The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-07

"~71@nu' Happy VIII NC lne Driue tne
sun shines on; and IL hen eaekIes in
her new home as she crosses its threshold,
she will be happy mother as well as a
eontented wife. The old notion prevails
in some parts Of France, that when two
marriages take place at the same time, the
bride who first leaves the church will have
a boy for her first child. Not long ago,
two weddings were celebrated simultane-
ously at Arches. As soon as the ceremo-
ny was over, the two couples and their
friends made all haste to reach the church
door, and, to use sporting phrase, made
dead heat Of it. Neither party was
inclined to yield precedence, defiant looks
were exchanged, and things wore threat
ening aspect, when the mayor stepping to
the front, solved the difficulty by giving
an arm TO each Of the brides, and taking
them out together, TO the immense relief
of their respective friends.
Chances freakish daughter is given to
coming and going as the ft takes her, but
there are ways and means of compelling
luck to do US suit and service. That man
need feel no doubt about triumphing over
his foes who takes care to make an end
OF the first adder who crosses his path. If
1t is sometimes best to take the bull BY
the horns, it is always advisable to seize a
black snail by his, and toss him over the
left shoulder, for while the first may help
us out Of quandary, the last-named per-
formance insures us success IN all our
undertakings. In default of a black snail,
a money-spinner will answer the purpose
equally well. If too tehder-hearted to
treat snails and spiders so uncoremoniously
the seeker after good fortune will be Just
as well of il he hangs an adder-skin over
the mantel-piece, takes care to keep his
fire burning through the last night Of the
year, or dons something new on Whitsun.
day. Farley, Of pantomimic fame, pinned
his faith to lucky cap of which he was
the fortunate possessor. At the first re-
hearsal Of Mother Goose, when all was
ready, Grimaldi happened to observe tc
Farley that he had not the red cap on hi.
head, which he usually sported on such
occasions. 81 viii not go on without it,
said Farley, "or we shall have no luck with
the pantomime |" nor would he proceed 70
business until the cap of good fortune had
been fetched. According to the fishermen
Of Buckle, full nets may be insured BY
dressing corpse in flannel shirt stuck
over with burs, and wheeling him through
the town in barrow. A correspondent
Of Notes and Queries writes "Wife beat.
ing to the etfusion Of blood may be a nov.
Ell method Of securing luck in herring
fishery, but to draw blood is practiced in
some Of the fishing villages on the north
east coast Of Scotland, under the belief
that success follows the act. The act must
be performed on New Years day, and the
fortune is his only who is the first to shed
blood. If the morning of the New year
is such rs to allow the boats of the village
to put to sea, there is quite struggle as
to which boat will reach the ground first,
30 as to gain the coveted prize, the FIRST
shed blood Of the year If the weather is
unfavorable for fishing, those in possession
of guns-and great many Of the fsaer.
mems houses possess one--are out gun in
hand, along the shore before daybreak, in
search Of some bird or wild animal, no
matter how small, that they may draw
blood, and thus make sure Of one years
good fortune" Another Scottish plan for
securing good luck for the space Of twelve
months at least, is to draw bucket full Of
water from the village well at midnight on
New Years Eve, aud after throwing a
handful of grass into it, carry it carefully
home. If the drawer be cow-keeper, he
uses part of the water to wash his dairy
utensils, aud gives the remainder to his
cows, in the rather dishonest hope, that
he will thereby obtain the cream of the
cows of such Of his neighbon as use the
well, and have not been so wise as himself.
To barter away old shoes for the benefit
Of the translator" is sad waste there
is nothing ike well-worn leather to propit-
late fate. The -honored custom Of
throwing an old shoe after a departing
friend, in order that his journey may have
a prosperous issue, is so ancient and SO
common, that we only mention it here to
remind intending throwers that the shoe
should belong to the left foot---there is no
virtue in its fellow; and that the harder
the recipient is hit, the happier win be the
result. Old shoes are within everybody's
reach, but friend is not always at hand
to perform the ceremony. However, that
scarcely matters much, since we have lately
learned success is to be retrieved, whether
it is deserved or not, by simply pocketing
a bit Of coal. There is no reason why
black diamonds should not be as ef6cscious
as any other luck-bringers; still, belief
must halt somewhere, and ours halts at
coal, although ready to concede that incre-
dulity would be lessened if the coal-car-
riers limited their faith to genuine Wall
send. C ham5ers' Journal.
FALSE SHANE.-The false shame which
fears to be detected In honest, manual
employment, which shrinks from expos
lug to the world necessary and honora-