Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-12-31
Is Friday an Unlucky Day I?


Is Friday an Unlucky Day?
Few educated people put any faith in
the popular superstition which has OBJ
tanned amongthe ignorant and unlearned
from time immemorial, that Friday is
an unlucky day." Yet we heard some
persons say it is unfortunate that the
great Assemblies consummated their un-
ion on Friday
We are we'll assured that, notwith-
standing this superstitious prejudice does
not prevail so universally as it did in
days gone by, there are many good
meaning and excellent people who feel
reluctant to undertake work of great
moment or Importance on day which
vain tradition has marked as inauspicious
in the calendar. 1t is seldom that ships
set out on long voyage on Friday.
Hardened, sturdy and daring tars who
will spring to the topgallant and stand
on the yard arm amidst the surging of
tempest-tossed ocean, and the fearful
rocking of the frail bark, have "holy
horror of setting out on voyage on
that day.
1t is seldom that a lady or gentle
man walks to the hymenial altar on Fri
day. Many would look upon it as an
omen that foreboded much i'll if the bans
were celebrated on what is sometimes
called hangman's day.
Few Of our readers, we think. indulge
in any such feelings. There is no reason
why any should. The facts will not war
rant the assumption that Friday is day
of i'll omen.
1t was on Friday that Christopher Co
lumbus set sail on his great voyage of
discovery; on Friday he first discovered
land, and it was on tie same day of the
week that he sailed on his return voyage
to Spain, where he arrived in safety, also.
on Friday.
Other important events in the history
of the United States transpired on Fri
day. 1t was on Friday, Nov. 10, 1920,
that the Mayaower, freighted with her
precious cargo of Puritans, reached the
harbor Of Provincetown. On the same
day these noble pioneers of Christian civ
ilization signed, in the presence of God
ana OF one another, the first constitution
that was framed within the limits Of the
United States. This" says Bancroft,
" was the birth of constitutional liberty.
In the cabin of the Mayfower humanity
recovered its rights and instituted gov
ernment on the basis of equal rights for
the general good. As the Pilgrims land
ed, their institutions were already per-
fected. Democratic liberty and inde-
pendent Christian worship at once exist
ed in America"
1t was on Friday that Henry VII. Of
England, gave John Cabot a commission
to proceed on voyage of discovery to
the North American continent.
Saint Augustine, in Florida, the old.
est town in the United States, was found
ed by Melendez on Friday, September
7th, 1865.
George Washington was born on Fri
day. Bunker Hill was seized, Saratoga,
and Yorktown we're surrendered on Fri.
day. On the same day of the week. the
treachery of Arnold was discovered.
1t was on Friday that John Adams
moved, and Richard Henry Lee second
ed, resolution in Congress that the
United Colonies were, and of right ought
to be, free and independent.
1t may be looked upon by some as a
remarkable coincidence that on the two
hundred and forty-ninth anniversary Of
the signing of the Cape Cod Constitution.
the General Assemblies of the Presbyte-
rian Church should sign the "august
compact of perpetual Union.
We may add it was on Friday the Pill
grims landed finally on Plymouth Rock.
Who will say then that Friday is an
unlucky day in American history? We
have the strongest faith that the mar
riage of the two assembliesyesterday will
be productive of the most blessed results:
that more abundant fruits even than
those produced by the landing of the Pill
grims will flow from their cordial and
fraternal Pittsburgh Gaseye.