The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-04-07

an ODJect OF bellef IN this country as
well as abroad. In Ireland these ap-
partitions are called 'fetches," in Cum
berland ''swarths," and in Yorkshire
"waffs."
Popular omens of death are innu-
merable. One, perhaps, which is more
! fully believed in than any other, is
the ''death-watch." This, although
known to be caused by a certain bee
tie, belonging to the timber-boring
genus, Anobiuna, is the cause of fear
to many who have a given notion
that
1.-THE solemn death-wa clicks the hour of DEATH
This superstition is mentioned by
Baxter IN his "World of Spirits" !"
which obtained currency for its be-
lief upward of a century. He says:
"There are many things that ignor-
ance causeth multitudes to take for
prodigies. | have had many discreet
friends that have been affrighted with
the noise called a death-watch, whereas
| have since, near three years ago, oft
found by trial that it is a noise made
upon paper by little nimble, run
nlng worm, just like a louise, but
whittier and quicker, and it is most
usually behind paper pasted to a
wall, especially to wainscot: and it is
seldom if ever heard but in the heat of
summer. 1t is generally agreed by
entomologists to be the call of these
insects to one another, which is caused
IN the following way: The insect
raises itself upon it's hind legs, with
the body somewhat inclined, and beats
It's head with great force upon the
surface near it, and it's strokes are so
powerful as to make considerable
noise. In Lancashire, we are inform
ed that the death-tick must only tick
three times on each occasion.
Another almost equally popular
omen OF death is the bowling of dog
at nlght-a very old superstition, and
not confined to our own country. It
is mentioned by Virgil in allusion to
the Roman misfortunes in the Phar-
sallc war; and Pausanias relates how,
before the destruction of the Messen-
lans, the dogs set up a fercer howling
than at other times. According to a
quaint German idea, if a dog howls
looking downward it portends death,
but if upward, then a recovery from
sickness. Shakespeare includes the
bowling of the dog among the omens.
Thus, in 3 Henry vi. (v. g. the King
says:
Tbe ee GT snrska at thy birth Ell
Dogs trees. eoSra and hide0uS tempests shook down
1t is curious how even an unedu-
Gated person could suppose that things
which God, in his merciful providence,
has hidden from mortal gaze, should
be revealed to objects of the lower
creation. Mrs. Latham, in her "West
Sussex Superstitions," recorded in the
Folklore Record" Ii. 56), says that
no slight CONSERVATION was caused at
Worthing a few years ago by New
foundland dog, the property of cler-
gyman in the neighborhood, lying
down on the steps of a house and
bowling piteously, refusing to be
driven away. AS soon as it was known
that young lady, long an invalid.
had died there, so much excitement
took place that the occurrence reached
the owner of the dog, who came to
Worthing to inquire into the truth of
it. 1t turned out, however, that the
dog had accidentally been separated
from his master in the evening, and
had been seen running here and there
when in search Of him, and howllng
at the door of the stable where he put
up the horse, and other places which
he often visited in Worthing. 1t hap
pened also that his master had been in
the habit of visiting the particular
house where the young lady had died
which at once accounted for the appa-
rent mystery.
Another omen Of death is the hov-
ering Of birds around a house, and
their tapping against the window
pane. The growing of the cock, too
at the dead Of night is regarded as
equally ominous. Mice are also said
to portend death. On one occasion g
poor old woman in Devonshire, when
speaking about the mice in her room
exclaimed, Il pray God at night, when
| hears them running about, to keeI
EN- down" 1t is a common notion
that to kill a cricket is highly unlucky
Thus Gay, in his Pastoral Dirge,
among many representations Of
death, gives the following:
''And shrilling crickets in the chimney cried.'
In the North of England swallow
, flying down the chimney is very
ominous; while in most places the
breaking of looking-glass is a GER
: tain forerunner Of death. Among th'
countless other superstitions associ