Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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6 The Annual of one it is a sure sign of death. In Allan-bane, Scott has made us acquainted with one of these seers. He foretells the arrival of James Fitz-James, describing his steed of dappled grey which lay dead beneath the birch-tree, his hunting coat of Lincoln green,, his horn, his cap and his hounds. So certain was he of the stranger ' s arrival that he had bidden them pre- pare for a guest of high degree. Had James been superstitious, he would not have dared to accept Ellen ' s hospitality, for, as he entered the door- way, a sword fell from its scabbard to the ground. This was considered a dreadful omen, for the person to whom this hap- pened was sure to be killed by the owner of the sword. This superstition is common to many countries. A story is told of a young nobleman,who lost his way in a German town. In the meantime a terrible storm arose and he sought shelter in a hovel near by. He was welcomed by a rough voice within but, as he stepped over the threshold, one of the numerous swords which lined the wall fell to the floor. His hast gazed at him so fixedly that the young nobleman asked him the cause of his strange conduct. Know you not, said he, that I am the public executioner of the cit} ' and that this is a sign that I shall one day cut off your head with this very sword ! The nobleman lost no time in leaving his place of refuge and a short time later, engaging in a plot against the government, he was executed by the same man with the same sword. Every glen, everj ' dell of this wild northern country has been peopled by its inhabitants with the creatures of their im- magination and every mi.st, every strange light was supposed to be some spirit, terrible both in form and mission. In a ro- mantic hollow in Benvenue overlooking Loch Katrine, were held at stated times, the solemn meetings of theUrisks. Those creatures were half goat and half man and resembled the Gre- cian Satyr but were unlike them in occupation ; for by kind- ness they could be won over to perform the drudgery of the farm In this they resembled Milton ' s Lubbar Fiend. hese creatures were scattered throughout the Highlands, each in his own secluded retreat but the solemn meetings of the order

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The Mary Baldzvin Saninary. SUPERSTITIONS OF SCOTLAND. It is not strange that in their bleak, desolate homes among the rugged mountains and on the shores of their beautiful lakes, alone and far away from the dwellings of man that the High- landers of Scotland should be peculiarly susceptible to wild and weird superstitions, that all nature should speak to them and that thej ' should try to interpret her voice. They strug- gled hard to read the future and. among the many devices, none strike us as more weird than that used by Roderick Dhu. A bullock was slain. Brian, the priest, was wrapped in its skin, placed on a rock beneath a waterfall and left alone to think about the question under consideration. We are not surprised that, when this ferocious man arose from his perilous position, his matted hair obscuring his face, his body seamed and scarred by penances , Roderick Dhu should have deemed his prophecy — Who spills the foremost foeman ' s life — That party conquers in the strife — an inspiration of the disembodi- ed spirits and should have thought the killing of James a holy duty. The Highlanders firmly believed in the second sight and indeed some marvelous instances of it are recorded. It is said that this faculty is not hereditary nor can it be acquired as has been imagined. When a person sees a vision, his eyelids are erected and the eye continues staring until the object vanishes. A story is told of one aged seer, who, after he had seen a vis- ion, would have to be assisted in pulling his eyelids down. The vision makes such an impression upon those who see it that they can think of nothing else as long as it continues and are jovial or sad according to the object represented to them. Every vision has a certain interpretation. If a woman is seen standing at a man ' s left hand, it is a presage that she will be his wnfe whether they be married to others or unmarried. To see a spark of fire upon one ' s arm or breast is a forerunner of a dead child to be seen in the arms of that person. To see a seat empty at the time of one ' s sitting in it is a presage of the person ' s death soon afterward. When a shroud is seen about

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The Mary hi Id-win Seminary. 7 were held iti the cave of Heiivemie. Many Highhiiul families were supposed to have a Urish attached to it. There wa-; aiuther order of spirits called the Men of Peace who were supposed to be a peevish race, having but little happiness themselves and eh vying men what thej ' pos- sessed. Dr. Grahame says: They are believed to inhabit certain round grassy eminences where they celebrate their noc- turnal festivities by the light of the moon. About a mile be- 3 ' ond the source of the Forth above Loch Coti is a place called Coirshian or the Cove of the Men of Peace, which is still sup- posed to be a favorite place of their residence. In the neigh- borhood are to be seen many round, conical eminences, par- ticularly one near the head of the lake by the skirts of which many are still afraid to pass after sunset. It is be lieved that if. on Hallow-eve, any person, alone, goes around one of these hills nine times, toward the left hand, a door shall open by which he will be admitted into their subterraneous abodes. Many, it is said, of mortal race have been entertained in their secret recesses There they have been received into the most splendid apartments and regaled with the most sumptuous banquets and delicious wines. Their females surpass the daughters of men in beauty. The seemingly happy inhabi- tants pass their time in festivity and in dancing to notes of the softest music. But unhappy is the mortal who joins in their joys or ventures to partake of their dainties. By this indul- gence he forfeits for ever the society of men and is bound down irrevocably to the condition of the ShVich or Men of Peace. ' ' Many great Highland families were supposed to have a tuletary spirit who took a deep interest in their prosperity and intimated by its wailings any approaching disaster. Scott sa s : ' The tutelar spirit of Grant of Grant was called May Moullach and appeared in the form of a girl who had her arm covered with hair. Grant of Rothiemurcus had an attendant c illed Bodach-an-dun or Ghost of the Hill; and many other ex- amples might be mentioned. The Benshie implies the famale fairy who.se lamet.tations were often .supposed to precede the death of a chieftaii of particular families. When she is visible