THE WERWOLF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20043, 4 September 1920, Page 11

THE WERWOLF.

SOME STRANGE BELIEFS. The werwolf is believed in even today in many parts of the world. The word is derived from two Anglo-Saxon ■words, wer, a man, and wulf, a wolf, and, therefore, signifies a creature made up of man and wolf nature. The Gormans call it a wahrwolf and the French loup-garou, and almost every European language has some expression corresponding to these. Those who believe in these creatures hold 'hat they may be male or female ond that they change from the human to the wolf-shape almost at will. Somb hold, not only that there have been . such monsters, but that some of them Still exist in various parts of Europe, and chby bring forward in evidence .. large number of cases substantiating the fact. One late writer says:—“My own theory is that the property of transmutation, i.e., the power of assuming any animal guise, was one of the many properties—including secondsight, the property of becoming invisible at will, of divining the presence of water, metals, the advent of death, and of projecting the etherical body—which were bestowed on man at the time of his creation; and that although mankind in general is no longer possessed of them, a few of these properties are still, in a lesser degree, to bo found among those of us who are termed psychic.’’ Among the inhabitants of Orissa, India, there is a widespread belief that gorno men may change themselves into tigers, producing what wo would call the wer-tiger, and that this change comes about at sundown. In this district a tiger deity is worshipped widen / is supposed to, have tno power of bestowing this property upon some individuals. In some parts of Africa .they cherish the belief in the werleopard and in others the wer-jaguar. Tliis metamorphosis in in all instances for the purpose of feeding upon human beings, and is perhaps the most horrible end horrifying of human beliefs. It may go back to cannibalism for its origin, but that many thousand human I'oings believo in some form a lycanthropy, the change from a human "being into an animal, is true. It is also held that lycanthropy "s hereditary, may bo passed on from fa* thor or mother to son or daughter, or may ho acquired by some form of the so-called black art. It is essential, according to the authorities, for the person who wishes to acquire this faculty to believe in those super-physical powers whose favour ho is about to ask. lie goes to Some waste spot, draws i circle on the ground, builds a, fire, and on the fire has a tripod and iron pot of water. He _ throws certain herbs into the water with certain accompanyIng' words. Ho takes off his clothing and smears himself with the blood of a freshly killed animal, preferably a cat. then binds nrounds bis loins a girdle made of wolf’s skin, kneels down in the circle find awaits the unknown. homo hold that the power may be acquired hv eating a wolf’s brain, or even drinking from a stream from whicn hr™ or more wolves have been seen to drink

A RHEUMATIC SUFFERER TELLS ; interesting story. Every Rheumatic subject will bo intei eeted in, this communication—ono of tho many letters from previous snfJerers who no longer have to endure Gout, Lumbago, Sciatica, Rheumatism and similar diseases. Mr McGuire, car© Mr Stewart, Barrack Hill. Napier, writes: “For two Tears I Imre been a martyr to Sciatica, have had a oouroo ot Electric .Massage, besides going to To Aroha for the baths; hut all m vain! A friend persuaded me to trv Rheumo P vo on j y tftk two bottles and the result i s E i mp l y wonderful. Can now walk and stoop with case, and feel sure that another two or four bottles will make me as nght as ever.’’ This message should fill you with hopc-RHEUMO brought relief to Mr McGuire. It seldom fails Try it. 2s 6d and 4s 6d bottle. 93 Hubby : " Why did you stand right next to .Mrs Fa shun all through the reception? I know you can’t abide her.” Wifio; “I know, my dear; but didn’t you notice how my black neb gown killed her brown dross ?’’ For Bronchial Coughs, take Woods’ Great Peppermint Caro, la gd, 2s 2d. “Just think of it! A whole splendid dinner—soup, fish, entree, pint with two vegetables, sweets and cheese, for a shilling!” “Wonderful I Where can you got such a dinner at such a |>rice?” “Nowhere; but just think of Harraeiough’s Magic Nervine quickly cures Toothache; Is 6d everywhere. , 93