Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-02-28
GOAT COUGHS AS
G0BL|NS ARE NIGH
SOUTHERN NEGROES STILL BE.
LIEvE IN sUPERSTlTloNs
"keep Dat Rabbits Foot, Chile, or
He'll Git Ye," Says Black
Nanny.

Montgomery, Ala.-"Wha dat mov-
in down da' by yon graveyard? Dis
chile doan go dat way eff l hev ter
walk TO miles ter git home. You uns
heah mel"
This from stalwart young darky,
uttered in the arly dusk of recent
evening, in the outskirts OF this city,
lent convincing proof that the ghostly
superstitions traditional among the ne
groes of the South have not been
wiped out by the many changes that
have taken place in Dixieland since
the Civil War period.
OF course, the blacks are not the
only people today who cherish their
tond superstitions. Who has not en-
countered the gambler who will not
permit one to put foot on his chairF
A prominent business man here-a
white man-confesseS that he always
wears garter of one color upon his
right leg and one of different color
upon the other. Nearly every one has
some peculiar beliefs about Friday,
the number 13, ladders and many 9TH
er warnings" handed down by the
New England forefathers.
The young darky's discontinue at
seeing something moving down by the
graveyard cannot be thought strange
or unusual when one considers that
from time immemorial the Southern
pickaninnies have been disciplined in
to believing that all household trash
must be swept out of the front door
after dark; that they must never
walk chair" while sitting in it, if
they would escape ''hants." To avoid
the evil spirits they should get up and
move the chair to where they want
it.
Watch out, chile. if you heah goat
cough" they were told. 1t is sign
that Old Rawhead and Bloody Bones
is around. ''Doan stop fob to inwesti-
gate emmy strange lights in a grave
yard or in front of a church aftah
dark" the old black Inammies often
say.
The most reliable safeguard against
ghosts, gobblins and "hants," as well
as charm against the evil visitations
of witches, according to the super
stitious negroes, is the left hind
foot OF rabbit killed in a gravey ard
after midnight in the light of a full
moon. Such talisman could not be
bought from some owners with its
weight in gold.
1t is a common belief among the ne
groes that house cannot burn if sas-
pn
stovewood when the fire is made. One
of the most common preventatives OF
misery in the leg" is a dime with
hole in it worn on the left leg just
above the ankle. This also cures Iheu-
matism, say the darkies.
Another superstition, mostly among
young people, is, if one is lying down
and another steps over him he must,
by all means, retrace his steps. The
belief is that it checks ones growth.
Here are some remedies to destroy
Spirits" or ghosts" Old.timers used
TO fire silver bullet at the trouble
some specter or disturber. Old Aunt
Violet kept spooks away for many
years by burying chicken eye, a frog
leg and some dirt from new grave
under the front steps OF her abode, re-
peating the operation as often as there
we're any signs of the spook's re-
turn.
When one meets "hant" and 1t
comes np to you face to face the ghost
always blows its breath in your face,
first hot, then cold. In case like
this to avoid trouble all one has to do
is to tell the "hant" your business and
IL will let you alone. Rough language
or threats are disastrous.
Opossum hunters had better be
careful that the dog did not once be-
long to dead man who died sinner.
for this dog will tree" Spirits"
Loading the pillow" is another dan
gerous operation. 1t consists in steal
ing the pillow on which one sleeps and
inserting a "conjure bag" The vic
tim suffers from head ailments and
often becomes insane.