THE EVIL EYE.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—It is not difficult to point to the antiquity of the belief in the influence of the "Evil Eye," but it is surprising to find. instances at the present time of the survival of what is perhaps something more significant than an ordinary rustle superstition.
A village schoolmaster in the West of England has recently been good enough to make inquiries for me, to discover to what extent the belief in witchcraft is still held ; and he has within the past few days sent me some curious facts which have come under his notice. One case I will briefly state. A man well known to my informant believed that the "Evil Eye "had been upon him, and that he had been "overlooked." So convinced was he of this, that he sent to a witch in a neighbouring town for a charm that he might be thereby cured. There is no necessity to describe here the absurd nostrums used in this case to counteract the influence of the "Evil Eye ;" it is sufficiently extraordinary that such an instance should have occurred so recently as only a few months back. I could mention a number of similar cases which have come to light in the West of England in the past few years. If the extent of the belief in the "Evil Eye" in this country could be exactly determined, I am convinced that in the South-Western counties there would be found the largest share.
The fascinating power of the eye, to which the belief in the "Evil Eye" no doubt owes its origin, is observable equally in the dumb creation, and particularly in the cat. Many will remember Byron's lines on this subject in "The Giaour,'' 1813 :—
" And like the bird whose pinions quake, But cannot fly the gazing snake ;" and five lines beyond :— " As if that eye and bitter smile Transfeed to others fear and guile."
—I am, Sir, &c.,
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