Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-20
POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS.

1t is curious subject of inquiry to discover
Just where religion ends aud superstition be-
gins. Our best society is full OF whims delu
sons and prejudices that would edlty Hot:
tentot The breaking of mirror will spread
CONSERVATION through most Christian family,
and devout people would rather 70 hungry
than sit down TO table with thirteen. As to
seeing the new moon over the left shoulder,
they are morally convinced that it will bring
misfortune in its train Your little girl is told
bv her purses that she must not uadrcss or
dress each foot consecutivcly, but must alter
nate the putting ou or off OF the coverings. 1t
would not be lucky for her during the day IT
she put shoe, stocking and garter on the right
foot, and then on the lett; but she must make
some inroad, such as both stockings followed
by shoe and garter, or vice versa. or, 10 fact,
any change by which she can vary it. Taught
ries it out through life, and if, by any accident,
she breaks the rule, she is uneasy for the day,
and on the lookout for Jill luck. Always pick
UP pin when the head s toward you, but If
the point presents itself first let it lie. Never
mind what necessities of comfortably or decent
ly apparelllng yourself make that pin absolute
" peedtul, you must not pick it up. 20 around
all day with an uncomfortable feeling at yonr
throat because the button is off your shirt and
your collar is loose, but don't touch that plu
unless the head is toward you.
Grave and reverend signors have been un-
happy at seeing the moou over their left shoul-
der, and every matter that goes wrong during
the succeeding month is mentally, II not orally
laid to the charge ofthat uulucky look over Il
left shoulder.
1t is not part of your written creed, but
sort of higher law, sprung from some mystical
source, whose hidden origin makes 1t all the
more imperative. Don't have your baby weigh
ed when he is born. Ifyou do he will die
somewhere between that ceremonial and ten
such fearful interfering with Providence
albeit it might seem to be practical solution
of the Malthusian phlosophy-it is much bet
ter to guess at the weight. 1t calls your higher
faculties into play. and forms an alliance be-
tween imagination and mathematics not posi-
ble-uuder any other circumstances. 1t almost
dsproves the axiom that figures cannot lie. In
this coalition, If the figures do not lie, they are
capable of an expansion which much increase
their bulk. The mathematical uine, aided by
imaginative evolution, becomes the more com
petcd twelve. Respect the Welsh superstition
and don't weigh your baby:
We all know the fatal effects of spilling salt
the quarrel that must cnsue unless you throw
pinch over your shoulder or put it in the
fire. Thrown away or burned up-the best
thing, likely, 10 do with all tempcrS Ii possl-
bic, be Indifferent as regards the little season
ing of life consequent upon that salt that prov!
ed the truth OF graVltatton, and thus throw IL
away: or, if it must come, let 1t blaze hot ana
furious and burn up quickly. Anything but
smoulderlug quarrel.
You must never sit down to table thirteen 10
number. Ifyou do, one of the party Will sure
ly die before the year is out. Whether MS Is
predicted upon the ratio OF mortality. IN the
same way as life assurance or annulues, we
cappot saw, but thirteen has always been con-
sldered an unlucky number. 1t is the baker s
or devils dozen-the former individual being
held in something the same respect as the lat
ter. The original term was devils dozen, be-
cause thirteen witches sat down at table to-
gether on their Sabbaths, and 1t Is not we'll Tor
you to emulate witches on your Sabbath or any
other day.
You must not rock the cradle empty, as there
are two prophecies concerning thls--elther that
no child will be born to that houSehold or, II
one is living, it will die; or still more terrible
to the modern pareut, there will be a qulver
overfull of these human arrows. If light
goes out unex pectedly. or you extinguish 1t ac-
cidentaly, you must speak no word until you
have relighted 1t. 1t there are no matches 10
the house, emulate Harpocrates until some are
found aud utilized, or fire and fearful trouble
will follow.
Ifyou count all the white horses you see at
iurueraI YOU will soon die. How it works
when there is only one, aud you cannot help
counting it, We do not know; but the probablll-
ty is that chariots of fire not being OF daily oc-
currence, you will have to die.
What you dream sleeping in strange bed
will come true; aud if you are youth or maiden,
bachelor or widow, it is wise to assign TO each
coroer of the reom some especial divinity whom
you wish to have look graciously down upon
you. 1t you dream Of her, you may ask what
You wish. Mince pies, cheese, sardines. rais
ius aud hard boiled eggs are good introduc-
tory supper to little matters Of this sort. Some