The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-01-18

We OAlel HSdI pHTslSGS anu eldCuit-
tions to which we are so accustomed
they pass without remark, until soms
one struck W tn the humor OF the phrase
will repeat it, trying to solve the ques-
ton of its origin. The old, careless.
familiar exclamation is the subject OF
curious investigation. Sometimes it
may be traced TO the Greeks, Romans
or Arabs, an found to be little changed
since the days of antiquity. Among
these sayings there is til one that was
formerly used in polite society, but has
been banished as vulgar saying. 1t is,
"God bless yo p the greeting made 10
any one that sneezed.
No people were ever more supersti-
tious than the Romans. They were
guided by the merest accidents, With
them sneezing was an augury that they
interprete in various ways. From
noon until midnight it was n favorable
sign, but from midnight until noon it
was unfavo able; a herald of happiness
or woe also, according as one sneezed
to the right or left. But it was always
sacred gn and to be r. garded as
much as the flight of birds, or any o the
priests auguries. Those who sneeled
were saluted with the worJs: May
Jupiter keep and aid your From this
bit of an lent superstition arose the
Gu tom now nearly forgotten among
Christ ans. of crying out, "God bless
you!" when one sneezes.
The reason of its use as an augury
has not been discovered But sneeling
has everywhere and IN all times been
considered worthy of certain degree
OF attention. According to the Jews
tine custom of wishing well to one who
sneezes dates far, far back, even to the
creation. When Adam was driven out
OF paradise so runs the tradition, God
ordained that man should sneeze only
at the moment of death. But now
sneezing is looked on as Il return to life.
The French peasants say that patient
that has sneezed three times is consid-
cred in good heath, and may be safely
dismissed from hospital.
The Siamese explain it differently.
They say there are in the internal re-
gions Judges who write. all the sins of
men in large books. The Supreme
Judge is continually occupied in review
ing the collection, and the unfortunate
mortal whose sins fall beneath the eye
of the Judge will sneeze rs he reads.
Thus showing how useful il is to cry out
for divine aid at such moment.
IN the kingdom of SEMINAR the court
iers and all in attendance, oh erve a
curious custom Of turning away when
the King sneezes, and striking the right
thigh.
But the strangest and most ludicrous
custom Of all prevails in Monomotapa.
The King sneezes and frightful explo-
sion takes place. All the courtiers con-
slider it incumbent on themselves to inn
itate royalty as nearly as possible. They
first echo the sound and it is caught up
in the next apartment, and spreading
through the pa ace is continued to the
streets and houses. until the entire town
has proved its loyalty to its sovereign.
ITO pass the Rubicon.n This has be-
come pgoverb in the sense of under
taking hazardous enterprise from
which there can be no retreat. 1t re 'ers
to Caesars revolt against the Senate.
But thread on the map of Italy the Ru
bicon was as a great gull dividing Italy
from Cisalpine Gaul. The Senate, 10
insure Rome against the troops of Gaul,
had issued the famous mandate that
devoted to the Internal gods and de.
clared sacrilegious and parricidal who
ever should cross the Rubicon with le-
gion or cohort.
When the Senate refused Caesar the
consulship and continuation of his gov
elnment, he determined, in defiance,
to pass the limit OF his rule and march
to Rome. But on reaching the banks
, of the stream he was filled with doubl
and hesitation at the danger he would
incur. For long time he conferred with
1 u e f.fO vi u
the sword must decide everything.
: While he debated, prodigy occurred
, always welcome to the Roman A mar
OF lofty stature and remarkable beauty
was suddenly seen seated at short dis
tance playing on a pipe. Some shep
herds and soldiers OF the neghhorine
, guard collected around the piper Il
listen. Among the soldiers were som,
: with trumpets. Caesar seized one O
the trumpets and urged his horse 10 tht
: bank of the river, where he drew from
the instrument most warlike blasts
Then dashing across to the opposite
/ bank, he exclaimed: "Onl on! the di,
is cast! The voices of the immorta
gods and the injustice of our enemie
callr' But his decision involved Rom,
in long and fearful struggle.
Another saying is mo Quarter
Formerly the ransom of soldier was q
quarter of his pay. Ii the victor de
sired to retain his prisoner, or have hin
put to death, he refused his ransom
tliat is, would take no quarter whicl
I might pay for his deliveran e, So the
: expression means to make no conces
: sion. but to act with extreme rigor.
{ A ''Sardonic' laugh, that is to say, ;
} convu sive. deadly kind of laugh. II
Sardinia there grows kind of ranun
, eulus called Sardonia, which contract
! in strange way the muscles of the fac'
when it IS eaten, so that the lips ar,
. forcibly drawn back. and the patient t'
. whom it is administered seems to smil,
$ while dying
But another explanation is more gen
erously admitted. drawn from an an
! eient custom OF the Sardianians At
r a