The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-07

W copy from advance sheets OF Mr..
Barnum's new autobiography the follow
ing amusing account of his superstitions
regarding No. l3;
In the Summer Of 1868, a lady who
happened to be at that time an intimate
Of my family, upon hearing me say that |
suppose we must remove into our Summer
residence on Thursday, because our SER
wants might not like to 20 on Friday, she
remarked:
What NONSENSE that s 1t is aston.
ishing that some persons are so foolish as
to think there is any difference in the
days. call it rank heathenism to be so
superstitious as to think one day is lucky
and another unlucky;" and then, in the
most innocent manner possible, she added;
81 would not like to remove on Satur-
day myself, for they say people who re-
move on the last day OF the week don't
stay long
Of course this was too refreshing It
case of undoubted superstition to be per-
mitted to pass without hearty laugh
from all who heard it.
suppose most Of US have certain su-
persttions, imbibed in our youth, ard
still lurking more or less family in our
minds. Many would not like to acknowl-
edge that they had any choice whether
they commenced new enterprise on q
Friday or on a Monday, or whether they
first saw the new moon over the right or
left shoulder. And yet, perhaps large
portion of these same persons will be apt
to observe it when they happen to do
anything which popular superstition calls
'unlucky." 1t is common occurrence
with many to Immediately make secret
wish" if they happen to use the express
sion at the same moment when friend
with whom they are conversing makes it;
nevertheless these persons would protest
against being considered superstitious--
indeed, probably they are not so in the
full meaning of the word
Several years ago an old lady who was
a guest at my house, remarked on Il
rainy Sunday;
This the first Sunday in the month, ,anc
now it will rain every Sunday in the
month that is sign which never fails
for have noticed it many a time"
Well" | remarked, smiling, "watcl
closely this time, and if il rains on tn,
next three Sundays | will give you new
silk dress"
She was in high glee, and replied;
We'll, you have lost that dress, as sur
as you are born"
The following Sunday it did indee'
rain.
"Ah, ha % exclaimed the old lady
what did | tell your knew il woul
rain
| smiled, and said, "all right, wstc
for the next Sunday"
And surely enough the next Sunday
did rain, harder than on either of the pre-
ceding Sundays.
Now what do you think ?" said tn
old lady solemnly, 81 tell you that sig
i never fails. 1t wont do to doubt tn
y ways of Providence" she added with
: sign, ''lor His ways are mysterious an
e past finding out"
The following Sunday the sun rose IN
! cloudless sky, and not the slightest AZ
/ penrance of rain was manifested throug
, the day. The old lady was greatly dii
r appointed, and did not like to hear an
Q allusion to the subject; but two years a
9 terwards, when sne was once more IN
e guest, it again happened to rain on th
first Sunday in the month, and hear
= her solemnly predict that ii would raj
o every succeeding Sunday in the montl
9 fer she remarked, 'it's sign that nevs
. fails," She had forgotten the failure ,
= the two years before indeed, the contiI
i uance and prevalence of many popula
!, superstitions is due to the fact that "
!, notice the "sign" when il happens to |
e verified, and do not observe it, or we fo
n get it, when it fails Many persons al
I exceedingly superstitious in regard to h
II number "thirteen." This is particular
'e the case, have noticed, in Catholic coul
5, tries | have visited, and have been tol
that superstition originated in the fact
{, thirteenth apostle having been chose
on account Of the tresehery Of Juds
At any rate, have known numbers