The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-03
SUMNER
and IT'S MAGIC
SuperstitiOns Attaching to the
Hot Months.
GATHERING FERN SEEDS
Case Where the Fairies Para
Iyzed a Youth.
GATHERING FERN SEEDS

arts of maiden divination, survive eve
into this twentieth century. Honest Mas
ter Stow tells US that on the vigils o
the festival days in June and July tn
people from the Oldest times had decor
ated their houses with woodland flower
and hundreds of oil lamps cunningly ar
ranged, as al YuIe-ti tide and lighted bon
fires. There IS no doubt that the Iattel
superstition is very ancient. identica
with that followed by Manasseh; anG
many OF the mystic ceremonies incidental
to Midsummer Ewes have a Pagan origin
Bonf1res appear to have been originally
boon" fires, from the fact that they
were composed OF contributions collected
as boons. or gifts from social and chart
ia bic feelings. Over the Baal fires the
most profuse hospitality was p-actised
"a London poet. as late as 1916. refers tc
the tables in the streets plentifuny
spread
Where modest mirth. attendant on the
feast.
With plenty gave content to every
guest;
! and the scattering of the embers 10 the
four winds long believed TO expel all
evil; in Cornwall and Ireland the rite Of
/ the Baal fire is not. or was not ten
/ years ago, altogether extinct In 1893
q riot occurred in Cork in consequence
/ OF some soldiers refusing to subscribe
TO the Baal fire. 4 learned Frenchman
afirms that the St, Johns fire was
lighted the moment the year began, for
the first of all years began at the month
Of June BarnabIe Googe pleasantly de-
scribes the manser of the general cele-
bration in his day:
Bonfres great. with lofty fame,
in every town do burn.
And young men round about with maids
do dance in every street"
Subsequently the maidens through the
fire with striving minds do run" cast
Ing their herbs therein 10 free them from
sgue and other ills. Dancing was q part
OF the ancient festival as OF all the old
festivals; IL We may credit Juvenal the
ladies of his day danced with only too
much enthusiasm" a reproof TO the sex
in which later chronicIers have not been
slow TO join.
Matchmaking was another Of the su-
perstitions Of the midsummer festivals.
The Celtic belief is strong that the souI
leaves its earthly tenement and wanders.
by land or sea, 10 where death shall or
der the final separation. Tbs antiquary
Grose gives an account OF a party OF
watchers sitting in the church porch Gas
was the universal custom, TO see the
spirits OF those who would die in the
next twelve months come out and knock
at the church door. one OF whom fell
asleep and could not be awakened. While
50 asleep, his ghost was seen by his
companions knocking at the sacred por-
tai 1t was this somambulistic spirit
wandering which probably gave rise to
the custom of nlght-watchins. the keep (
ing awake as an effectual check on so
undesira bic a habit OF the spirit: watch /
ings which grew out OF simple and some /
what pious beginnings into magnificent /
pageants and feastinss. comprising in /
the Middle Ages in London. the Lord 4
Mayer and Corporation in bright. pearl I
glittering robes, and not less than 2ooo
men IN bright armor. with bonires and
flaming cressets-a string scene which
Henry VII. in 1910. went into Cheape."
= = u
see.
The belief in the potency of herbs
gathered BY moonlight on Midsummer
Eve is common 70 the countries OF Eu-
rope, but no rite approaches IL awesome
solemnity the gathering OF the seed Of
ne awful St Johns fern. II has been
argued from the fact of ferns not flower
nz, and, therefore. not possessing what
nay be strictly termed seed. that to
gather fern seed" was way our fore
athers had OF expressing the impossible.
The sori Of the fern. however. nav De
described as seed. and it may well be
hat the practical trnpossihtlity Of the
peration consisted in the one fact that
Is desperately disturbing sur-orr,si
he trembling operator had 70 gather the
eed without touching the plant Il vii
2 easily realized that the sorf being
cry tenacious very few are able .
btsin the coveted virtue q Joining in
he fairy -evels ard rendering them
elves invisible az VIII The possession :
{ the magic seed. when It vas obtained {
onfsrred mighty powers; three grains :
ere ali that were necessary % bring c
IN or her. all things that walked few 7
? swan" By its potent charm the J
osseSsor could compel the undivided
ne q any being. and BE OF visiting :
rms with Oberon and Tltsnls ?
a remarkable account q the weird I
srenony OF the gathering q the fem q
ed Is told il Passages IN the Life q a ?
adicsl published sixty years OF s. aeo 2
: samuel Bsnto-d- 70 sszne extent Il
ay be taken as typical description +
the ritual 10 b Observed. and where :
breaches On the horrible We can only Z
peat. Tor ou- lztter-6ay satisfaction. 4
At i Is a wholly veEacious account. \
taine5 By Mr. Brzzsora from re SUI Z
wig pzrticipztor n the adventure. A G
'uth OF Old Bsrkey. - name Bargis. d
epiy eaznoUred CO 4 certain far d.
ni;y. was told 81 noted seer q Rad ,.
re Bridge Lizpiag Billy tat the .
IL way % win hsv was ~ shs magic =
n seed Accordingly this youag nan. 2
II two others. set OFT - The zooss g
The road q Manchester zsoesc.az &
7E B.scktey. each with lis o~n recap G
Gle s0~ the fairy seed. a pewter Platter
d az eArthsnwsre dssh- AID ira tAl-a- -
Teet wi web 81 wcos Ia
Alae Is ees2 enougA-@ "a