The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-11-01
WHAT ALL HALF BELIEVE,
Tho Popular SupaTstitIors That Somehow
Keep Alive.

There is something remarkable and
not f!attering to human sagacity in the
tenacity of old superstitions. 1t is
usual thing, for intelligent persons to de-
clare that they are not supersttious, the
declaration being coupled with self
satisfied air that proclaims their belief
tlat they are notch above their fellows.
let these same persons like to see the
new moon over their right shoulders, and
regard the incident with especial satisfac-
ton if they happen to lave silver in
their pockets. Maybe they are adverse
to starting on journey on Friday, or
TO beginning an important piece of work
on that unlucky day. They will careful
" pick up pins if the right end lies to-
ward them, and rs carefully avoid them
II ;he wrong end is nearest. Other per-
| sons who sccrn the moon and unlucky
Friday superstitioos have q peculiar re-
gard Tor tho magical number seven, or
any number which may be divided by
seven, or added so as &c form seven.
They prefer to live in house which is
numbered seven, with seven steps. If
the house is the seventh in the row, and
there are seven in the family, the charm
is complete. The seventh hour of the
day, the seventh day Of the week, the
seventh month of ihe year, are by them
regarded as especially lucky. Others
have special aversion to the nu.aber
thirteen. The finding Of buttons is by
some considered lucky omen. Other
persons are supcrstitious as to dreams,
ana still others as to the wearing Of GER
tain charms or amulcts to ward off dis.
case. Thus, q horse chestnut in the
pocket is considered a safeguard agains.
rheumatism and string OF peculiar sen
beans will carry child safely through
tho diseases incident to teething. Pea.
cocks feathers are unucky the howling
dog ioretelis disaster to his masters
household, and to pass between the car
riages OF funeral procession is pro-
tentous omen. TO meet colored person,
n cross.eycd woman or q white horse be.
tokens bad luck as the case may be. In
fact, the most triling things in life are
conjured into prophetic symbols.
Perhaps one of the oldest supcrstitions,
and one that smacks somewhat of sur.
Gerry, is the belief in the divining rod.
This rod, or twig, is thought to enable
certain gifted persons to discover hidden
springs of water. Reliable persons dc.
clare that they arc successfully used in
the search of water, the twig often turn
ing 80 quickly in the hand as to break it
III wv. w uuI ScCIllS TemarkQDlG Is that
the rod never turns except where the
water is concealed. There have been
many attempts to explain this mystery.
Some believers claim that the wand is
inspired, Others that the rod is only an
index, aud that the physical sensations
of the searcher communicate themselves
to the wand. The most sensible solution
is that of Paramelle, who wrote on meth
ods for discovering wells. lie concluded
that the wand turns in the hands Of Ger.
tain individuals ofpeculiar temperament,
and that it is very much matter of
chance whether there are or are not wells
in the places where it turns. The twjr
was also used in ancient times to point
out where stolen goods were concealed,
TO answer questions la planchette, and
TO indicate crimes and criminals. A
Bible suspended like a pendulum has
been thought in some parts of rural
England to serve the same purpose. The
credulous say that the wide distribution
of these and other popular supcrsti,ions
Is proof that there is something in them.
In the meantime houses go on being
haunted; ghosts continue to appear
tables to tip chairs TO move without the
aid Of visible hands, aud tho periodical
resurrection of half-forgotten bogies is
unceasing, Notwithstanding the declara-
ton Of the average nineteenth century
man and woman that they Mt least nre
not Observation-Disclosures Record.