Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06

cretS OF power from the forces
of nature, the human spirit still
covers before the black arts of the witch.
Although America regards Europe as CONT
nent cursed with ancient superstitions, Euro
pean investigators are contemplating study
of American witchcraft to see if it differs in
any material respect from the primitive notions
of magic which persist in the older countries.
The recent eruptions of deviltry that have
occurred in the United States have stimulated
discussion among the savantS on this side OF
the Atlantic. The episode of the hex doctor
who inspired murder in York, Pa. and the
mental terror brewed in the mind of old Nancy
Bowen that ended in the killing of Mrs. Mar
chand of Buffalo, are seen as evidence that
European superstition is not an isolated phe-
nomenon in the civilized world and that simple
minded folk everywhere have not yet sloughed
Off the fears of the supernatural which domi-
mated the dark ages of mankind.
Among the peasants here who have been
rooted for generations in the same villages,
these fantastic notions still exist to consider
able extent and their rise to the surface OF
modern life is probably more frequent than in
the United States.
Current belief in witchcraft ranges from tho
purchase of letters from witches for protection
against the evil ones to compactS with the devil
by those who wish to turn q fierce hatred into
second-han murder.
MOT long ago the inhabitants of Louvecnnes
~ appealed to the police for protection
against a woman who possessed an evil eye"
According to the frightened people, burning at
the stake the only remedy for curing the
SPELL but the law prohibits that penalty nova
days. Investigation showed that the woman
was war refugee from the ArdenneS, having
lost her husband and her sons in the war. Her
look was said to be deadler than the claws of
any beast and all she had to do was to look at
anything in order to cause the thing to wither
or the person to fall i'll.
The French courts in the provinces are fire.
quently called upon to deal with cases in which
some oldish crone is charged with casting an
evil eye upon cattle, turning the milk sour, or
bringing misfortune to family
The belief in black magic occasionally testers
I'm some peculiar form in the mind of an other
wise intelligent man. Maurice Garcon, a noted
French advocat, whose hobby is the study Of
these atavistic twists Of the human mind tells
of o man living in Partisan suburb who has
spent months pottering with an incredible mix
ture in his batfltub which he hopes to animate
with the soul and body Of a woman he loved.
This modern alchemist and sorcerer conducts
his daily business like a normal man. but away
from work he pores over elixirS and formulas
which give him the hope that he can create life
by will and chemistry.
In France it Is whispered that black magic
Is handed down from generation to generation
in the same family. Some of the lamentations
which come to light apparently have been car
ried by word of mouth for q thousand years
without any important change. They consist
mainly of the deed of partnership required to
make successful business arrangement with
Satan. The purpose of such compacts is almost
invariably to bring sorrow or suffering to an
enemy.