1808.] 
AMERICAN AGRIC U LTURIST 
119 
A GREAT ANNOUNCEMENT ! ! ! ! 
Will be Conunonced in No. 10, Ready Feb. 18(h, of 
THE I lf ¥ © 1 II 1 I II £ Y, 
The Best Story and Sketch Paper of the Age , a thrilling Tale , entitled 
THE WITCH FINDER ; 
- OR, - 
THE ISEMTE© Mil » SMJgfiO, 
BY LEO IN' LE W I S , 
AuTnoR op “ Tiik Silver Ship,’’ “ Tiie Water Wolf,” “Syria, tiik Jewess,” etc., etc. 
A thoroughly authentic history of Salem Witchcraft has 
yet to be written. In the books treating of this subject, the 
atrocities that were perpetrated by the Witch Testers were 
classed as almost pardonable offences, because committed 
under the delusion that the victims were gifted with super¬ 
natural powers, and could at will afflict any person with the 
most direful physical and mental ailments—such as blind¬ 
ness, deformity, or insanity. In those days every person who 
suddenly became ill, at once proclaimed that he was be¬ 
witched, and began recalling to mind the female on whom 
he had last looked, and who, it was thought, hjnl prostrated 
him by the power of Witchcraft. The suspected party, as 
was natural, generally proved to be some unfortunate woman 
against whom the invalid had long harbored a spirit of un¬ 
friendliness. The relatives of the sick person were at once 
summoned; after listening to the story of the individual 
supposed to be Bewitched, they would proceed in a bodj r to 
the dwelling of the unsuspecting victim, drag her forth, pub¬ 
licly accuse her of Witchcraft, in having afflicted their suffer¬ 
ing relative, and make her submit to 
The "Witch-Finder’s Test. 
Tc-irs and entreaties were of no avail; tlie expostulations 
of friends only made matters worse by leaving them open 
to suspicion, and it often happened that in endeavoring to 
shield the unfortunate victim from the fury of the supersti¬ 
tious multitude, even the friends of the supposed witch were 
compelled to undergo the tortures of 
The Witch-Finder’s Test. 
These tests were as numerous as they were atrocious and 
diabolical, and frequently resulted in the death of the vic¬ 
tim. When proven guilty of Witchcraft, death by the most 
cruel means was of course the sentence; but it was not a 
rare occurrence for 
The Witch-Finder’s Test 
to put an end to the victim’s sufferings by death, just as she 
was about to be declared innocent. 
At this distant day, and in this age of enlightenment, there 
will be found many who will discredit the following brief 
description of one of the many tests resorted to by 
The Heartless Witch-Finder. 
The Salemites believed that it was impossible to drown a 
witch— that if thrown into a river, she would certainly be 
able to make her way to the shore. Acting unon this belief, 
when a woman was suspected of Witchcraft, - she would be 
compelled to undergo the 
Witch-Finder’s Drowning Test. 
She would be dragged to the nearest river, and plunged in 
at a considerable distance from the shore. Ill case the 
woman succeeded for a time in keeping her head above the 
surface of the water, that was considered positive evidence 
that she was a Witch, and she would he stoned to death as 
she struggled with the remorseless waves. In this test the 
only proof of the woman’s innocence of Witchcraft was 
when she could not swim, and therefore sank to rise no 
more! Innocent or guilty, it was deatli in either case ! By 
drowning, she proved herself innocent; but if it appeared 
probable that she could save her life by swimming, she was 
stoned like a cat until she drowned ! 
^ Even cruelty more atrocious than this was put in practice 
The Witch-Finder. 
Private quarrels and ancient grudges were avenged by 
accusing innocent people of Witchcraft. Young wives 
were ruthlessly torn from loving husbands, accused before 
the gaping, ignorant and superstitious populace, 
Branded as Witches, 
and after being marched through the town, that everybody 
might look their last upon the 
Female Demons, 
the terrified women were given over to the villainous 
wretches who had achieved notoriety as 
Witch-Finders. 
The remarkable story which is soon to appear in the 
New York Weekly, 
Is a reliable expose of the atrocities enacted in the 
Days of Salem Witchcraft. 
The tale is founded on authentic records and data, and 
Is entitled 
THE WITCH-FINDER; 
°R, 
The Hunted Maid of Salem. 
The plot of the story Is original, although it has for its 
basis an accurate account of the cruelties that were perpe¬ 
trated during the period of 
Salem Witchcraft. 
Among the principal characters portrayed in this exciting 
story is 
The Witch-Hunter. 
The most disreputable person in Salem, at the time of the 
Witchcraft excitement, was a man named BOAUDnusn, who 
had achieved a devilish notoriety as a Volunteer Accuser, a 
Witch-Tester, or Witch Discoverer. This heartless miscre¬ 
ant practiced various juggleries, under pretense of distin¬ 
guishing a witch from an innocent person, such as drawing 
blood, saying the Lord’s Prayer backwards, etc. 
The Hunted Maiden. 
Another interesting personage of those times was Hester 
Wayrrook, the (laughter of a~colonial merpliant—a beauti¬ 
ful and noble-hearted girl, whom the villa* n Boardbusii 
persecuted with his attentions, and afterwards hunted as a 
Witch. 
The White Angel of Salem. 
A third and most remarkable personage of I hose dark days 
was a mysterious being who appeared in Salem when the 
delusion was deepest. She possessed the aspect of a young 
lady; but a strange peculiarity was noticed in her appear¬ 
ance— she was strangely white, and her skin shone so bril¬ 
liantly (hat many supposed her to be an angel. She went 
about doing good, opposing the Witch-Hunters, releasing 
prisoners, helping widows and orphans, etc. 
Whoever would have full particulars concerning these and 
a score of other inhabitants of Salem, in the days of Witch¬ 
craft must read the thrilling and beautiful narration just 
drawn from the historical collections of Massachusetts, and 
entitled 
THE WITCH-FINDER; 
or., 
The Hunted Maid of Salem. 
By Leon Lewis. 
Which will he commenced in No. 10 of 
The New York Weekly. 
The groat success of the NEW YORK WEEKLY is in a 
measure due to the scrutiny exercised in compiling the con¬ 
tents, so that the slightest offensive word or passage may 
be avoided. Heads of families, fully aware that we expunge 
from our manuscripts every expression that might contami¬ 
nate the young, present 
The New York Weekly 
to their wives and children, fully confident that its teach¬ 
ings will have a beneficial effect, and that its Stories, while 
they inculcate good morals, also exhibit the punishment 
that must attend vice. 
The contents of 
The New York Weekly 
are varied, to suit the popular taste; they are instructive, 
entertaining, and amusing. The thoughtful will find in 
THE NEW YORK WEEKLY 
.subjects that will induce reflection, the knowledge seeker 
will he edified and learn the social habits peculiar to various 
parts of the world, while the humorously inclined can al¬ 
ways find in the quaint writings of JOSH HILLINGS, PHI¬ 
LANDER DOEST1CKS, MARK TWAIN, JOHN QUILL and 
other humorists, something that will provoke merriment 
and laughter. 
As we have not space to particularize, at great length, the 
numerous features of THE NEW YORK WEEKLY, we will 
just mention some of the standing attractions: 
Answers to Correspondents.— A department in which 
the editor indulges in familiar chat with his correspondents, 
replies to various queries put to him, and disseminates in¬ 
formation that is of tlie greatest popular interest. 
The Knowledge Box.—In this column will he found Do¬ 
mestic Recipes, Scientific Notes, Hints to Farmers and 
Gardeners—in fact, suggestion's that will prove useful to all 
classes of society. 
Items of Interest, —The important events of tlie world 
are epitomised in this column, and their essence given in 
pithy sentences. 
Pleasant Paragraphs,— This department is entirely de¬ 
voted to articles of a humorous nature, and it forms an ex¬ 
cellent dessert to the mental feast which the columns of 
THE NEW YORK WEEKLY contain every week. 
The above are the regular departments of 
THE NEW YORK WEEKLY, 
besides which wc have 
SKETCHES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. 
LOVE SKETCHES. 
SKETCHES OF ADVENTURE. 
SKETCHES OF BORDER LIFE. 
SEA SKETCHES. 
Witli such attractions, who can wonder that 
THE NEW YORK WEEKLY 
is considered 
THE BEST LITERARY PAPER PUBLISHED. 
0®” It should be borne in mind that in Wo. 1G of the NEW YORK WEEKLY will be com¬ 
menced “THE WITCH FINDER; or, THE HUNTED MAID OF SALEM.” The New York 
Weekly is for sale hy every News Agent. Price Six Cents per copy. Specimen copies sent 
free. STREET & SMITH, 11 Frankfort Street, New York. 
THE AMERICAN 
FRUIT CI]5lTURIST 9 
BY JOHN J. THOMAS. 
Is a superb book of over 500 pages, profusely illustrated 
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And is richly bound in extra muslin, full gilt back. Sent 
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1VM. WOOD & CO., Publishers, New York. 
WJjTMAX AI.U TAX4 6 A¥i:i^ Need, 
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96 pages, duodecimo, in paper cover, 25 cents. 
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The fam( 
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Suspension 
performed 
the great Ma¬ 
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in Haney’s 
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lust rated 
monthly of useful, curious, and interesting read¬ 
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and such as will not only prove interesting but 
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no pains or expense will he spared to make it 
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HANEY & CO., 119 Nassau-st., New York. 
jpg- Notwithstanding the extremelvlow price of Hanky's 
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to any postmaster or other person who will get us four 
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Please Sec first Advertisement on page 75, 
Feb. Wo., “Best Evergreen,” and order atonce. 
A Horse Doctor Free. 
SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS CURED 
GRATIS. 
Wilkes’ Spirit of tiik Times, the groat Family, Sport¬ 
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the news-stands. Subscriptions $5 a year. 
Address Editor V Wilkes’ Spirit,” New York. 
F AINTS for FARMERS and others.—The Graf¬ 
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Address, DANIEL BID WELL, 
25-1 Pearl Street, New York. 
WANTED—EVERYWHERE, 
GOOD AGENTS for our new work, “ HOME BOOK OF 
WONDERS;” also, for a new Family Photograph Bible, 
containing Notes. Indexes, Maps, Engravings, Record Album, 
&c. BEST TERMS GIVEN. Address, 
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Wanted—Army Guns, Ilevolvers, &c. 
I will pay Cask and the freight for second hand arms in 
good working order, as follows: 
$15 for Henry’s Repeating Rifles (14 shooters). 
$10 for Spencer’s 1 titles and Carbines (7 shooters). 
$5 for Sharp’s Rifles or Carbines. 
$5 for Colt's Army or Navy Revolvers. 
Caslt paid for every description of fire arms. Liberal 
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Persons having one or more, can send them hy Express, 
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Post-Office. 
