Dear Salem Witch Newsgroupers: I'm a folklorist at the Hazleton Campus of Penn State University who is doing research into adolescents' occult rituals for a book on "Satanism" (defined various different ways depending on the definers' agendas). One of my topics concerns rituals in which young females gaze into mirrors or other shiny objects under certain ritual conditions to catch a glimpse of their future husbands or a hint of their occupation. In Chadwick Hansen's book "Witchcraft at Salem" (1969), I find the following quote from Rev. John Hale: I fear some young persons, through a vain curiosity to know their future condition, have tampered with the Devil's tools so far that hereby one door was opened to Satan to play those pranks, Anno 1692. I knew one of the afflicted persons who (as I was credibly informed) did try with an egg and a glass to find her future husband's calling, till there came up a coffin, that is, a specter in likeness of a coffin. And she was afterwards followed with diabolical molestation to her death, and so died a single person--a just warning to others to take heed of handling the Devil's weapons lest they get a wound thereby. Another, I was called to pray with, being under sore fits and vexations of Satan. And upon examination I found that she had tried the same charm, and after her confession of it and manifestation of repentance for it, and our prayers to God for her, she was speedily released from those bonds of Satan (p. 30). Does anyone on this list know any more about this "egg and glass" charm as it was practiced at this time? I have an "egg and glass" account from Hazleton, Anno 1992, but I'm not sure this is the same ritual and would like to know if any other contemporary accounts exist. Sincerely, Bill Ellis Associate Professor, English and American Studies Highacres, Penn State Hazleton, Hazleton, PA 18201-1291 Voicemail: 570-450-3026 FAX: 570-450-3182 Yesterday it worked Today it is not working Windows is like that.