His Views and Principles
were dressed up as far as might be in imposing scientific, or rather, pseudo-scientific terms, with the object, no doubt, of still further bewildering and bemusing the unfortunate reader; and this depth of absurdity was, as I knew, beneath even the intelligence of the superstitious Negro.
There was a dear old minister whom I knew years ago, during my pastorate in the hills of Wales. We were discussing the credulity and self-delusion of mankind in these matters one night, and with a shake of his wise old head, he said: "Superstition is a wild beast, look you, that lives in each one of us, and a wild beast that grows very quick indeed, to be sure." No doubt, he was quite right; the wild beast Superstition, bred in the dark caves and dens of the earth when man was in his childhood, still dwells in our hearts, and exercises, it may be, more influence over our actions than we would care to admit. I myself, I am ashamed to say, have been perturbed to find myself sitting down with twelve fellow-guests, I have shuddered inwardly at the sight of
127
