Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-17
Lucky and Uulucky Days,

The belief in lucky and unlucky dsys il ono
OF the most prevalent of human superstition.
There are traces of il among all the nations
OF antiquity, and some of more recent date.
The lith of the first month was esteemed aus
rlclous by the Jews, because il ended their
captivity In Egypt. On the other hand the
lO;h of August was ill-omened; for on that
day the first temple was DESTROYED by Nebu-
chadneZZar, and the second by Titus six an
drsd years after. The Romans would never
undertake any business on the 18th of Fob
ruary, dies Alliensis,) which was the ami.
Fersary OF the battle Of Allis, when the nation
was almost annihilated by the Gauls The
CarthageniaRs had the same superstition sbout
the I'D of August. Louis XI. of France es-
teemed 1t an evil omen if any one spoke to
him on business on Inpocent's bay.
There have been some remarkable ooinci-
Gences OF days in the lives Of distinguished
men The same day of the month has not
untrequently been the day Of birth and of
death, and the date Of some memorable event
Alexander the Great was born on the 9th of
April. On that day he won two of his mos,
important victories on; that day he died. 0n
that day his father, Philip, conquered Poti-
dea, and on that day Parmenio, PhiIip's
General, oyercame the Illyrians. Pompey the
dreat was born and died on the 50th of Sep
tember, and on the same day triumphed
on his return from Asia. Augustus was adopt
n III.
on the l9th Of August he died The wife of
Henry VII, was born and died on the llth
OF February. Sir Kenelm Digby was born
and died on the llth OF June. He conquered
at Scanderoon on the same day. His epitaph
commentaries the coincidence
Under this stone the matchless Digby lies,
,Digby the great, the valiant, and the wise:
This ages wonder for his noble parts.
Skilled in six tongues and learned in ali the
arts;
Born on the day he died-the eleventh OF juno
IN VI. whlch he oravely fought at ScanderOOn.
lis rare that one and self-same day should be
HIS day OF birth, OF death, Of victory"
hahaelle, was born and died on Good riday.
Shakspoare birthday was also the day Of h;s
death, April 2sl. The 25th Of February was
thrice memorable to Charles V. Of Spain. Of his
birth, the day Of his victory over Francis.
King of France, and the day on which he re-
celrcd the imperial crown at BonOma Charles
IL. OF England was born and restored 10 the
throne Of the 29th of May. The 81 Of Septem-
Der was marked in the history of Cromw II as
the date of the victory at Dunbar, also, Of that
at Worcester, and as the day Of his death
Days of the week have sometimes beer sig
nalized IN similar manner. Tuesday vas
day OF note TO Beckett the English saint On
Tuesday the Lords passed judgment upon aim
az Northampton: on Tuesday he went into
exile; on Tuesday he had a vision in which
his dosm was forotold TO him; on Tuesday he
returned from exile; on Tuesday he died, and
on Tuesday was canOliZed. "Wednesday VS.
the lucky day of the celebrated Pope SixtusN.
IL was the day of his birth, the day on which
he took orders, the day on which he was made
General of his order, the day on which he was
created Cardinal, the dly on which no was
elected Pope, and the day on which be wa.
lnsugurated. Henry VII. called Saturday
hls fortunate day, as that on which he gaineI
ths battle of BOswcrth, and that on which he
entered London. 1t il remarkable that four
OF the TudOrs in succession died on Thursday.
beginning with Henry VIII, the second. ard
ending with Elizabeth. the last Of the line.
Ancient calendars designate two days In
each month as unfortunate, namely OF Janu.
ary the first and seventh, February the third
and fourth, March the first and fourth, April
the tenth and eleventh, Nay the third and
seventh, June the tenth and fifteenth JULY
the tenth and thirteenth, August the frst aad
second, September the third and tenth, No
yember the third and fifth. December the sew
enth and tenth. Each of these days was de-
voted To some peculiar fatality. Whether the
change Of "style" introduced towards the
close Of the last century, by deranging the
calendar order, has affected the character of
these days, we are unable to say For our
own part, We agree with Heraclitus, who
blamed HeriOd for calling some days lucky
and others unlucky as not discerning that
- the nature Of every day is the same" Aud
we heartily subscribe to the saying OF So.
Paul, who, after mentioning that lone man
one day above another, but the
wise man esteemeth every day alike, adds
= let every man be fully persuaded in his own
mind. ."-Ch'tStIGn Enquirer.