The evil eye. An account of this ancient and wide spread superstition

CHAP. II MAGIC AND SUPERSTITION 45
savage races it is still the chief part of religion,*''*
yet it is not to be taken in all cases as the
measure of the civilisation of the people practis-
ing it. The reason we assign is, that outward
circumstances, such as local natural features, or
climate, tend to make the mental condition of certain
people specially susceptible of feelings, upon
which magical arts can exert an influence alto-
gether out of proportion to the culture of the persons
affected. In fact, the more imaginative races, those
who have been led to adopt the widest pantheon,
have been mostly those upon whom magic has made
the most impression ;
and what was once, and among
certain races still is, a savage art, lived on, grew
vigorously, and adopted new developments, among
people in their day at the head of civilisation.
Thus it has stood its ground in spite of all the scoffs
of the learned, and the experimental tests of so-called
scientific research, until we may with confidence
assert that many practices classed as occult, and
many beliefs which the educated call superstitious,
are still performed and held firmly by many amongst
ourselves, whom we must not brand as ignorant or
uncultured. No doubt the grosser forms of enchantment
and sorcery have passed away ; no doubt there
lis much chicanery in the doings of modern adepts ;
yet, call it superstition or what we may, there are
acts performed every day by Spiritualists, Hyp-
notists, Dowsers and others, which may well fall
within the term Magic ; yet the most sceptical is
constrained to admit, that in some cases an effect is
produced which obliges us to omit the v^ord, prdtendu
from our definition.
"^ R. Stuart Poole in Smith's Did. of Bible, s.v. "Magic."