Woodstock Observer from Woodstock, Vermont • 1

WOODSTOCK, (Vt.) TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1820. Vol. I. No. At these words, the Earl of Aniou ex possessor preferment, honor or independence.

Simh nrpnflrnl mips an mere fhprirptlr. mists. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. the human heart. Can we then, wonder that women should make choice of the latter That they should' be frightened to belie pressed his determination to oppose the king and the priests; and the eldest son of the mon- which are dissipated by the light of experi themselves by the the threatenings of impen arch swore by St.

Denis, that, ifeverhecame'' ence. ding destruction 1 The fear of death has ah to the throne, he would drive every idle priest out of his kingdom. The fanatic1'' passion of St: Louis for crusades brought him avvtui influence on the mind yet we hnd that there were a number frightened to a confes to his death, uear the rums of Carthage, fighting sion by the dreadful threateniiigs, who were, by reflection, led to a most humble and solemn recantation declaring that the horrors against Mussulnien in a country where Dido had established the' gods of the This kins extended' that religious enthusiasm of conscience for having confessed themselves which depopulated Europe during two eentu- nes. guilty of a crime of which they were innocent, were more intolerable than death These were led to execution, calling God to Saint George, April S3. This illustrious SainttermeiLby the GreeksV- witness that they knew nothing of the crime for which they suffered.

i These evidences, with the confession of the "great martyr," was born in Cappadocia, of noble christian parents.r He was strong many of the accusers, are enough to convince fcvery unbiased mind that' there was not' a For the Observer.1' THE MEDDLER. NO. II. Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum Subjecit pedibus. Vifg.

During the long winter, evenings' I take much pleasure in visiting among my A fevy evenings since I rode out with my lady to make a visit with Mr. D. In the course of the evening the conversation happened to turn upon witches, and I was surprised to learn' they were all full in the belief of their existence. They related a great number of stories of haunted houses, and the like, in support of their beliefj which I had. a wonderful effect on their I endeavoured to convince them of the absurdity of what theyj related, and to prove that the vulgar ideas concerning Avitch-es, are superstitious notions handed down from one generation to another, but finding that my philosophizing was not very "agreeable, 1 took the first opportunity to change' the topic of conversation, i.

It being a cold evening, and the fire hav ing got pretty low, one of the boys was ordered to bring in wood and renew it. But "the effect the wondrous stories made," had witch in Salem, id 692, although many were and robust in body, and, having embraced the profession of a soldier, was made a tribune: or if colonel in' the army under Diocleaian his- i courage and constancy soon induced "the em-' For the Observer, THE MUSINGS OF MONOS. I JVo. XII. Nothing is more natural, than for youth to take the precept3 of their superiors, as infallible anil of universal application.

They never consider, that an exception strengthens the general rule. With such impressions I imbibed the instructions of ray venerable uncle Matthias. He taught, that virtue and learning infallibly conduct to preferment humility to honor honesty, frugality and integrity to wealth and distinction. 'These maxims, and many others, I considered as infallible, as the atioras iu mathematics. Confident of possessing the moral qualities required, I sure of their supposed' advantages as necessarily consequent.

Thus armed with' v' the precepts ami principles of my uncle I sallied out into: the world. My education had been such as to give me currency with men of letters my humility," honesty, frugality and moral character was never called in question, at least, to my knowledge. Of one 'thing I am sure, my modesty was real and unaffected. In the progress of my intercourse with the world, I soon had occasion to remark1 the "disagreement between the professions and practices of men. I began to doubt the infallibility of my uncle's instructions.

I had the good fortune to become acquainted with a man of acknowledged celebrity as a patron of letters and literary men, whom from the representations I heard, I took to be the true Maecenas of the age. With him I contracted an intimate. put to death on the' imputation, of witchcraft by our pious yet 'superstitious forefathers." peror to promote him. But that prince bar- But, thanks be to God we are in some de gree released from our shackles The sun of ing declared war against the christian reli- -gion, St. George laid aside the marks of his dignity, threw up his commission and posts, righteousness and the luminaries of science.

and complained to the emperor himself of his begin to beam with "new splendor on our happy shores, and I with joy anticipate the time, when, stationary in our meridian, their influ severities and bloody edicts. He was' immediately ast' into" prison, and tried first by ence shall dispel the mists of superstition and Clouds of ignorance from the mind of every son and daughter of THE SEASON. wrought up his fear to such a pitch, that it was a long time before he could be prevailed From "Time's Telescope." April is derived from Aprils, of aperio, I open because the earth, in tms montn, De-gins to open her bosom for the production of acquaintance. He soon learned my preten- on to venture out of the house, and then not without a brother, with a lantern, to attend him. Tea being handed round, we soon after took our leave.

On ray way home my mind was filled with reflections on the miseries which flow from superstition and ignorance and as I look upon a belief in witches to be an error which is too: often implanted in the minds of youth, the thought struck me. that I would devote my next number to that subject. I think it a duty to assist the superstitious in throwing off the shackles of prejudice, and the credulous in dissipating the clouds of sions to patronage, and I felt myself happy his assuring me, that my merits could not long fail of their deserved reward. I was associated as a member of bis family, invited without ceremony to make his house my home, and every attention was offered, calculated to render my situation and circumstances in every respect desirable. I viewed every assurance of esteem and regard from my new pat-ion, to be nothing less than a voluntary tribute to my merit, and that profession could go no further than the most sincere intention.

In short, in my patron I fancied I had found every object of my most ardent pursuit. Time soon dissipated the illusion. Not long after this pleasing dream, it was that my patro would be waited on by some of the principal gentry of the country. I now flattered myself with the prospect of becoming extensively known, and doubted not, that my ignorance. 4 I am aware that it.

will be; deemed presumption in me to contend with the established prejudices of the vulgar, but so long a3 I think I am supported by and. revelation, I shall be unmoved by their invectives, though branded with the appellation of heresy, vegetables. The Saxons called tins month cster-monat, from the goddess Gofiter, or because the winds were found to blow generally from the east in this month. All Fools1 Day, April i. 7 rOa'thia day idle people strive to make as man' fools as they can the wit chiefly consists in sending persons on what are called sleeveless errands, for the History of Eve's inotficr, for pigeon's tnilk, stimip oil, and similar absurdities.

i Saint Ambrose, April 4. Our saint was born about the year 340, and was educated in his father's palace, who was PraDtorian Praefect of Gaul. He ruled over thesee of Milan with great piety and vigilance for more than twenty years during which time, he gave all his money to pious uses, and settled the reversion of his estate upon the church. He converted the celebrated St Augustine to the faith, and at his baptism, in a miraculous manner, composed that divine hymn, so well known in the church by the name, of Te Deuin. He died aged '57, in the year 398.

The 10th ol April is observed by the Jews, as the anniversary of the death of the two sons of Aaron. Theltithof April, also, is That there were witches in the days of re claims to preferment would be readily ac mote antiquity 1 snail not presume to deny The Scriptures declare it and their veracity I cannot question. We read in these, (I. Sam. 28th Chapt.) that Saul, being forsaken by the Spirit of the Lord, went to a woman at Endor, who possessed a familiar spirit, and solicited her to call up Samuel, that he might learn the issue of the war with the Philistines.

Several others are mentioned in the Old Tes knowledged, and myself seated in an elevated independency. The day arrived and the lor was filled at an early hour. Modest, as I was, I determined to make my appearance among the great folks, participate in their mirth and contribute my share to the conversation. On my appearance I expected an introduction. This, however, was by some tament.

The acknowledgment of this is no argument against their non-existenee at the present day, but analogically in favour. Near1 ly alt believe that there were prophets, as the commemorated by this people, on account of Scriptures inform us, through whom, God made himself known to man; and from Scrip means or other omitted. I attributed this to inadvertency, or perhaps to a custom of the place, with which I was yet unacquainted. I was embarrassed, but determining to make promise.3 ana atterwara put to the question, and tortured with great cruelty but nothing could shake his constancy. The ne xt day he wa3 led through the' city and inf the year 290.

Under the name and ensignv of St. George, Edward III, in 1330, institut ed the most noble order of knighthood in I St. George is the patron saint of England for this the following reasons are assigned i When Robert, Duke of Normandy, the son! of William the Conqueror, was fighting against, the Turks, and laying siege to the fan is city of Antioch, which was expected to be relieved by the Saracens, St. George appeared with an innumerable army coming down from the hills all clad in white, with a red cross on his banner, to reinforce the chris- tians this so terrified the infidels, that they, fled and left the christians in possession of the town. Under the name and ensign of Saint 1 George, our victorious Edward in 1344, instituted the most noble Order of the Garter Its establishment is dated fifty years before the knights of St.

Michael were instituted in France by Lewis XI. eighty years before the Order of the Golden Fleece, established by Philip fhe Good, Duke of Burgundy and one hundred and ninety before the Order of Saint Andrew was set up in Scotland by James V. The emperor Frederic IV. 1 470, an Order of knights in honour of St. George and an honourable military order in Venice bears his name.

St, George is usually painted on horse-back, and tilting at a dragon un-der his feet; but this representation is no more than an emblematical figure, purporting, that by Iris faith and christian he conquered the devil, called the dragon in tho Apocalypse. Cervantes died, April S3, 1616. More than twelve thousand copies of the first part of DonQuixote were circulated before the second could be got ready for the press an amazing rapidity of sale, at a time when" the readers and purchasers of books were but an inconsiderable number, compared with what they are now. The very children, says Cervantes, handle it, boys read it, nien understand, and Old people appland the perform-, ance. It is no sooner laid down by another takes it up some struggling, and some entreating for a sight of it.

In fine, 7 continues he, this history is the most delight ful and the least prejudicial thatever was seen for, in the whole book, there is not the least shadow Of a dishonourable word, nor one thought unworthy of a good catholic. Saint Mark, April 25. St. Mark's Gospel was written in the year 63. The Order of the knights of St Mark at Venice, under the protection of this evangel- ist, was instituted in the year 787, the reigning doge being always grand master their motto vt Pas tibi, Marcef EtimgeUsta i On is 25th of April, or 15t day" of N'san, isfcifebrated the Jewish festival of the passo- ver, or the Paschal Lamb, according to the directions given in the twelfth chapter of Exodus from the third to the twentieth verse, beginning with the words "Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, in the tenth day of this month (Nisan) they shall take to tbem every man a lamb without blem- ish, a male of the first year." On this occasion, every house was not only ordered, to provide a lamb to be killed on the fourteenth day in the evening, but its blood was to be sprinkled on the door posts, and the lamb eaten by the people in their travelling attire, because it was known, that in consequence of the dreadful plagues, the Egyptians would ture testimony I believe there were witches.

But does any one believe that there are now the death of Eh the High-priest and his two sons, and the loss of the Ark. Buffon died, April 16, 1788. At Montbard, in France, in the route from Paris to Dijon, the house in which Buffon spent the greatest part of his life may yet be inspected by the curious traveller. It is in the high street, and the court is You myself as easy as possible, seated myself by a well dressed gentleman-, who appeared' to true prophets of the Lord existing among us The answer will, undoubtedly, he no. But have I not the same reasons for denying the existence of witches 1 have, and be discoursing on the recent changes made by the late wars in the old world; 1 heard him a winie wun silent expectation ot ac ascend a staircase to go into the garden, raised hesitate not to declare it my opinion that there has not a familiar been suffered to in quiring a fund of information from the dis course of one, who had contrived by the grav on the ruins of the ancient mansion, of which sinuate its magical powers into any human ity of his phiz, the confidence with which he being, since the ascension of our blessed Re the' walls make the terraces.

On the top there still remains a lofty octagon tower, where Buffon made his observations on the reverberation of the air. This singular and deemer or the days of hi3 apostles. spoke and his whole deportment, to assume so many airs of wisdom and experience. I soon found the speaker blind in both the eyes of history. Their anachronisms made cotera- Christ, who is as the refiner's fire and fuller's soap, came down from the realms of bliss to purge the earth of wickedness, take away picturesque garden is well worthy of notice poraries of ancients and moderns.

Their In quitting this interesting spot, the column erected to Buffon by his son is seen, on which the sins of his people and be a swift witness against the sorcerers. (Malachi, Chapt. 3.) Egypt was in Europe and their Africa in Asia. One stated without fear of contradic there was once the following inscription turrihumiles columna Parenti suo tie said he would make with his people a cov jilius Buffon." That revolution which caus enant of peace and cause the evil beast to cease out of the land. The prophet Micah is more ed these words to be enaced, also condemned explicit.

After speaking of the birth and to the scaffold the writer of them, who' died, pronouncing only, in a calnl and dignified kingdom of Christ, and coming to speak of his conquests, he says, he will cut off witchcrafts out of their hands and they shall have no more tone, ''Citizens, my name ts Buffon. Saint Dominic, April 1219, Found at Paris thirty of his religious fol soothsayers. (Micah, V. 12.) The supposed witchcraft at Salem, Mass lowers in the chapel of St. James, and, in consequence of the name of the chapel and is proved by numerous testimonies to be the offspring of ignorance and superstition.

This, some of the judges who condemned the inno cent victims, afterwards openly acknowledge tion, that the Turks had conquered Constantinople. I ventured to inquire if they had not always been in possession of it No answer was returned. I theu as modestly as possible, mentioned, that Constantinople was the capitol of the Turkish Empire and that the Turks had not i lately been dispossessed. The speaker then turning on me a look of contempt, inquired who I was, whence I came Arc. to which my patron coolly replied, that I was a young man, that had, happened in there of late and was expecting to stay a few days with him.

I now learnt that all his professions and promises of preferment were nothing but unmeaning civilities, solely designed to advance the good graces of the man, who offered them. Disappointed in my first attempt to support myself by twining round great men, I determined to rely on myself, atid on time and chance, and if I must be insignificant, to be so, without the mortification of suffering in silei.ee, the contumelies and reproaches of the great. Experience has since'i taught me, that humility, honesty, integrity, Teaming nor virtue, and in short, that none or all mental graces will always insure their. the street where it stood, he called them Jacobins. This was the origin of an Order which exereised great power over kings.

St. Louis had so much love, for this community, that he wished to be made a Jacobin. He proposed ed. It is true, some of the accused confessed themselves guilty of witchcraft. But a confession under their circumstances cannot be considered as evidence against them.

They were indicted at the bar of their country for a his design to the queen, and conjured her not to oppose it. That princess immediately sent for her children and the Earl of Anjou brother crime of which they were totally ignorant of the King; she demanded of the first wbeth On confessing the charge, they were to be acquitted, otherwise, inevitable and immedi ate death must be their lot. An awful death er they would prefer being the sons of a priest rather than the sons king And, without waiting for their answer, she exclaimed, The one. hand and by confession life on the Jacobins have worked en the mind of your father, and persuaded him to abdicate the We "all know; the of human nature; and thaf the 'de'sires of life and happiness are the principal motives that actuate I throne in order to become a priest and a prea.