Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-04-12
QUAINT SUPERST|I|ONS RIGID COURT ETIQUETTE
Beliefin Charms Held by Those
Bred in Rural England.
SCENE AT CHURCH DOOR
Cures For Whooping Cough-When
q Kitten at Table Signifies Good
Luck-Ridding Child of Disease
Curative Properties Possessed
by Toads.

How strongly some of the strange
folklore and superstitious beliefs
still survive in some of the rural
parts of Devonshire is illustrated by
the following incident, which took
place at Sutcombe, and which is thus
described by the rector, Rev. F. G..
Scrivener.
ION Sunday the parish church OF
Sutcombe, q small village between
Trustworthy and Hartland. was the
scene of a revival of an interesting
old faith cure. A woman in the par
ish has of late been a sufferer from
epileptic fits, and at the persuasion
of q neighbor, who nineteen years
ago had done the same thing, and
had not suffered from fits since. she
went around the parish and got thir-
ty married men promise TO attend
the parish church at the morning
service.
AT the close of the service the rec
tor desired the selected men to pass
out one by one, and as they passed
through the church they found the
woman seated there, accompanied by
the neighbor who had done the same
tking nineteen years ago (as many
who were present rememheredl.
Each man as he passed out put
penny In the woman's lap. but when
the thirtieth man (the reetor's
church warden) came he took the
twenty-nine pennies and put in half
a crown. 4 silver ring is TO be made
out of this half crown, which the
woman is TO wear, and Ii is TO be
hoped that the result will be as sat
isfactory in her case as it was on the
previous occasion.
Another extraordinary belief still
prevalent is that child will recover
from whooping cough if. while the
dew is on the ground. 1t is laid face
downward where a sheep has been
sleeping. Sheep are sometimes driy-
EN- into the farmyards over night so
that the farmers wives may the
more easily try this reputed remedy
in the morning.
When, as of course frequently
happens, the little sufferers are not
relieved, 1t is said that the parents
have not had sufficient faith.
There are cases on record where
mothers have taken their offspring
and placed them for few moments
in graves prepared for the reception
OF body of the opposite sex, in the
belief that they will thereafter not
suffer any more of the infrmities
that children are heir to.
Toads are supposed by many Dew
onians TO possess remarkably cura-
tive properties. Persons suffering
from sores of any kind are recon-
mended to wear the corresponding
part of 3 toad tied up in little bag,
or otherwise, attached to the per-
son. AS 2 people, nothing like fat
slug; which has TO be placed on the
parts affected. To cure an adder's
bite the victim has to catch an ad-
der, fry it, and put it on the spot
where he was bitten.
The number of DevoGshire super
stitions regarding cats is extraordi-
narily large. II puss sits with her
back to the fire II is sign that there
will be cold weather, The coming of
q stranger may be expected If cat,
when washing her face, puts her
paw above either of her ears.
Many Devonian housewives will
not on any account allow a kitten 10
be In the house at the same time as
baby. fearing that in such case
harm would come TO the infant. In
other households. kittens born in
May are always killed. The reason
assigned for this harsh proceeding is
that May kittens bring home the
vermin." Being interpreted, this
means that when they grow up they
will not be content with killing rats
and mice. but capture and carry
home all sorts Of unpleasant creeping
things.
The only time when kittens are re-
xarded as being absolutely essential
In Deyonshire household is when
thirteen persons are expected TO sit
down TO dinner. In such q case 8
kitten has to take place on one OF
the guests knees at the table. This
makes thirteen at table lucky in
stead of unlucky.
Between superstition and witch
craft there is not q very wide gulf;
but although reputed witches are not
nearly so numerous in Devonshire
SIS they were even : dozen years ago,
there are good many modern prac-
titioners of black art in the county.
Names Indians Have Left Us.