Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-08
WEIRD SUPERSTITIONS
THAT TAKE POSSESSION OF PEG
PIE OF WEST INDIES.
Horse Believed to Be Patron Saint of
Tetanus Germ - Afraid
of Ghosts.

"A native of the West Indies avoids water
or at least the external application of it,
SAID an army officer who had spent some
Tune IN Cuba. Why it is no one knows
beyond the superstition that a wetting brings
on fever A Cuban will avoid a shower and
Is even afraid of a bath In the interior
the traveller is warned by the people against
plunge in a creek or river and told that
1t will bring on an immediate attack of the
climatic. In the towns even during a
drought, the people refuse to go into the
rain to catch a bucket of water | have
never seen any bad effects from a bath in
one of these clear mountain streams and.
as the women stand in the water all day
long when doing their washing 1 do not
see that the position taken Is very consis-
tent. Still that is the general belief
Another superstition is that the horse is
thought to be the patron saint of the te-
tanus germ. This belief is sustained by
American scientists, who find that the
stable is the home of these germs IL there
Is a bruise or wound of any kind one must
not according to the belief ride horseback
or lockjaw will result. 1t seems odd that
this superstition is SO well sustained by
science. Lockiaw is the most common and
deadly disease with the people of the West
Indies because the germs especially thrive
in that climate.
Another superstition in this connection
is that, If there is a wound on the hand or
foot the member must not be put in the
water for nine days or tetanus will follow.
This seems to be in part sustained by
science, for lockjaw is usually contracted
by the opening Of a wound without proper
antfSeptics Mumps ar greatly dreaded,
for, the people say, they go to the heart
on the least provocation. 1t is hard to find
any reason for this belief. Yet the man
with a swollen jaw must not do a hundred
things he does daily and it keeps his friends
busy advising him what he must not do.
Afraid of Ghosts.
Zone of the most uncomfortable supersti-
lions is that the ghosts of the departed are
able to carry out threats made during life.
No one there has ever seen ghost engaged
In this nefarious practice, yet the belief is
firmly instilled in the minds of the people.
Very often the services of a physician are
required to quiet the nerves Of sufferer
who has been led to expect a visitation of
this sort. There is no known way to head
off ghost bent on trouble of this kind and
the man goes through life in constant fear
that his departed enemy will carry out his
threat
"Ghost stories are, of course, numerous
and as mysterious as ingenuity can make
them. At the foot Of one Of the mountains
is a stream where ghosts have apparently
established hanGing-up place 1t is the
headquarters for deceased malefactors. Ac-
cording to the people for miles around,
ghosts seen there almost every night
SUSPENDED from the various trees Dy ropes
around their necks, or the place where the
neck ought to be.
"a few miles from of the cities is a
large caimeto tree in the center of the high
way. Under this tree at midnight appears
large white bird. which seems to possess
very peculiar qualities. No native will pass
the tree after that hour, and the highway IS
used little The people are sure the bird is
there. The way to kill it. they tell you in
all seriousness, Is to fire a gun in the oppo-
site direction over your shoulder. 1t would
probably not be a good idea to be any place
near on the highway while a native was
thus engaged.
Another Superstition
"In the event of robbery the victim
must make nine days pilgrimage to some
shrine and remorse or sickness will cause
the conscience of the thief to perform its
proper functions, and the stolen goods will
be returned. If they should happen to be
found or returned the correctness of this
method is proved. If they are never dis
covered the thief either died in his sick
ness. committed suicide in his remorse or
squandered the goods so that he could not
return them.
Little happens in daily life not noted by
the superstitious, who have a meaning for
everything. These given are but illustra-
lions of the beliefs which prevail and which
have great influence on the conduct of the
people, Rulers and leaders in all ages have
taken advantage Oh knowledge OF SUPER
stitious beliefs to accomplish their pur-
poses. In the wars of Cuba they have
played an important part, and as long as
ignorance prevails will continue to do So
''The class Of people who believe in them
are harmless. honest. hospitable az far as Is
within their power, and, left to themselves.
would never go to war. 1t Is the leaders
who get control OF them, who lead them
astray. and even then they make very poor
soldiers. Cuba Is more in danger from The
professional agitators who find in war
means of plumber and to whom peace means
poverty"