Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-18
EVENING STAR.
A CHILD's cAUL.

From the y. Y. Journal of Commerce
Within two months we have had three ad-
vertlsements, from at least two different par.
ties, Offering this talisman for sale-the e rst at
Sl5O, the second at $500, and the third at $500
The advertisers show their sincerity by pay
ing the printers in advance, and the rise i'm
prices indicates good market. The fact that
no written answers have come to our Office may
perhaps be accounted for on the supposition
that people who know how to write do not buy
cauls.
correspondent has asked for information
upon the subject-matter of these advertise
ments; and as he professes to be actuated by
no idle curiosity" and there are very few
live Yankees whose curiosity is idle much of
the time, We proceed to inform our readers
what caul is, and what it is good for 1t
has no relation TO that part of the body to
which anatomists apply the name; for those
women who perpetuate the wisdom of the an
clients, have little yeneration for modern
science, and are very apt to snap thumb and
hnger at the doctor. 1t is natural head
dress with which some children are born COM
posed of thin, delicate membrane from the
ruptured amniOn, and derives its name from
Its resemblance to the nets or small caps for
covering the hair, which are still known to
some persons as cauls We are not sufficiently
versed IN millinery to say how common at
present may be the name Of the article; but
Its former currency as good English is certified
by ITS use In the translation of the Scriptures,
Isaiah iii, 1S
From remote antiquity it has been consid-
cred happy thing to be born with caul. ar
III France the proverbial expression, IL est ne
cotge, is equivalent to the English saying,
He was born with a silver spoon i'm his
mouth" NJ. Plancy, however in his 80 Die
tionnaire Internal, p" says that the French wise
women consider livid color in the csul bad
omen, and that good red tint is necessary TO
secure the fortune of the child. The distinc-
ton OF color is natural under the circum-
stances and so was the notion once prevalent
that child born with caul was destined to
become monk and wear a cowl
There are several notices in history Of cauls
IN connection with great men or great events.
We will relate but one. The Roman Emperor
Naracaha had pretorian prefect named
Macrinus, whose child was born with a caul,
which being considered q sure indication of
his advancement to the highest dignity, he
was named Diadumenianus
One day when Caracalla was in Syria and
busy IN superintendirr a chariot race, he re-
celyed package of A, ters from Rome, which
he handed unopened to Macrinus, directing
him to dispatch the ordinary affairs, and to
report to him the more important business
that might be contained in them. Among
those letters was one which Intended to inform
the Emperor that MacTinus was a dangerous
man, inssmuch rs it had been prophesied that
he and his son should reign over Rome. The
project was willy enough to conceal this infor-
nation from his master; wicked enough to pro-
cure his assassination, and liberal enough, at
least In promises, to secure the efectual aid of
the pr9torien guards in fulfilling the prophe-
sy. He enjoyed the dignity but short time,
Tor the best luck in the world will not atone
Tor lndclence, incapacity or cowardice. He
allowed his enemies time and opportunity to
raise an army, and after joining battle, fed i'm
the moment of victory. His son, though born
to crown, was slain with him.
The opinion has always prevailed that it is
important for the owner of a caul to preserve
1t, and carry it with him; and that good luck
Will attend it wherever it goes, and whoever
becomes the possessor. Hence there has al
ways been a trade in cauls, and the good for
tune OF the child is not unfrequently realized
at once, and transferred to the pockets Of the
nurse. -'-
In the days Of the Roman Emperors, when
law was even more uncertain than now, cauls
were considered Of great value in influencing
the decision of the courts, and lawyers were
among the principal purchasers. One counsel
thus fortified, felt competent to secure the
causes of any number of clients
On similar principle, it is now maintained
that captain with one in his pocket, is not
only exempt from being drowned himself. but
secures as a necessary attendant upon his own
safety that Of his ship and all on board Thos
Hoed wrote metrical story entitled {" The
Sea Spell" having for a motto this line from
an old Scotch ballad '' Cauid, camid, he lies
beneath the deep" We copy few of the
stanzas that bear upon our subject:
But still that jolly mariner
Took in no reef at all,
For, in his pouch, confdingly
He wore baby's caul
A thing, as gossip nurses know
Which always brings sQuall.
Nor rushing wind nor gushing wave
That bOatman could alarm.
For whv? he had that infants caul;
And wherefore should he dread.
Alas! Alas he little thought
Before the ebb-tide sped
That, like that infant, he should die,
And with 4 watery head.
X
The jolly boatman IS drowning scream
Was smothered by the squall,
Heaven never heard his cry, nor did