IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



Thus you may hope to increase your goods; 

 furthermore, the adoption of proper mea- 

 sures when the moon is waning will dimin- 

 ish your ills. But as to application of 

 the principles there is unhappily a lack of 

 unanimity. Even the land of kultur is dis- 

 tracted by opposing views on a subject of 

 so much general importance as the re- 

 moval of warts. One school holds with 

 the formula; — 'As the moon decreases, so 

 may my pains decrease also.' Another; — 

 What I see waxes; what I touch, let it van- 

 ish away.' They are of one mind, how- 

 ever, with respect to what follows the in- 

 cantation : you must cross yourself thrice, 

 go home without speaking to anyone, and 

 repeat three paternosters behind the kitchen 

 door. Doubts even more regrettable 

 exist as to the most auspicious phase of the 

 moon for the expelling of devils. In an- 

 other department of the moon's activities, 

 there are those who contend that all seed 

 should be sown while she strengthens, if it 

 is to receive proper assistance in its growth 

 (this is our view in Charlevoix, except in 

 the case of buckwheat which would run to 

 flower rather than grain under so excessive 

 a stimulation) but a large body of respect- 

 able authority favours the planting of root- 

 136 



