Smyrna times., 1869-12-08
.MiSce eIIU ~ 2 IL s.
Is Friday an Unlucky Day2

Few educated people put any faith in the
popular superstition which has obtained among |
the ignorant and unlearned, from time immem-
orial, that " Friday is an unlucky day." Yet
we heard some persons say it is unfortunate |
that the great Assemblies consummated their
union on Friday
We are we'll assured that, notwithstanding
this superstitious prejudice does not prevail SO
universally as it did in days gone by, there are
many good meaning aud excellent people who
feel reluctant TO undertake work of great mo-
ment or Importance on day which vain tradi-
ton has marked as inauspicious in the calen.
dar. 1t is seldom that ships set out on long
voyage on Friday. Hardened, sturdy and dar-
ing tars who will spring to the top gallant and
stand on the yard arm amidst the surging of a
tempest tossed ocean, and the fearful rocking
of the frail bark, have holy horror" of set
ting out on a voyage on that day.
1t is seldom that lady or gentleman walks
to the hymenial altar on Friday. Many would
look upon it as an omen that fOreboded much
Ill if the banns were celebrated on what is
sometimes called " hangmans day
Few OF our readers, we think indulge in any
such feeling. There is no reason why any
should. The facts will not warrant the as
sumption that Friday is day of i'll omen.
| 1t was on Friday that Christopher Columbus
set sail OH his great voyage of discovery; on
on Friday he first discovered land, and it was
on the 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 transpred on Friday. 1t was
on Friday, November 10, 1920, that the May
flower, freighted with her precious cargo oil
Puritans, reached the harbor of ProvincetOwn.
On the same day these noble pioneers of Chris
tian civilization signed, in the presence of God
and of one another, the 6rstconstitution that wa!
framed within the limits of the United States
"This," says Bancroft, was the birth of con
: stitutional liberty In the cabin Of the May
flower humanity recovered its rights and insti
E tuted government on the basis of equal right
for the general good. AS the Pilgrims landed
: their institutions were already perfected. Dem
J. ocratic liberty and independent Christian wor
ship at once existed in America
1t was on Friday that Henry VII, of En-
h gland gave John Cabot his commission to pro
. : ceed on voyage of discovery to the Nortl
N American continent. sass" LH.n
e Saint Augustine, in Florida, the oldest tow
/, in the United States was founded by Melende
on Friday, September 7th, 1865.
George Washington was born on Friday
=, Bunker Hill was seized, Saratoga and York
town were surrendered on Friday. On the sam
> day of the week, the treschery of Arnold wa
discovered. 1t wason Friday that John Adam
moved, and Richard Henry Lee seconded,
resolution in Congress that the United COlOnie
were, and Of right ought to be, free and inde
pendent.
1t may be looked upon.by some as remark
able coincidence that on the two hundred an
forty ninth anniversary of the signing of th
Cape Cod Constitution the General Assemble
:. of the Presbyterian Church should sign th
'1 'v "augusj compact of perpetual Union.
- We may add thatit was on Friday the Pi
- erims landed finally on Plymouth Rock.
Who will say then that Friday is an unluck
:. day in American history2 We have the stronj
= est faith that the marriage Of the two Assem-
bhes yesterday will be productive of the mos
blessed results that more abundant fruits eve
= than those produced by the landing Of the Pi
ut grims viii flow from their cordial and fratern
Union. --Ifttsburg Gazette. -s' r. +