The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-11-03
WHAT ALL HALF BELIEVE.
The Popular Supsrstiticns That Somehow
Keep Alive.

L
There is something remarkable and
not ilattering to human sagacity in the
Itenacity OF old superstitions. 1t is 4
usual thing for intelligent persons to
declare that they are not superstitious,
the declaration being coupled with a
selt-satisiied mir that proclaims their
belief that they are y notch above their
fellows. Yet these same persons like
to see the new moon over their right
shoulders, and regard the incident with
especial satisfaction if they happen to
have silver in their pockets. Maybe they
are adverse to starting on a journey on
Friday or to beginning an important
piece of work on that unlu Ky day
They will carefully pick up pins if the
right end lies toward them and rs care
fully avoid them if the wrong end, is
nearest. Other persons who scorn the
lucky moon and unlucky Friday super
s,itions have a peculiar regard for the
magical number seven, or any number
which may be divided by seven or add
ed so rs TO form seven. They prefer to
live in II house which is numbered sew
vi, "AAii cNNNh StCbS. II iliC boNSO 10
the seventh in the row, and there are
seven members in the family, the charm
is complete. The seventh hour of the
day, the seventh day OF the week. the
seventh month OF the year. are by them
regarded as especially lucky. Others
have special aversion to the number
thirteen. The finding of buttons is by
some considered n lucky omen. Other
persons are superStitiouS rs to dreams,
and still others rs to the wearing of
certain charms or amulets to ward of
disease. Thus, horse chestnut in the
pocket is considered Il safeguard against
rheumatism, and n string OF peculiar
sea-beans will carry u child safely
through the diseases incident to teeth
ing. Peacock's feathers are unluckv;
the bowling dog forclels disaster to his
masters household, and to pass between
the carriages of n funeral procession is
portentous emen. TO meet II colored
person, n cross-eyed woman or u white
horse betokens good or bad luck rs the
ease may be. In fact, the most tri1ling
things in life are conjured into prophet
ic symbols.
Perhaps one of the oldest supersti-
tons, and one that smacks somewhat
of sorcery, is the belief in the dvining
rod. This rod or twig, is thought 10
enable certain gifted persons TO discov-
or hidden springs of water. Reliable
persons declare that they have seen the
rod successfully used in search of water,
the twig often turning so quickly in the
hand as to break it in two. What
seems remarkable is that the rod never
turns except where the water is conceal
ed. There have been many attempts
to explain this mystery. Some believ-
ers claim that the wand is inspired,
others that the rod is only an index,
and that the physical sensations of the
searcher communicates themselves to
the wand. The most sensible solution
is that of Paramelle, who wrote on
methods for discovering wells. He
concluded that the wand turns in the
hands of certain individuals OF peculiar
temperament, and that it is very much
" matter OF chance whether there are
not wells in the places where it turns.
The twig was also used in ancient times
to point out where stolen goods were
concealed, to answer questions Ia
planchctte, and to indicate crimes and
criminals. \ Bible suspended like n
pendulum has been thought in some
parts of rural England to serve the
same purpose. The credu.ous say that
the wide distribution OF these and othc.'
popular supcrstitions is proof that there
is some hing IN them. In the mean
time houses 90 on being haunted; ghosts
continue 10 appear; tables TO tip; chars
TO move without the aid OF visible hands.
and the periodical resurrection of half
forgotten bogies is unccdsing, notwiih-
standing the declaration of the average
nineteenth century man and woman
that they Mt least are not supcrs,itious.
-IhilaGaipbjd Record.