
drowning Nearly every man carries
lucky piece. You can buy charms for win
ming back the affection OF an absentee
or love philters that will compel return
OF admiration from the unsuspecting
There are 900 professional healers in the
United States.
where are those charms wornf Every
whore. They are hidden IN shoes. as Old
cobblers will tell you pinned into sleeve
Innings. carried In pockets ana hung ar
ound the neck A ring that has been
charmed" on possesses all the occult pro-
pertles as long as the strict letter OF Jaw
Of charms is observed, but n taken on the
charm loses its power. The taith thai
permits a person 20 carry a charm vii
he likely to lead 10 success IN any under
taking. a. Il gives confidence. and 10 a
certain extent ability. Animals are len
hy instinct: man has only his iudment
and Il sountimes plays him false II 80
simple a thing as a rabbits foot viii ala
him in an undertaking by being append
cd 20 his Watch-chain. who would deny
him thatsxslp 20 his intelligence