[Hardy-l] witches

[Bouna Kane]

dear Rosemarie, dear all  
  I read many works on British folklore talking about the superstitions concerning the moon in rural England. (  see Christina Hole, Margaret Baker  or Thiselton - Dyer  or Nicholson John)  it could ensure for instance the fertility of crops or fortune telling for women. Did Hardy ever mention these superstitions in his notebooks or novels?
  Best
  

Rosemarie Morgan <Rosemarie.morgan at yale.edu> a écrit :
  Here is some Hardyana on witches: (and possibly sources for further reading)

See Hermann Lea's 'Some Dorset Superstitions' in Memorials of Old Dorset, 
ed. Thomas Perkins and Herbert Pentin (London, 1907). Hardy advised Lea to 
use the term "white witch" :
Letter to Lea:".... have read with much interest the proofs of your 
excellent witch stories. I have no objection whatever to your saying what 
you say about "Conjuror Trendle" -- I do not remember what his real name 
was, or rather, he is a composite figure of two or three who used to be 
heard of. I have a vague idea that Baker was the name of one, but cannot be 
sure.
Conjuror Minterne, or Mynterne, who lived out Blackmoor way, you have of 
course heard of: he was one of the most celebrated.
I have ventured to suggest the addition of the words "white witch" as you 
will see.
Very truly yours
T. Hardy.

(v3.265)
____________________________

My dear Clodd:
Here is a bit of folk lore that I have just been reminded of.
If you plant a tree or trees, & are very anxious that they shd thrive, you 
must not go & look at them, or look out of the window at them "on an empty 
stomach". There is a blasting influence in your eye then, which will make 
them pine away. And the story is that a man, puzzled by this withering of 
his newly planted choice trees, went to a white witch to enquire who was 
the evil-worker: the white witch, after ascertaining the facts, told him it 
was himself.
You will be able to classify this no doubt, & say exactly where it belongs 
in the evolutionary Chain of Folk Lore.

(v2.136)
_________________

And again to Clodd:
We saw your article in the Daily News on the spiritualistic craze, & some 
so-called answers to your arguments by correspondents of the Daily Graphic. 
Apart from scientific & other reasons against such communications the one 
fact of a "medium" being necessary would, one might think, discredit them, 
since, in at least half these performances the medium has been proved to be 
an impostor.

Our ancestors used to burn these mediums -- or witches as they were then 
called; but we reward them -- a more humane, though more mischievous, 
treatment. When the Witch of Endor called up Samuel we are not told what he 
paid her, but the case is of course an exact parallel to present practice, 
for one clearly gathers that Saul did not see Samuel, who conversed with 
him through the witch -- as now. She was afraid, when she knew him: but now 
they are not afraid!
(v6,31)
_______________________

Cheers
Rosemarie


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