Permit me to refer such readers as are curious to know more on this subject, to the above work, p. 73. But if you still can find room for a continental proof of the efficacy of a pair of shears as very powerful chele, not only for driving away Satan, but altogether banishing him from earth, allow me to adduce from a most excellent collection of tales, Traditions of the Bavarian Territories (Sagenbuch der Baierischen Lande), just published by Herr A. Schöppner, under the auspices of the ex-king, the following tale, No. 757, "Die Scharfe Scheere" (The Sharp Scissors):

"Outside the parish church of Münnerstadt, you see a gravestone with a pair of shears sculptured on it. He who rests under it was a pious tailor, who was often disturbed by the Devil in his devotions. The latter appeared to him frequently, and whispered him to throw plenty of cabbage into his hell (a technical German term for its receptacle, I know not if usual amongst the English gentle craft), and otherwise played him many insidious pranks. Our tired Schneider complained of the evil to a pious hermit, who advised him, the next time the Prince of Darkness made his appearance, to take the shears and cut off his tail. The tailor resolved to follow his advice; and, on the next visitation, he lopped the tail clean from his body. The Devil halloed out murder! went off, and ever afterwards left the tailor in peace. But the shears remained a long time as an heirloom in the family, and their form was sculptured on his tombstone in remembrance. Since then, the Devil walks through Münnerstadt without a posterial adornment, and therefore not now recognisable; which is the reason that many people assert that there is no longer any Devil."

Well might Herrick, in his Hesperides, inculcate:

"Hang up hooks and shears to scare

Hence the hag that rides the mare."

William Bell, Phil. Doc.

17. Gower Place.


"PIC-NICS."

(Vol. iv., p. 152.; Vol. vi., pp. 518. &c.)