Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-05-08

made of practices which it Is now believ-
cd were of a revolving and lawless char
acter.
Recently the Scherftes have apparent
~ become almost insane in the practice
Of their rites, and their meetings. which
were invariably held at midnight or ear.
ly dawn, were accompanied by wild
shrieks which so terrified the villagers
that they shrank from further inquiry.
The climax came a few weeks back
when the farmer, Scherf, acting in his
customary role Of high priest, declared
to his followers, who are mostly women,
that the time had come when human
sacrifice would be acceptable to the Lord;
that, in fact, it had been divinely reveal
ed to him that the continued favor Of the
Most High could be obtained only by tnis
means, wherewith Schert generously
recited Old Testament passages in sup
port of the practice and then announced
to his unquestioning flock that it remain
ed only to choose the maker Of the sac
riice. Scherf himself was chosen. AS to
the victim there were only whisperings.
A date was set. but none but the high
priest himself knew how the grewsome
performance was to be carried out or
dared to inquire.
On the day appointed two young girls.
members Of the sect, came just before
dawn to the house Of Scherf, where they
stood bareheaded in the snow singing
psalms in shrill, high, monotonous voices.
This was the signal. Scherf arose and
called his wife and daughters, who joined
in the chant. Then he called to his serv-
ant, who lay in heavy sleep. The man
came stumbling into the room where his
master awaited him, knife in hand.
Scherf, while the women stood about him
singing, threw himself upon his defense
less victim and plunged the knife into
his heart with such deadly aim that the
poor wretch fell dead after one agonizing
shrek.
1.-The sacrifice is madew shouted the
murderer in triumph. Bring the bowls
for his blood"'
Then in frenzy Of bloodthirstiness he
seized the knife second time, swung it
high in the air and cut off first the dead
mans head, then his arms.
Then came the important part of the
''sacriice." Every drop Of the poor crea'
lures blood was carefully preserved by
the murderer and the cruzed women who
assisted him. When they had gathered it
all, they poured it into a great open YES.
sci and stood about in a circle singing,
while they washed their guilty hands in
the blood of the innocent victim.
''Thus shall we be made pure,' chanted
Scherf piously 'Thus shall we cleanse
ourselves from sin. Thus shall we make
ourselves acceptable in the sight of the
Lord"
And the women echoed his words, after
which each of the 20 members of the
sect took a turn at share in the h0rri
BILE rite till the sacrifcial ceremony was
considered complete. And as a climax
every trace of the butchery was burned.
!! News Of the performance soon reached
the police. and the next day Scherf, with
every one of his followers. was arrested.
Stealing q Ride.
In modern times, with a country grid
ironed with railways. it is not necessary
except in sparsely settled communities
for the thief to steal the horse. All that
is necessary is to steal the ride. 1t is a
theft not of property, but simply of trans
portation. The ethical point raised, how
ever. is precisely that which Lucian
brought out so wittily in his dialogue be.
tween Charon and Mcnippus. The old
ferryman, having taken Menippus across
the Styx. demands his fare and is told to
"hollcr for it," Charon repeats his de
mand.
"You cannot take what | haven't got"
replies Menippus
ISIS there any one who hasn't cents?"
says Charon.
II don't know ahout anybody else.
know that | haven't got it, replies the
passenger and Ec threatens the ferry
man with personal violence.
''Dut did you not know" says Charon.
THAT it is necessary to pay?"
"NVhat if ! did! | had nothing to pay
with. Is it necessary to refrain from
Gying?" CO
Charon thinks he might levy on the
passengers bag, but finds nothing in it
but the scanty remains of his last meal.
Thus Lucian shows US that stealing
transportation is very old ofense.-
4eVum.