Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-12-21


w TARSAW. Dec superstition
N is rampant in Russia. In the
Wv country districts belief in
witchcraft IS almost univers-
al The mental atmosphere I'm which
the Russian peasant lives is that OF
Europe I'm the middle ages. Instead OF
disusllng his faith iu incautations
spells and evn spirits, his religion
strengthens g. Tie viii commit a bar
barrie ac. Of cruelty or even actual
murder. in the fun assurance that he f.
performing "a most laudable deed Of
pioty. just as fauatical priests used to
condemn herotics 90 the stake and the
rack. convinced that thereby they We're
laying up treasures for themselves iu
heaven
OF this striking proof recently came
from the village OF sysozev. A few
lines about the tragedy enacted there
were telegraphed To other European
countries, and possibly 10 America. but
not until this week. when the police re-
port ON the affair became public proper
~ was ils fun horror realized. even In
Russia. Al Sysozcw there dwell a
humble couple who were 10 years mar
ne before a child was born 10 them.
From its birth 1t was sicxly. Because
the mite had been so tardy in arriving.
and was so feeble. the rumor spread
among the village folk that IL had been
brought into the world by cary
WitchCraft
PARENTS LOVED THEIR CHILD.
As the years went on the child sul
remained delicate. 10 was smaller than
the average child of It's age and of dull
Ter understanding. These things
strengthened the popular belief that &C
was a witch child. But the parents
cherished IL foudly. perhaps aI Inc
more because b was so weak and puny.
II was a girl and they called Il Ma
tisha.
I'm the same village lived a man who
had his LOT been thrown among be-
nighted heathens, would have been
termed "a witch doctor KoleczWsld was
his name He was Possessed of-for
Russia fair education. and taught
the village children. Also he was "a man
OF fervid piety according TO his light.
and much respected. The village elders
often discussed with him the question
whether or no Natisha was "a witch
child, and what ought 20 be done TO
her IN She We're He told them mat he
was keeping her under observation and
making her the subject Of prayerful
consideration. and IN due time he would
announce to them his decision
Natsha had reached her sixth year
when koloczWsld rendered his verdict
He said that 90 had been revealed no
him that Anuchrist was lodged in Ma
tisha's body and that, Tor the good of
the world in general and the inhabit-
ants of Sysozew 200 particular. he would
have 90 D. expelled from his human
abiding place. The whole commune
was summoned 90 witness the casting
forth OF Autichrist and. incidentally. tho
sacrifice of Natisha
ACT OF DIVINE VENGEANCE"
First "a grave was dug ln the forest
10 the accompaniment of hymns and
prayers. Then. at dusk. poor Natisha
was brought forth ana laid on the
grass The villagers formed "a circle
around her and there followed more
prayers and hymn singing. interspcrsed
With the reading Of passages from the
Bible. To the poor. ignorant peosantry
10 was solemn religious ceremony in
which they We're participating AN act
or divine vengeance which they had as-
scmbled 10 witness.
with knife in hand. while some N
the spectators mutterea prayers ANA
others crooued lamentations koleczW-
Ski advanced into the center of the
circle Tie stamped upon tho helpless
Aatisha until her ribs were crushed.
he hacked hcr poor little body Win
the knife when the police who had
been told by the frantic mother what
was happening, arrived ON the scene,
Natisha was dead koleczWski had not
the slightest notion that be had really
committed "a horrible crime And how
far the peasants were from realizing
that they had aided and abetted Boo an
atroclous murder a. shown hy this in-
ciCent while the police report was be-
ing drawn up AN old woman called at
the station and said that she wanted 10
be- written down." too.
"Bu' ala you help Kan the childf'
asked the official.
No" WAS the reply, but / held the
llghed candle while the good koloc1w-
alI alampod uDOu her ana Tor that i