Even among peoples with greater knowledge of the world and all its diversities, the lurking suspicion that the stranger might be other than human died hard. " 'Beggars and strangers,' says Homer, 'come from Zeus'" (Haarhoff, 1948:1). Or, in the New Testament version: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13 :2).

Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order a…, loc. 50