The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-03

which may be frequently met with in Ger
man records Of the sixteenth and later
centuries. In the early days OF its use.
powder was Considered the invention OF
the devil, and the soldier, who had death
constantly before his eyes. was ready to
resort to any charm to protect him
against the missiles OF the enemy. or 10
impart to his own weapons a supernatural
power. Thus the magical art Of taking
aim was a particular branch OF education
with the soldiers of the Emperor Carl.
nd we read that q worthy named Punker
won great reputation and much money
by furnishing charmed bullets to the sol
Cters. These bullets were reported to car
~ certain death to the enemy. But 1t
vas not sufficient for the soldier TO carry
these death dealing bullets; he must bear
pom him also charms for the preventing
nd for the healing OF wounds and spells
for the stilling of blood. Salves. TOO, were
Told for rendering the body invulnerable-
The great Tilly, Wallenstein. and others
of equal eminenee were not above having
resort 10 such methods OF insurance" ="
OF the last named Schiller, in his WalIen.
STEMS Lager. writes:
in that bloody affair at Luten
He coolly galloped here and there
Emid the cannons' lightning fash;
With bullets his hat was pierced through
And yet his body was never touched.
Because protected BY the heilish salve.'
That such superstitions should exist in
the dark and middle ages need surprise 10
one, but that they should have retained
their hold upon the human mind to the
end Of the nineteenth century. and IN Ger
many, too the land OF popular education
par excellence. was surprise TO every
tody who gave any thought % the sub
sect Public attention was first directed
10 the subject by an eminent naturalist
Dr. Karl Russ and at once a mass OF in
formation in regard thereto came TO light.
4 n officer, in giving his experience IN the
"Gartenlaube, asserted that he had no
tlced this superstition among the soldiers
during the Austro-Prusian war OF 1s6.
end related a striking incident which
came under his own immediate obserYs-
ton On the evening before thhe st0rHing
CT KocnigiahOf. while MS regiment vas
LIvouacking al the edge Of q wood and
the men were engaged IN preparing their
upper. he overheard two ErelaGiers con
versiag together one said 70 the other:
Have you not got the letter which makes
It's bearer tnvuInerabIez The second man
said that ne had not. and his comrade
tade him to b cure and get one quickly.
DR.. Russ told the siory q al officer who
VAS svereiy. though ~ 10 means mortal
IS. woanded on tbs field of sadoVa- Hs
vas fast bleeding % death, however.
Eken The surgeon reached him. ba; uiEh-
have becn saved had he not cbsflnateiy
refused al alo. The surEeoH nSciced that
be had something IN his hand. Which he
7 resssd convulsively 70 hiz breast Pres
rEtiy he began 20 trembis Violently. ard
e-7fSg cut. ~st has done ne 20 good =
{ hrew away a piece q pags-. snt -.
rext moment expired. The PAPER wss
found 70 . faiisunan. bea-snE sorns
written characters zh.ch were quite ur-
.atelitssb5e- May q sirniis- sgonixi-g eis-
cox cry vas made during the Esr e isTs--l
90 late Tor ire learner - rro1t ~ ths
xusr.eaea- After tae battle e wcerth-
n particular. 2 great sEn1her - JAS
T~ans. charms and the IKE ~sre piekee ~
s-ose % the cerpe@ e those Who ast
clang 70 them antH IS sfesr issz sgouy
ihsy Had loss szafh ~ sh~s- hsailng Fi-te@
ard hzc sung issrz away Il ~zs foEz1