The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-01-04
Some Queer Superstitions.

declining fortunes; to see it for the first
time over the right shoulder betokens
good luck, but over the left or behind
foreshadows ill-fortune, and also, to be
without gold in the pocket at the time
is of very bad consequences; acorns
ought to be cut after the moon is full.
In Lodges "Incarnate Diyells, I'VE find
that "when the moon appeareth in the
spring-time, the one horne spotted and
hidden with blacke and great cloud,
from the FIRST day of his apparition to
the fourth day after, it is some signe of
tempests and troubles in the aire the
summer after" Better crops of grain
may be expected by sowing the seed in
the moons increase; the ancients re-
gardedthe moons age in telling timber,
and Pliny advised the last day of the
winter solstice for that purpose, as the
timber, he says, will be incorruptible.
There is an old proverb, that $50 many
days old the moon is on Michaelmas-
| DAY, SO ndny uOOuS dIIeT.
To put on the left shoe before the
right, or the left shoe upon the right
foot, and Uice uerSa; to put a shirt or
stocking on wrong side out; the burst
ingof shoe-string or garter, were all
considered ominous of ill-luck, and are
held by many in this repute up to this
day. 1t is vulgarly accounted lucky to
throw an old shoe after person when
his or her success is desired in some
particular undertaking. Old shoes
were thrown after bride and bridegroom
when they started for the church; and
it was customary in Ireland, formerly,
to elect person to Office by throwing
shoe over his head.
To break looking-glass is consider
ed unlucky, and is thought to predict
death in the family. They say it is
ill-luck to see ones face in the glass by
candle-light. Napoleon, during one OF
his Italian campaigns, broke glass
over Josephine's portrait, and he could
not rest until the return of a courier,
whom he had Immediately dispatched,
and who brought him tidings of the EN-
press's safety. Glasses dipped in water
were used to determine the fate of a
sick person.
If two persons wash their hands in
the same water it is said to presage 8
quarrel between them. If the cheek
burns or the ear tingles, some
body must be talking about you
if the right ear it is good, but if the
left, it is bad. And so with the itching
of the ear or elbow. To rise on the
right side is accounted lucky. A thick
and hard neck is ominoUs of hanging.
An itching nose is interpreted into the
expectation of seeing a stranger, OF
taking a drink; an itching of the lips
is forerunner of kiss. Nose-bleed
is sign of love; Melton's "Astrolo-
caster" says that one drop from the
left nostril is good luck, but on the
right, i'll. Burton, in his Anatomy OF
Melancholy, says ''that to bleed three
drops at the nose is an i'll Omen.'
Missing the mouth, in eating, or drop
ping the victuals, forebOdes sickness.
Some persons thought themselves Sc
cure of receiving money if their hands
itched. Heaviness in the head is omi-
nous of impending evil, and the sound
of bells is suggestive of great misfor.
tune. .."
When yellow spots do on your hands appear,
Be certain then you of corse shall hear.
White spots in finger-nails denote
gifts; and black spots, according tC
Burton, are bad omens. The forefingel
of the right hand should not be used il
applying any remedy to wound Of
bruise. The nails should not be pared
nor the hair cut on a Friday or Sunday
Long nails and crooked denote one
british and unchaste; short, pale anC
sharp nails, show one false and beguil
ing; round nails, libidinous; broad
plain, thin, white and reddish nails, are
tokens of very good wit. Short and
fat fingers mark intemperance and sill
ness; long fingers and long hand be
token mechanical artiice; short hanC
notes fool or good-fOr-nothing; soft
hand, wit and effeminacy; hairy hand
luxuriousness moist hand, an amor
Gus constitution; dry hand, age ant
debility.
There's letter in the candle wher
we see spark in it; collection OF tai
low rising up against the wick denotes
a winding-sheet; kind OF fungus il
the candle predicts the arrival of 6
stranger or parcel from the country
nearest the object. The Greek votary
knew his prayer had been accepted il
the flame was bright. The waving mo-
ton of a flame presages windy weather
when candles or lamps can not be light
ed readily look out for wet weather, a;
also when they sparkle and emit little
fumes. A thief is discovered in the
candle when the tallow melts irregular.
ly; and, if the candle burns with din
or blue light, spirit is in the house, OF
not far off. If, after letter is written,
it be accidentally dropped, held before
the fire to dry, or a word is found tc
have been omitted, ill-success will at
tend its mission.
A coal in the shape of a coffin flying
out of the fire, prognosticates death
one in the shape of purse is a good
omen. A buzzing noise in the fire de,
notes storm; the sparkling of the fire,
the heaping together of ashes, the
burning of particles of SCOT on the bot
tom of q pot when taken from the fire,
and the "much and sudden falling Of
SCOT, all presage rain,, according tc
Willsford, in his "Nature's Secrets"
eff Dogs houle in the night" says
an old writer, "neere an house where
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