Folk lore

INTRODUCTORY.

T

he primary object of the following short treatise is to give an account of

some of those superstitions, now either dead or in their decadence, but

which, within the memory of persons now living, had a vigorous existence,

at least in the West of Scotland. A secondary object shall be to trace out,

where I think I can discover ground for so doing, the origin of any particu-

lar superstition, and in passing I may notice the duration in time and geo-

graphical distribution of some superstitions. But, on the threshold of our

inquiry, it may be of advantage to pause and endeavour to reach a mutual

understanding of the precise meaning of the word Superstition-a word ap-

parently, from the varied dictionary renderings given of it, difficult to de-

fine. However we may disagree in our definitions of the word, we all agree

in regarding a superstitious tone of mind as weak and foolish, and as no one

desires to be regarded as weak-minded or foolish, we naturally repel from

ourselves as best we can the odious imputation of being superstitious. There

are few who seek to know what superstition in its essence really is; most peo-

ple are satisfied to frame an answer to suit their own case, and so it happens

that we have a multiplicity of definitions for the word, many of which are

3 JAMES NAPIER

devoid of scientific solidity, and others have not even the merit of intelligi-

bility. A recent definition, extremely elastic, was propounded by a popular

preacher in a lecture delivered before the Glasgow Young Men's Christian

Association and reported in the newspapers,-"Superstition is Scepticism,"

which may be legitimately paraphrased "Superstition is not believing what

I believe." Although this definition may be very gratifying to the self pride

of most of us, we must nevertheless reject it, and look for a more definite

and instructive signification, and for this end we may very properly consult

the meanings given in several standard dictionaries and lexicons, for in them

we expect to find precision of statement, although in this instance I believe

we shall be disappointed. Theophrastus, who lived several centuries before

the Christian era, defines "Superstition" according to the translation given

of his definition in the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana, as "A cowardly state

of mind with respect to the supernatural," and supplies the following illus-

tration: "The superstitious man is one, who, having taken care to wash his

hands and sprinkle himself in the temple, walks about during the day with

a little laurel in his mouth, and if he meets a weasel on the road, dares not

proceed on his way till some person has passed, or till he has thrown three

stones across the road."

Under "Superstition," in the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana, the following

definitions are given:-

1st.-Excess of scruple or ceremony in matters of religion: idle worship: vain

reverence: a superfluous, needless, or ill-governed devotion.

2nd.-Any religious observance contrary to, or not sanctioned by, Scripture

or reason.

3rd.-All belief in supernatural agency, or in the influence of casual occur-

rences, or of natural phenomena on the destinies of man which has no foun-

dation in Scripture, reason, or experience.

4th.-All attempts to influence the destiny of man by methods which have