Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-14
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

y -,
- UPERSTITION is rampant in Rus
STA. In the country districts belief
in witchcraft is almost universal.
~ The mental atmosphere in which
the Russian peasant lives is that
Of Europe in the middle ages. Instead of
dispellng his faith in lamentations, spells
and evil spirits, his religion strengthens
1t. He will commit a barbaric act of
cruelty or even actual murder, in the full
assurance that he is performing a most
laudable deed of piety. just as fanatical
priests used to condemn heretics to the
stake and the rack, convinced that there
by they were laying up treasures for
themselves in heaven
or this striking proof recently came
from the village of Sysozew. few lines
about the tragedy enacted there were tel
egraphed to other European countries and
possibly to America, but not until this
week, when the police report on the af-
fair became public properly, was it's full
horror realized. even in Russia. At Syso-
Jew there dwell humble couple who
were ten years married before child
was born to them. From it's birth it was
sickly. Because the mite had been so
tardy in arriving. and was such a feeble
mite, the rumor spread among the viii
lage folk that it had been brought into
the world by "czary'-witchcraft.
AS the years went on the child still re-
manned delicate. 1t was smaller than the
average child of it's age and of duller I'M
derstanding These things strengthened
the popular belief that it was a witch
child. But the parents cherished it fond
ly. perhaps all the more because it was
so weak and puny. 1t was girl and
they called it Natisha.
In the same village lived a man who.
had his lot been thrown among benighted
heathens. would have been termed a
witch doctor Koleczwski was his name.
He was possessed of-for Russia-a fair
education, and taught the village chill
dren. Also he was man of fervid piety,
according to his lights. and much respect
ed. The village elders often discussed
with him the question whether or not
Natisha was witch child. and what
ought to be done to her If she were. He
told them that he was keeping her under
observation and making her the subject
time he would announce to them his de-
cson.
Natisha had reached her sixth year
when KolecZwski rendered his verdict. He
said that it had been revealed to him that
anti-Christ was lodged in Natisha's body,
and that, for the good of the world in
general and the inhabitants of Sysozew in
particular, he would have to be expelled
from his human abiding place. The whole
commune was summoned to witness the
casting forth of anti-Christ and, Incl
dentally, the sacrifice of Natisha.
First a grave was dug inIthe forest to
the accompaniment of hymns and prayers.
Then at dusk. poor Natisha was brought
forth and laid on the grass. The vii
layers formed a circle around her. and
there followed more prayers and hymn
singing, interspersed with the reading of
Messages from the Bible To the poor
ignorant peasantry i! was a solemn re-
ligious ceremony in which they were par
| ticipating-an act of divine vengeance
which they had assembled to witness.
With knife in hand. while some of the
spectators muttered prayers and others
crooned lamentations Koleczwski adj
yanced into the center OIL tne circle. lie
stamped upon the helpless Natisha until
her ribs were crushed. He hacked her
poor little body with the knife. When
the notice. who had been told by the fran
tic mother what was happening. arrived
on the scene Natisha was dead. 10
leczwski had not the slightest notion that
he had really committed horrible crime.
and how far the peasants were from re-
alizing that they had aided and abetted
| in an atrocious murder is shown by this
| Incident While the police report was
being drawn up an old woman called at
the station and said that she wanted to
| be written down." too.
But did you help kill the chlld?' asked
| the official
No" was the reply, but l held the
lighted candle while the good Koleczw-
ski stamped upon her, and for that 1
think the government ought TO give me
something. too
| II is not among the peasantry alone
that superstition is deep-rooted. In many