FOR LUCK

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 15

FOR LUCK

MUSEUM OF AMULETS ANCIENT AND MODERN CHARMS. The modern woman who delights to jingle a bunch of miscellaneous charms at her wrist and who is on the look-out for fresh ideas will learn with satisfaction of a collection which includes every form of luck-emblem the world has known, states a London paper. This collection, at a moment when every motor-car has its mascot, and every watch chain its fetish, has a curious or rather ironical significance, and illustrates how little human nature has really changed and how devoutly men and women of all times have believed in their individual "destiny" aaid guarded it against malign influences. The collection is included in tho Histoncaf Medical Museum founded by Mr. Henry S. Wellcome (of Burroughs, Wellcome), and comprises Egyptian, Roman, Arabic, African, Chinese, Japa neso, and European pieces, ancient and modern. The Egyptian' charms include several small examples of thai famous and potent of all. tho "Ankh," or key of life, which in Egyptian pictures is often seen in the hands of divine personages. But by far the commonest is that known as the "uatchat." To ward off the prevalent opthalmia and other eye affections tho ancient Egyptians use to trace on the lower eyelid a magical scroll-shaped, pattern with powdered antimony; and the model of an eye so decorated (uatchat) was also worn as a charm. There are also found ear"shaped charms against deafness, human teeth carved like Sphinxes. Another very rare figitre represents a man holding his hand to his face as if in pain. It is believed that this charm is the only one of its kind in existence. The Roman collection dates back to about the time of ChrisL. Tho exhibits aro made of copper- bronze and are of the ufcual shapes. A 'vSi-'- interesting figure, concerning the nature of which little is known, represents a small horse, whiLst another shows a shark's tooth embedded in a clasp of metal. These are rather bigger and moro clumsy than the Egyptian ones and much less desirable ac ornaments. CROCODILE CONSULTANTS. Beside the Roman exhibits are early and late pieces from West and Central Africa, the Congo, and Arabia. Amongst these is a necklace labelled " Kubil," or " Kill Sixty," which was no doubt worn by a warrior. There are also several wooden crocodiles with fiat, smooth backs. It is said ithat these were used by doctors when puzzling out a difficult case. The doctor rubbed the crocodile's back and the animal told him what was wrong. The niodern collection -is even more interesting than the ancient. It is a revelation in present-day superstitions, ■ every item of it having been . recovered from the original owners within the last 'few years. The first piece is a small stone, like a human foot, carried about by a Frenchman, who believed that it cured. his gout, and who parted with it very reluctantly. In the next case is a piece of amber, shaped like a heart, and used to ward off rheumatism until three years ago. A "rheumatism potato" from Norfolk lies beside it. Near these are two cards, each bearing a pair of mole's feet, which in Norfolk are still carried about as a toothache cure. Other curious items of the same character are a small bono from the ankle, used to ward off cramp by the East Country people ; a piece of vervain root, which is supposed to bo a protection against witchcraft, and is still in request in country district. 1 ! for this purpose ; a roll of eelskin, obtained from a Suft'o.* woman, who carried it to prevent cramp ; and a fossil sea urchin from a cottage which it had protected against the devil for many years. THE BLACK WITCH'S SPELL. The sheep's heart stuck full of pins and nails, which was obtained .in South Devon, is specially interesting, as this was used to break the spell cast by a black witch upon a herd of cattle. Beside it lies a strand of red silk taken from the neck of a Norfolk child, who was troubled with bleeding from the nose, and wore this charm as a preventive. From East London have been gathered recently aT Jewish charm against evil spirits— a piece of paper bearing a few lines from tho Talmud and enclosed in a brass case — a tiger's jaw, a tusk, and some acorns, the latter being used against inflammation in various parts. The Island of Mull has yielded an example of a very ancient and well-known spell to charm away toothache. We reproduce it" with all its eccentricities of spelling and grammar :—"ln: — "In the name of the Lord God. Peter sat on a marble stone weeping. Christ came by and asked 'What ailith thee Peter?' Peter said_ '0 Lord God my teeth doth itchie.' Christ said, 'Arise Peter and be whole and not only thou but all them that carries these lines for My Name's sako shall never have toothache.,' " The script ends with the laconic statement, "made for Mary M'Leod." Some of the charms seem to have had no particular significance, and were just worn "for luck," but it seems pretty certain that there aro many persons who carry such astonishing odds and ends about with them religiously, and would be quite unhappy without them.