davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-03-25
Secret Voodoo Rites in Haiti Described by American Vso

sank to the ground beside me. put her
arms around me. and cried, 'Iesba.
Papa Legba, open wide the gates for
this my little one"
1t was black night when We emerged
from the Houmfort, The Congo dance
vas still in progress. Toward midnight
1t ceased. The Rada drums were
brought from the temple. An outside
altat was erected beneath the peristyle,
! before which sat a chorus OF 20 women,
dressed In white.
More than a hundred people now
crowded round. With heads and shoul-
derS rocking. the women in white
chanted. fun voiced, symphonic with
weird minor harmonieS, "Damballa
mande on pardon" (Lord We beg Thee
TO forgive our sinsl. There was beauty
and sort of shivering terror IN their
voices. Presently all the company
joined in singing.
"Damballa, If you ask us for a cock.
Behold ii is here
"Damoalla. II you ask US for a goat
Behold it Is here.
But II you ask US for goat without
horns.
Where can We And it,"
Dased animals hleating shrillins IN
the uproar. garlanded. ro5ed with iacs,
some with lighted candles fastened TO
their horns, are led 10 the artar and
sacrificed.
The women in white passed process
Slonally before the altar. SinSinS. and
blood was Sprinkled. dashed upon their
headS oy the papaloi. The drums
doomed The whole crowd. frenried.
singing, milled before the altar until
ali were purified.
woman Shrieked piercinsly and fell
upon her face. Space was cleared for
ner and she leaped UP dancing. Para
Legos had opened the gates for her.
Others entered the ecStatic trance.
The purely religious ceremonial ended
The dancing became orSiastic, Raw
rum began 70 circulate. The Rada
drums hoomed and rcared. and When
the sun rose bright above the mountain
tons, the drums were Still booming.
tNpyrtSat, 1888 N AL Countries ev North
American Newspaper AlhanesD
Evening star., 1928-03-25

thousands from widely separated terri
tories In Africa and each geographical
group brought its own tribal magic and
its own tribal gods
BY French colonial law these slaves
we're al instructed and baptized as
Christians. They embraced the new
faith willingly, but instead of forSaking
their older gods they simply added the
new.
Thus today on every voodoo altar in
Haiti the Serpant of Damballa and
crosses stand side by side This merg-
ing is nsively and utterly sincere.
Voodoo has been for many years for
hidden hy Haitien law because It's prac-
tice has unquestionably involved human
sacrifice and because some phases Of
Voodoo magic are deadly. In actual
fact. Voodoo practice now is seldom in
trinsically criminal. and the application
OF the Law is loosely comparable to the
application of the Volstead act In
New York
Since 1915 Haiti has been under an
American treaty protcctorate. policed
by the United States Marine Corps.
While the Marines today find 1t rarely
necessary 10 arrest some priest or
prfestess OF Voodoo for special cause.
there is no general action to suppress
Voodoo.
Because VOodoo Is a technical viola :
ton Of criminal Law in Haiti, I have
promised to protect The names Of those
papalois and namalois who we're di-
rectly concerned in opening the bar
riers" for me. The actual names. dates
and places. however. with complete
suthentication are on file in a safety
deposit vault in New York City. where
along with other data. they are avail
able for any persons or bodies whose
interest in comparative religions Is
purely scientific.
II was only after had wit
nessed-snd participated in--numerous
Evening star., 1928-03-25

serpent symbols. crosses. sacred s-ones
etc. we're Jugs containing wine. water
oil. platterS of fruit and fancy cakes
from n city bakeshop; bottles OF ex-
pensive French-iabeled grenadine and
orgeat: mound of cornmeal sur
mounted by an egg.
was led 10 low stool at the right
Of the altar. The black papaloi
(prieSD. fearing an embroidered stole
, and red turban. invested Maman Celia
a. mamaloi (prieSteSSl with scarlet
robe and headdress of ostrich feathers
black and scarlet. while all chanted:
Papa Legba. ouvri barriere pour
moinS" C'Papa Legba, open the gates
for us.")
As Maman Celia was invested as
prieStesS, she stood rigid before the
altar. bteathing sharply. and now she
began a kissing with intake and out
take of breath, and the chant changed
Ayidah. serpent goddess:
Come like the lightning fash!
looked for Maman Celia's gentle
face. but saw only rigid mask. As
The chant shr!lled, she whirled three
times and fell PROSTATE before the altar
On the earth between priesteSs and
altar the papaloi now traced a
geomantic design with cornmeal and
III its angles poured wine, water and
oil while invocations were sung TO
Damballa. Loco. Agoue. Ougoun and all
the old gods. Many of them are very
beautiful.
Now the tethered beasts we're brought
in for the sacrifice. II began with the
two red cocks. then the black. next the
white turkey and the doves.
Each was handled reverently. gently
by the papaloi. Kneeling before the
altar. he traced on the birds back a
symbol with cornmeal, then with wine
and water.
One OF the small. sweet cakes was
crumbled and each bird must peck at
1t from the pricStcSS' hand, This was
awaited patiently. Then the prieSteSS
arose and whirled dancing. with the
cock held by head and feet In up
stretched hands, wings wildly futter-
ing.
with q sudden twist It's head was
torn of, It's blood sprinkled before the
altar, It's body tossed quickly aside into
the anteroom. From the doves little
of the blood was saved
The goat was then untethercd and
led To the left OF the altar. where he
was held facing the celehrantS, as l
faced them from the right He was a
small. sturdy young goat with big. terri
fed blue eyes. Al FIRST he bleated and
struggled for the odor of death was
In the air but finally he stood quiet.
wide -eyed. hewildered. while red ribbons
we're twined in his little horns, his
hoofs anointed with wine and sweet
scented oils. and an old woman. who
had come from far over the mountain
for this one part In the ceremony, sat
Evening star., 1928-03-25
Invasion of the Sea.

THERE are portions Of land Alcnx the
Seacoast, where the waves are a.
Ways hghtinS for dominion. The ero-
sion Is very rapid unless these places
are protected by artificial dikes or sv
natural emoankmentS Of sand. On the
east coast Of England startling CHANCES
have hcer wrought within a few hum
dred years. Where the old maps Of that
coast appear incorrect. showing cares
where there are now eayS. the want az
accuracy today is not due 10 Any fault
ot the old mapmakers. The shore line
has greatly changed. and towns haye
disappeared or are now 70 Dc seen under
the waves.
The most wonderful feature ~ al
this Is the slender means whereby the
power or the sea Is resisted. A iayer
ct sand only few inches in thick
ness, washed upon the eaSp ~ .
marsh, viii bear all the pounding and
beating of the sea In q storm ard
Ne made all the flrmer hy What h haS
10 endure, And Vet the same Sana
when dry, Will drift hefcre tina wins
itSe snow and viii seem as pcorty nttea
tor = eEeakwater IS wcgld . snow
bank
AL ATOMS cur own Atlantic Coast are
~ ee found beaches similar 20 thcNe
N the east coast ot England which
rest upon soft n,uS The msAnS FAR
preserving these are aS simple a. tAs
nature or the beaches theraSelyNs
Grasses that VIII grow In the SanS ANS
nowhere else give the ellly nrcfectbnr
tAst can ee found, ana, I'm pacSs m
stances, AL the protection needed IN.
: VARIETY grown Is called marum grass
III EnSlAnd, The name EVIDENTLY means
SsA GtaSS This grass il used Nv tha
I'NtSn ON the sand hills that line their
SssShNEe, and II Is altogether hSeN
that the practice OF SOWING it waS i'm.
trSNdaeed nee England Nom holland in
very early times
As nature provides very simple means
toF holding the water and ihe sans
So tire banks are threatened llNnm 4
quarter ffcm which danger Mould
hatuN ee expected When the watAr
y low the rats pierCe the banks WifN
theM holes, and these autCkty enNarx~
IN ths SOFT sand, - that a Siuele rafs
h1e may prove the destruction cf miles
~ ehnAnkment,
one feature that Il net SuotclAnttV
ANeh into account ~ thASe interested
Y oiSihS ana Eeesaimtnz marshes 4
nat she peaty soil settles upAn eeins
.3alasd, and brings the surface Na,lek
NNer than eefWe Artihetal atksA
esSAt he made Nth this result In ,lew.
Evening star., 1928-03-25
BY HERBERT r. HAWKES..

n Y EARLY so years ago good old
nj New England patriarch re-
" marked in my hearing. What
4 is the world coming to! All
the young folks are getting
married" This is the perennial atti-
tude of the patriarch To the person
who has grown old and tired with bear
Ing the heat and burden of the day IL
is not easy to rationalfze the daring. the
faith and the qualities of SportSmanShip
that young people must possess in
launching forth into matrimonv. 1t IS
SO easy 10 forget the chances that one
took as a youth and as difficult 10 feei
that it is wise 10 take long chances
anyway.
One sees today. as formerly. the same
shaking Of the older heads and the
same abandon az youth. But social con-
CitionS today are different III certain
fundamental respects from those OF the
SeentieS-So different that the business
OF marrying takes on a new meaning
both for the young people themselves
and for society.
am not talking about experimental
or companionstc marriage Just now. but
Of the entering into marriage relations
for better or for worse. through good
and evil report. until death do part.
During recent years have observed
sn increasing number of college youths
who marry. or who at least consider
marriage, during their college course.
Scarcely week goes by without visit
from a student who comes into my Office
and who. after standing first on one leg
and then on the other for time. finally
SAWS that he is thinking OF getting mar
ried. Frequently the boy has little or no
money and the girl is just as free of
earthly goods with which to endow him.
II NAV be that the BOYS who propose
n marry without careful consideration
dc not call al my Office In that case
thc individuals with whom ! actually
talk are selected group. The others
hear about after the event has taken
place and never have chance to talk
the matter over in the same confidential
sn6 friendly way that q voluntary call
invites.
However that may be. the boys with
whom I have had conversations about
getting married usually tell me that an
enEacement. or at any rate an intimate
scuuaintanceShip. is OF some years
standing and that further continuation
Of the situation involves all of the dis
advantages Of an abnormally long en-
Esgement.
with The boy able TO take care Of
himself and a little more. with such
help as the girl can provide, the az
fair is usually one Of partnership on
about equal terms.
In fact. the striking contrast be-
tween the situation OF so years ago
and that which We observe today lies
n the fact that the girl usually has
& job or is competent to hold one.
OF course. this state OF things is the
direct result of the enlargement OF
the place OF women in business and
N commercial life which has come TO
pass during the last two decades and
which makes the problem Of getting
married very different one from that
Of earlier days.
Evening star., 1928-03-25


Eslii. Where he took mart in Voodoo cere-
rsauv-~ He i the only white man known 20
have 1seen made member of = Noe1oo cult
Port az Prince. Haiti.
TN what ] am about TO write there
Is no betrayal.
] lived for months among the
4 mountain and jungle negroes OF
Haiti before the word Voodoo was
ever spoken by me or them, and when
finally I knelt before the great drums,
my own forehead marked with the
blood Of the sacrifictal goat, the ritual
chanting included q special prayer that
the old gods Of Africa themselves might
aid me II the task which now under
take
Alleged evewitnesses and writers OF
IMAGINATIVE fiction have always present
I'd substantially one picture Of Haitien
Toodoo-s group Of rum-maddened, SEX
crazy people. dancing by the light OF
torches IN some secret jungle clearing
killing goat, more frequently human
child. drinking Its blood and devourine
is flesh.
The truth Is otherwise. and deeper
Toodoo, like every primitive form Of
worship. docs include blood sacrifice and
l7as is orglastic phases, but Voodoo Is
not merely an oTgiastic blood cuIt-it is
profound religion. In which nine
tentns Of the 1000 900 peasants OF Haiti
are sincere and reyerent believers.
voodoo has a pantheon Of gods as
varied as the old Greek or Egyptian
mythology II has altars and painted
temples. rituals as solemn as any recos-
rlzed religion
The origin Of this cult involves a
strange merging Of religions which be-
gan two centuries ago. The French CO.
lonisls imported black slaves by the
Evening star., 1928-03-25
BIZ STEPHEN LEACOCK

z TIE mas about him such q simple
ano appealing way 80 friendly
snc - faftering sno 50 humble.
Il A And each time ] know that IL
in another ten dollars that he
wants Just t1at. only that--g1ot my
affection nor my conyerse--jlst ten dol
lars Yet Re gets it>-esch time for the
last 1sKae--he gets r.
Sometimes ne meets me In the street.
t1ways on fine DAY a fine warm day
w1in q touch ot the Spring time. or the
Summer time. or tae soft touch ri hu-
tsluYn q 31e sunny czaiiarstion of Win
feT Ia the air. He would neye- stop me-
an the rain. ~ the 6leet. E2 comes. by
instinct. with the sunshine. And his
manner. ~ cbeeTy--the Spring tulips
sye not 10 u with him
And how" he f>Es. is your little
bcy2"
swallow the halt At once. Pine.
sgsRer. i3e xzs not quite 80 well last
1eeE bat since Tuesday hes IN great
aj3spe
That's gooo. that's good says my
1esc-Dezl friend. literally DesDinR with
plFsAUse
II seeyss impossible 10 DOUBT his sf-
9fcf}os4sG concern
b. tt9e way" he continues. IS II in
mere train II thought incidental ~
his pleasure o@er my ljttle boys health,
y m GLAD ] ran into you this morning
y 5la happens tnat To-Day I'm rather
sqgefzec IN facf I'm IN a corner ----"
reSogn3zec me situation - once /
Teal}Dec tns' my trends tToubles al
ways iske TIE form of sn angular i'm
pFiggflnent yns' eornef-~yoJc think
that sle Wo43c learn ~ Keep cut in the
opeE' BIZ no apparently he gets
FqUefDs1. shpfeC- DUEheo-aD those
Things happen - fsm and Is = result
II t3lf Squeezing sG0 showing and push
ing be gets INTO = corner
Picture then the situation Here's
man ~ q corner : f7sn with an afec-
flofate regard fDT 2 little son. and ten
c0liafg viii take him out II that corner
Itefslse fJnsy quite impossible
And sfter oil perhaps rs worth H. n
ell my fTlenos would greet nae With the
ssule winning frlcnoIne5s sna the same
soiaeibUce i tlInk u gladly invest ten
collars ill eacb ~ them
Unfortunately however. being pushed
snto & corner h. not the #oTst thing
tbat happens 80 my friepS SoFaf'lnes
eppsrsnflg the ground opens under
hn3 and ile fsiie into hgle "Ojd
man be pleads I'm IN n hpie till
Tgs5dsya / note tbst there ls always
termination Of mss sUffeflngs la sight
'5g s8B8e incUrsbjf optimism hf really
tGinst Sc
.-cv e. oeep Ae A0.e and o. iAnes
Evening star., 1928-03-25

For the college boy who would
marry there are all kinds of COM
plicationS. In many colleges matri-
mony is an academic miSdcmeanor. to
be punished by dismissal. Although
Columbia College does not find II nee
esSary to encourage the practice by
faculty action, II is not regarded as
a reason for college discipline. A good
number Of students. chiefly seniors and
usually older than the average college
boys, actually marry each year, and
many more wish they could.
Again I am not talking about the
case of infatustion that is largely
physical i'll its appeal. Such affairs
we're Just as likely to end i'll marriage
and separation 20 years ago as nova
DAYS In fact. il seems a little easier
than formerly to distinguish between
infatuation and the permanent affec-
ton which runs chance of leading
to lifelong friendship in wedlock.
suppose that this may be due TO
the fact that young people know more
about such matters than they did in
the mauve decade. At least, they talk
as if they do. 1t may we'll be that
the very frank kind of conversation
that is common among the young peo-
pie nowadays brings into the open the
that leads nowhere. If this is true
and things are really called by their
right names and seen in their right
light, it is hard to criticize the means
by which this desirable result is ac-
compliShed.
IT would be hard to say how many
academic upsets are due to the
intrusion of girl into the picture.
Every dean knows the symptoms. IN
attention to college duties. inability to
concentrate and all the disturbances
that attend complete preoccupation are
usually observed in a bad case. 1t is
an interesting fact that in practically
every case that / recall, after marriage
the young man settles down. docs his
work regularly and with sense Of
responsibility which one would scarcely
have expected. In fact. the result has
taken place so many times that have
come to look for ii as the usual result
OF matrimony on the part of students.
AS in most human situations. selfish
ness runs counter 10 free play of the
finer emotions. II either the boy or the
girl thinks more of the necessity for an
easy and painless means OF setting up a
home than of the joys of companion
ship the prognoSis for happiness is not
so very favorable. Unless the young
pair are ready to make some sacrifices
even il they do not actually have TO do
it-there is not likely to be enough of
serious purpose to warrant marriage.
II young people think so much of
their individual case that they shrink
from marriage thsy had better not
marry. And If married people think SO
Evening star., 1928-03-25

This leaves out OF account the instances
OF affairs between chorus girls and STU
dents that one Occa siOnally sees played
up in the papers. To assume that such
marriages constitute the general run of
experience is just about as accurate as
to assume that the percentage of mur-
derers and bandits in our community Is
indicated by the attention devoted TO
their crimes / leave it to any one If
there is any more worthy and beautiful
human enterprise than that of two de-
voted young people going out 10 meet
the world together. II solid basis for
friendship really exists. the knocks that
they receive drive them together as
nothing else could.
One who is ready to assume the worst
Is likely to lump to the conclusion that
an engagement or marriage on the part
of students necessarily lowers the level
of academic work. This Is far from
the truth. At the same time the effect
OF such a relation on college work is
fairly accurate index OF the quality of
the relation. II a boy becomes inter-
ested in the wrong kind OF girl 1t usually
does him harm all along the line, but
the right kind OF relation between q
fine boy and fine girl is stimulus to
serious and solid accomplishment that
II is hard to equal.
No one mans observation is sufficiently
wide to Justify gcneraliZations AT the
same time have recently seen so many
parents who share the opinions just ex-
pressed that / am certain that l cannot
be far wrong The parent who sees his
SON. in whom he believes. devoted to 6
Young woman. in whom he also believes,
should think hard and long before de-
Gliding that he will not give all that ne
can in money and in sympathy to start
them on their way together. To insist
that a promising man who Is sure in
due time to make good should first get
into position to support family on
the scale Of the parents more often than
not robs him Of precious years OF q
relation for which there Is no sub
stitute.
OF course. there is certain type Of
man who does not wish to be tied
down by a wife and possible family
Door substitute for a husband and
father In fact. cannot think OF any
thing more uncomfortable than aSSo-
ciation with a man who Is all of the
time pitying himself for having taken
on the limitations which inevitably
accompany marriage. 1t must always
be kept in mind that unless the solid
basis of friendship and affection Is
enough to float both parties through
/ any discomforts and hardships that are
/ likely to arise the pair had better not
make the final leap.
/ 1t is easy to paint the picture ir
much darker colors II one cannot
/ assume that both parties 10 the mar
Evening star., 1928-03-25

Of sights As write these words l have
III mind a student who married = lew
years ago, whose whole attitude toward
his work. his associates and himself had
become immcasurably more mature and
more beautiful as his responsibility had
become greater through his taking a
wife and having a couple Of children.
Evening star., 1928-03-25

II is interesting to observe the atti-
tude OF the other students toward those
who marry Those who have never
really been in love do not know what it
is all about and naturally assume a
critical attitude that is nothing more
than the kind of good-natured kidding
not entirely unknown outside academic
circles
Every one except the man and the
maid asks. rs 1t wise?" They ask no
questions, but declare. I'VE can man.
age it,
II ii is unwiSe to take chances. to
Evening star., 1928-03-25

count on the forces OF love and hard
work acting in the place of the dull
monotony Of a sure thing. then most of
these young people are making a mis-
take. But two young people who look
squarely at the hard facts and decide
that. standing together. they can meet
them and come out winners are show
ing qualities that make for greatness In
character.
A review the cases of student mar
4 riage that have come TO my atten-
ton I firmly believe that the aiority
Of them have been entered upon wisely
Evening star., 1928-03-25

much OF their case that they will not
have any children. perhaps they would
make a failure of bringing up a family
anyway.
But the spectacle of such selfshness
and its ultimate effect on the character
OF the individual is one of the uglicst
Evening star., 1928-03-25

Euctin-C Chaucrk gFator

COEDUC tTIoN >oTI rs AnDS ANOTHER COMPLICATION TO
THE PROBLEM OF ON COLLEGES. DRAWN BY ADDISON BUR
Evening star., 1928-03-25
By w. B. SEABROoK.

v SrshFnok American wfIter who last
year neaetrstsd the pruse and DeTvlsh holy
places IA Syria. Palestine and Arabia has
Hart xAsena he took mart in Vooa9o rere-
rsauv-@ He i the Only white man known TO
Evening star., 1928-05-28

compact, neatly designed Roth fn,
HgateE that always works and
q beautiful black leather elg8- ~ -
retts case which hoicE 20 e.ga- H =
reEtes-~eseh genuine 3Sc value
--but during th.s sale-~both u
for ssc.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

You may choose a syringe or water
bottle Or two syriHges or two water
bottles. whichever you like. Each has
2-quart capacity. Fully equipped.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Now you need not
worry when your
drain pipe gets stop
ped up--just use q
little Enoz Drain
Pipe Flush.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Made of a special grade steel
7iz inches long. Have black ham
dies with nickel plated blades.
This Is an exceptionally good
value.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

A gentle Laxative
splendid for overcom-
ing stomach acidity
An excellent mouth
wash for daily use.
Evening star., 1928-05-28
for
Cleaning
2 for 16c

Can you Ina gine
getting two pints
OF Cleaning AM
monia for the IN
bellevably l o W
price Of 1ec?
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Removes the film
from the teeth and
leaves the gums in a
clean, healthy condi-
ton.
q 10 a Cust0mer.l
Evening star., 1928-05-28
'REAT ONE-CENT VALUES

Imparts n high
lUster and protects
the finish on the
finest woodwork.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Pyrene readily re-
moves all spots and
does not leave a ring
Clean. noninflammable
and very easy to use.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Refreshing sHa IN
ylzgTktlpg when used
sE e. rub dawn sfteF
exercise. Prevents the
muscles fibm becoming
a9ys.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Get q supply At
this low price for the
medicine and kitehea
cabinet. Each pack
age contains one full
pound.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

A few drops of this
delightful scented am
nonia viii give the
bath an enticing violet
fragrance, and make
you feel refreshed.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

These little O. scs are FeTs
healing and soothing 20 trs
irrirated throat Have . de-
ugnIful taste.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

These brooms are
made OF extra long
straw and bound with
heavy cord. Have
metal top handles and
convenient ring.
Evening star., 1928-05-28

Dainty, yfll-fTasde
rubber aprons Nlto
attractive borders and
convenient pocket Diff
feEsnt eolors from
which 70 make your se-
lection.