THE DODGEVILLE CHRONICLE —NOVEMBER 20, 1874
In our former article on this subject we mentioned that belief in witches was a superstition almost universally met with. Another almost equally prevalent is the fear of “the Evil Eye.” This is an unpleasant faculty, supposed to be possessed by some persons, of being able to wither, as it were, any one they chose merely by a glance. It is acquired by a compact with the Prince of Darkness, who, in return for bestowing the wished-for power, demands the souls of those who make the compact with him. There are, however, individuals who are supposed to possess this faculty not only involuntarily, but even against their will, in which case it is not under their control, and they frequently therefore injure the very persons they most love; for should the involuntary possessor of an evil eye be unguarded enough to praise any person, animal, or even thing, and look at it at the same time, its doom is fixed, and in spite of all the efforts of the unwilling cause of the injury, its destruction is certain to ensue. What gave rise to this singular superstition we have been unable to discover, but belief in it is very widespread. It is met with among most nations of the East, while in many countries in Europe the lower classes believe in it firmly, especially in Greece and Spain. Many of our readers will doubtless remember a striking picture of Philip’s, of which this superstition is the subject. A Spanish gypsy [roma, archaic] mother is seated cowering
