The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-30
OId-Time- Delusions.


It is deemed highly important among |
he Anglo-Saxons that child should be |
born on a lucky day, on which the whole
,enor of his life is supposed to depend,
Tor in their opinion each day has It's Pc
culiar influence upon the destiny OF the
newly born. Thus, the first day OF the
moon was preferred to all others for the
arrival of the little stranger, for they
said child born on that day "would
grow fast, but not live long," If he was
born on the fourth day of the moon, he
was destined to be great politician; If
on the tenth, great traveller, and if on
twenty-frst, bold marrauder. But of
all the days of the week on which to be
born Sunday was by far the most lucky,
and if it fell on the new moon, the child's
is unbounded. Friday was
an unlucky birthday, not only because it
was day of cruciiction of our Lord and
Savior, but because, according to Anglo
Saxon calculations, Adam ate the for
hidden fruit on Friday, and was also ex-
PEELED from Paradise and died and de-
scended into hell on that day.
We can add to this list of popular
during the middle ages
very largely, and from an authoritative
source, the recently published work of
Victor Rydberg, a Swedish scholar. who
has devoted much tune and intelligent
labor to subject which is at once inter-
esting and instructive. The superstitioDs
confined to the Anglo -Saxons, but pre-
vailed generally among all the people OF
Europe, changing, of course, somewhat
in different localities. Indeed, some of
them survive, in more or less modified
form, up to the present day, and may be
familiar to many of our older readers,
thereby illustrating the survival of
ancient errors in spite of the enl1ghtening
influences of medern civilization.
Putting the wrong foot-the left-frst
out of bed in the morning was sure to be
followed by annoyance, and perhaps
serious trouble, during the day. Neglect
to put the shoes with the heels toward
the bed at night was certain to bring
ghosts or bad dreams. When children
are born no one must go out or In, or
open the door without carrying fire with
him, else the trolls-evil spirits-may
find their way into the house and ex-
change the child; and no one entering
must say a word before he has touched
the fire. For the same reason, while the
child remains unchristened it must be
watched carefully every night, and the
fire kept constantly burning on the
hearth. Before the christening, the
child must not be removed from one
room to another without putting steel by
its side. If two boys are baptized at the
same time, the one named and blessed
first will have the best bodily and mental
endowments. On the christening day
the mother should avoid handling an ak,
knife or other cutting instrument, else
the child will some time be murdered. If
the floor under the cradle is swept the
infant will not sleep. If the cradle is
moved when empty the infant will be
peevish. When child yawns the sign
of cross must be made over its mouth
and the words ''Jesus, Gods soulI'
added, otherwise the devil will then enter
it. If child lot ks out OF window or
into mirror at night it will be ill.
Children punished on Sundays are made
worse; but o good whipping on Good
Friday promotes juvenile virtue. If the
child runs about with one shoe on, the
mother will have sore back. If it
walks or runs backward, it drives it's
parents just so many steps into hell.
Reading and eating at the same time
gives child a bad memory. If a lovers
first gift to his betrothed is shoes she will
be unfaithful; if stockings, she will be
jealous. Weddings on Mondays. We'd
nesdays and Saturdays are unlucky. If
a bridal procession halts for any reason,
the married pair will quarrel. IF the
wedding ring is too small, misfortune is
in store for them. The one who first
kneels down at the altar or rises from
kneeling dies first. Those who hold the
canopy must not change hands or touch
1osc fo,, ,o& 1,,sv,
luck and mutual weariness. If in going
out an old woman or person carrying
water is met, the. room must be re-en-
tered to avoid misfortune. When the
table is set, the bread must be laid upon
it Immediately. Bread must never be
placed with the upper crust down.
Great care must always be taken to re-
move all substances separated from the
body-such as hair, nails. blood, etc.
They must be buried in the earth, SO as
not to come in contact with diseased per-
sons, or fall into the hands of witches.
The cewing of crows and raveas, the
howling of dogs, the ticking of the wood
worm in the walls of house, were sure
signs of sickness or death. If the horse
of a clergyman riding to visit sick per-
son in his parish, lowered its head on
reaching the house; OF if rat were
caught gnawing any clothing; or if
q light went out suddenly, or an image
fell down, or a glass or mirror were
broken 1t was sign of death. To learn
the fate of the sick person, a piece of
bread which he had tasted was laid in q
dark corner and its change of color noted.
Or piece of fat with which the soles of
the sick had been smeared was offered
dog. Or stone were lifted to see if
anything were hidden beneath it. If the
bread turned dark, or if the dog refused
to eat, or if no living thing appeared
under the stone-the patient was past
cure. The practice of medicine was oc-
quite eccentric. We give
"conluration-formula" for bloody fux
Sanguis name in vents
Sicut Christus in penis,
Sanguis maze fixus
sfcnG Christus fuit crucifxus.
Here is one for epilepsy:
Melchior, Balthaser portans he, nonaina
Casper,
morbo Domini p,etate eaduc,.
ct ternas detunctis psaflere missas
Ba rachum, Barachasin. Destrue subaigat
The sick were frequently measured;
sometime as remedy, at others, to as
certain whether the disease was increas-
ing or decreasing. Sick children were
drawn through holes dug in the ground,
or through split cherry tree.
In 1474 the May bug became very
in the neighborhood of |
Berne, Switzerland, and the people,
after trying i'll vain all other means.
called upon the Bishop of Lausanne,
who Solemnly accommodated the in |