THE EVIL EYE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] STR,—The Bengalese superstition that you speak of, as to the "Evil Eyes" of those who praise their children, is not, or at least was not, confined to Bengal. It was very common in Ireland—when I knew Ireland, alas ! forty years ago. To say, "That is a fine child," or even that is "a fine cow," or "a fine pig," without adding the words "God bless it !" was regarded as most unlucky for the creature so praised. The idea was— as far as I could find out—that this praise might either be, as you say, the expression of envy, and so imply an ill wish, or that it drew the attention of the fairies to the child or the animal, and tempted them to carry it off. The addition of the words, "God bless it!" was held to be an evidence of the good- will of the speaker and a scare for the fairies.—I am, Sir, &c., P. C. W.
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