Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-07-31
HOW "CLIPP" GOT IT'S NAME

the columns of the Baltimore SIM
gives the origin of the name of
Clip, which Middleway, Jefferson
county, is often called
Some weeks ago THE SUN receiv.
ed from y valued subscriber a re.
quest for information concerning the
strange doings of long ago at wiz
ard Clip, when, according to Il re-
port, pair of invisible shears ere.
sted havoc 10 the home of Andrew
Livingston.
In the search for the information
Miss Anne Weston Whitney, secre-
tary of the Maryland Folklore Socie.
ty, was appealed to. Miss Whitney
knew OF the main alleged facts, but
desired to make a thorough inquiry
INTO the matter. The appended
highly interesting story is the result
of Miss Whitney's researches:
"There is small town IN West
Virginia variously known as smith
field, Middlewsy and Clip or
Wizards Clip The origin of the
last name dates back to the latter
part of the eighteenth century, when,
according to traditions, the home of
Adam Livingston was the scene of
weird, unusual happenings, among
them being the clipping of garments,
sheets, coutcrpanes, blankets, and
even boots. by means of invisible
shears, the sound of whose clipping
and shipping could be heard from
morning To night and from nigh. to
morning.
"Not only did Livingston's family
suffer from these mysterious vista
tons, but the stranger who ventured
within his gates was liable to have
the clothes on his back so riddled
with these strange clippings tina, he
would be forced to borrow others TO
wear home, while the very saddle
cloth on the back of his horse hitch
ed outside would suffer the fate of
his clothes, the clippings always be-
ing IN the shape of half moons.
"Many weird stories are told of
the experiences of individuals who
ventnred to the house either from
curiosity or with the the idea of de.
flying the wizard until Roman
Catholic priest came with bell, book
aud candle aud succeeded in exor-
cising the evil spirits.
"The cause and the remedy for
these weird happenings are found in
II portion of the life and actions of
Adam Livingston. In 1894 stran-
ger took lodging with him and, be-
ing taken Ill soon after, asked that IA
Roman Catholic priest be sent for,
but Livingston, who is described as
being a bigoted Lutheran, not only
refused to grant his request, but de-
clared that no Catholic priest should
ever cross his threshold. Further
entreaties of the sick man proving
futile he died unshrIven, but from
the moment the breath left his BODY
the home OF Livingston became the
scene of strange sounds and distur-
bauces. The tramping of horses
was heard at night round the house,
the barn was burned, the cattle died,
chickens and turkeys had their heads
shipped off as if by great shears,
money that Livingston had saved
mysteriousiy disappeared, and then
the clippings began.
efforts were made from time to
N'HAO W CAOi CioC buc uctuOuS, Oul III
vain. At length in dream Livings-
ton saw man in long white robe
and heard voice assuring him that
this man could bring him relief. On
waking and consulting with his wife
he decided to appeal to an Episcopal
clergyman in Winchester. The rev.
erned gentleman, however, refused to
go to his relief. Being told that the
McSherrey family, at Leetown, were
at times visited by Roman Catholic
Priest Livingston went there aud
found in Mrs. MoSherry n sympa-
a.