The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-06-26
Marriage SupcrstitiOus.

The numerous supcrstitions that still
lingcr among US constitute very inter
csting, though painful, field for though
and reflection. 4 few of the most popu
lar in connection with love and marriag,
we place before our readers:
Oh st. Marks Eve the custom still lin
gers among the maitlcns OF northampton
shire to make the dumb cake. The mum
Der of the party: never exceeds three
They meet in silence 10 mako the cake
and rs soon rs the clock strikes twelve
they each break portion Off and eat
and, when done, they walk up to bed
backward, without speaking word-fol
II one speaks, the spell is broken. Those
that are TO be married sec the likenesscs
OF their swccticarts hurrying after them
Those that nrc to tic unmarried neither
ii5Hf Ti"r sue anything; Dut they have ter.
riblc dreams, which nrc sure to be of
ncw-made graves, winding sheets, and of
rings that will fit no finger, or which, il
they do, crumblc into dust rs soon us Dut
on.
There is another dumb ceremony also
prevalent in NorthamptOnshirc OF eating
the y0lk of mn egg in silence, and then
tililnS tic shell with salt, when the sweet
heart Is sure to make his visit in some
way or other before morning.
The young women of Scotland, in
former times. determined the figure and
size of their husbands by drawing cab
bages blindfOld on All lIallow Even, Tor
Halloween, the 3lst Of OctOber), and,
like the English, fiinging nuts into the
fire. 1t Is mentioned by Burns that ''the
first ceremony of Halloween is pulling
each stock orplant of kali. They must
go out hand in hand, with eyes shut, and
pull the first they meet with. 1t being
big or little, straight or crooked, is pro-
phetic of the size and shape of the grand
| object of all their spells-thc husband
or wife. If any yirtl, or earth, sticks to
the root, that is tochcr, or fortune; and
the taste of the custoc-that is the heart
| of the stcm-is indicative of the natural
temper and disposition. Lastly, the
stcms-or to give them their ordinary mp
pcllatiOn, the runts-are placed some
where above the head of the door, ard
the Christian names Of the people wh0n.
chnnce brings into the house are, accord.
ing to the priority of placing the runts,
the names in question"
The Welsh have a play in which the
youth Of both sexes seek for an ever
lcavcd sprig of the ash; and the first of
either sex that finds aud calls out Cynirer,
is answered by the first of the other that
succeeds; and these two, if the omen
fails not, are to he joined in wctllock.
burning the nuts was once fnvGrite
charm in Scotland. They name the lad
and lass TO each particular nut, as they
lay them in tho ll:r. aud accordingly rs
they burn quietly together, or start from
heSitc one another, the course and issue
Of the courtship will he.
In Ireland, when the young women
wished to know if their lovers were faith
ful, the put three nuts upon the bars of
the CRATE, naming the nuts after the low
crs. If the nut cracked or jumped, the
lover would prove unfaithful. If it be-
gan to blaze or burn, lie had regard for
the person making the trial. If the nuts
named after the girl and her lover burned
together, they would be married.
Eating an apple at glass was another
charm once in vogue: "'Takc candle and
go alone to IL looking-glass. Eat an ap-
pie before il, and tradition says you
should comb your hair all the timc) the
face of your coniugal companion to he
will he seen in the glass, rs if pceping
over your shoulder"
"TlIrowing n stocking" is n singular
sor; Of love divination on the first even
ing Of a wedding. After the bride has
retired, and while she is undressing, she
delivers one of her stockings to female
attendant, who throws ii ut random
among the company assembled on the
occasion. The person OH whom il hap.
pens to alight will, it is supposed, be the
next to enter into the blessed state of
matrimOny.--Je'oish Messenger.