Evening star., 1939-01-01
All Superstitions Are Based
On Fear, |Debunker' Declares
Miss De Lys, Capital
Visitor, Says 8 Of 10
Believe in Omens.


Fear is the basis Of all supersti-
tions."
This fact, declared Miss Claudia
de Lys, is the STORY behind the
story" of legendary omens the world
over, a theory nodded from 20 years
of probing into lives and customs of
all peoples
More than 10000 superstitions and
feats of magic, ranging from the
rabbits foot to the Hindu rope trick,
have been studied by Miss de Lys
in her educational campaign Of, as
she says, "debunking superstitions."
She is recognized as one of the
World'es foremost anthropologists
and her experiences in the worlds
four corners have, at times, bordered
on the fantastic.
If you want to know why you
cross your fingers for good luck, or
why Tibetan women wear their hair
in l0o braids, why a black cat is
unlucky, or what causes interna-
tional ill-feeling with the prospect
OF war, ask Miss de LyS.
And furthermore, she'll tell you.
How to Clear the Mind.
She'll tell you that the worlds
problems result from an Unborn fear
present in every individual and the
inability of person to clear the
mind and keep it that way at all
times. And clearing the mind"
she says, does not mean concentra-
ton. That "tightens" the mind in
much the same way as physical ex-
ertion tightens the muscles, she
explained.
If you misplace an article and
forget where it lays, don't 'concen-
trate' on trying to remember where
you put it," she added Instead of
concentrating on that, do something
else and forget it; then suddenly,
when your mind has cleared it
will come to you," she explained.
She said that all wars are the
result of individual greed, a direct
throwback from inborn fear. A per-
son protects himself Gn his opinion)
by accumulating power and worldly
possessions to meet adversely, which
is the element of personal fear.
That leads to conflict with his fell
lowmen, then group fear, which
broadens to national and interna-
tional conflict, she said.
Characterizing the United States
as a "superstitious nation to the
core she cited Orson Welles' re-
cent radio program as proof that
a national fear existed, as evi-
denced from the results of his
speech in all parts of the country
Born With a "Cowl."
Miss de Lys, in following her
chosen career, is refuting a para
dox accompanying her birth. She
was born with we'll" or "cowl,"
one of the best known omens of
good luck which sheshas preserved
in good condition, although she is
dedicating her life to "debunking'
that same idea.
Her progress, however, she admits
has been slow because eight of every
10 persons are definitely supersti-
tious, despite the fact that few of
them will admit it. Almost every
person has about a half dozen pet
beliefs, but they almost invariably
disclaim any superstitions, she said.
Women will acknowledge their be-
liefs more readily than men, she
has observed.
America provides a fertile back
ground for her study because of its
Heterogeneous population, almost
every country being represented
here. Washington is also a hotbed
of lucky and unlucky beliefs and
Miss de Lys said all of the African
superstitions were present, due to
the large colored population.
Born in Rouen, France, Miss de
Lys got her first inkling of the
charm" of her birth When her
grandfather, sea captain, took her
on his boat to India when she was
2 years old. He had lost a well"
purchased years before in French
store, and took the girl with him
as a guard against bad luck.
Adopted by Scientist.
From that day to this her life
has been one of excitement and
adventure, taking her to the worlds
farthest corners where she joined
native tribes in the South Seas,
dressed, ate, slept and lived as her
subjects from sunny climes to the
showdown mountains of Tibet. And
all this to learn their superstitions
and customs!
At II she was adopted by an uncle,
scientist, and assisted him in Kash-
mir, India, for 10 years. She had
been schooled by French governess
until the adoption, but after going
to Kashmir was trained by Hindu
and uses the Yogi system of breath
ing, eating and relaxing. She pre-
fers raw foods, even meat, and has
eaten grass while living with savage
tribes. She sleeps only four hours
day, the result of her Yogi training.
She speaks seven languages.
Forbidden Tibet held no fear for
Miss de Lys, who stole into that
country on yak. She lived on the
snowy slopes and had her hair
plated in 108 braids, a superstition
which Tibetan women said would
eliminate evil spirits from her head.