Research source

Conforming to the general rule, the witch is but one dweller in a half-way world that is thickly populated and…

Date of account: Published 1908
Source: The book of witches
Reference: The book of witches · selected passage 52
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

Conforming to the general rule, the witch is but one dweller in a half-way world that is thickly populated and in itself forms one of an intricate star-group

Published source text

Read the available text below. Archive transcriptions may contain OCR errors; later context is labelled separately. A recorded claim is not a finding that it happened.

Source passage

Source text · mention only

Conforming to the general rule, the witch is but one dweller in a half-way world that is thickly populated and in itself forms one of an intricate star-group. Externally at least, its orbit nearly coincides with that of our human world, in that its inhabitants are for the most part of human origins acquiring those attributes which raise them above--or degrade them below--the commonalty subsequently to their birth. This not invariably--nothing is invariable to the imagination. Thus the fairies, although not human beings, may yet be witches--demons also, unless many grave and reverend authorities lie. Under certain conditions they may even become human beings, as mermaids may--many a man has married a fairy wife--and it is an open question whether they have altogether lost their hope of Heaven, as witches invariably have. As witches, they must be regarded as belonging to the White, or beneficent, type; for although, as Mercutio has told us, they may sometimes play unkind pranks upon the idle or undeserving, they have always a kindly eye for the virtuous, and frequently devote themselves altogether to good works, as in the case of Lob-lie-by-the-Fire, and others equally difficult to catalogue.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

This is a historical account assembled under the reporting and publishing conventions of its period. It may preserve testimony, hearsay, retelling and editorial interpretation together.

Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

A modern comparison can identify recurring descriptions and possible explanations, but the account is not treated as independently verified evidence merely because it appeared in print.

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