National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-19
ENGLISH suprnsrrr1oNs.
A Chapter That WIZ Bo Read Eag-
erly by the Average Human Being.

The Current
There are many superstitions in Eng
land, especially In tho northern part,
which have not obtained largely in this
country. Tho observance of holidays is
regarded with an amount of awe and su-
perstitious importance which would seem
childish and absurd to most Americans,
from whom, as q class, reverence for old
customs seems to BIO fast falling away.
New Years Day in the North of Eng
land is especially favored by the supersti-
tious as tho timo when tho gods Of fatc
need the most Precipitation to insure their
smiling indulgence for the ensuing year.
II is deemed most disastrous to the hap
piness of household to have Its threshold
first crossed on that day by any female.
A woman is sure to bring death.
Anyone having red hair, cross eyes,
bow logs--and there are many Of these in
the north-humped back, idiooy, or any
brain trouble, brings calamity Of some
sort, and II the MANNED one BIO q female
as WE'LL she bodies illness, death, and per-
haps financial difficulties. To avert any
such catastrophe boys in full possession
of oil faculties. straight-eyed, strong
limbed, with hair not verging on the
"Titian" in brightness Of hue, 60 about
just as the bell tolls the hour Of midnight
and rap at the door. 1t is considered
rank horesy not to lot Thorn In. When
the door is open they cross the threshold
and recito the following rhyme:
We've como to wish you happy New Year,
A pocket full OF money and cellar full of beer,
An apple and q pear, plum and u cherry,
For making Of good ale for to make man
God bless the mister of this house, the missus
also,
Likewise the little children that round the
| board go.
We come not to your house to beg or to borrow;
We come, good folk, to drive away sorrow.
They expect pennies, which they re-
| ceive with quick, jerky bow, and start
Off again for tho other houses on the street.
The little boys who go about thus are
called waits" and are the most heartily
welcomed guests of tho whole year. A
| Yorkshire woman of considerable intelli-
gence told me, with every appearance OF
credulity, of the sudden death of her son.
| which was occasioned by tho ill-omened
| entrance on New Years morning of o
neighbours girl, who had rushed in pre-
| cipitately before the waits" to summon
aid to her dying mother. "The girl
wasn't to blanc, poor thing" she added,
with great magnanimity, "she little
i thought what sorrow she was pouring on
to our house, but our George Frederick
Arthur lay cold in his coffin before next
July came In.
In some parts of Lancashire and
Lincolnshire the same omens apply on
Christmas morning
On Shrove Tuesday the cooking and
eating of pancakes insures full larder
the coming year, and II on tho same day
the children play almost continuously at
battledore and shuttlecock the general
4 prosperity of the family is hoped TO be
secured. Youths and maidens play az
we'll, and even adults may join in the
innocent amusement on this one day Of
tn year.
4 The superstition that 'tit is unlucly to
60 under q leaning ladder" originated In
| Yorkshire, as did also the Idea that
whoever reads epitaphs loses his mem
ory."
One day in the suburbs of Manchester
was walking with young lady, when
we heard dog bowling In not fal
distant kennel.
How dismally that soundsl" said.
"Wait moment and will put stoI
to It," said the fair Lancashire lass, ant
bending down she unbuttoned her Low
walking shoe, and taking it off spat IL
it, then slipping it on again wo resumed
our walk, while she laughed merrily o
my amazement.
"What does that doT asked.
"Why, don't you see, no hasn't howlet
since I did it Any dog will stop at ono
ifYSSp hp Sfd Hpitt tiasSap 5f 9Sff no reason al
all, the dog ceased to make day hideous
with his uncnnny noises, ut least unit
we were out of hearing.
On Guy Fawkes Day, in November,
guy" is constructed from straw and rags
,, wearing mask face, and Ia burned /,
the streets to insure pleasant dreams t
the people of the different neighborhood.
while great exhibition of fireworks l
: kept up until late, very much after tn
manner of our Fourth of July celebra
tions.
Whole chapters Of these superstition
might be recorded some of them utterl
senseless, others having slight founda
ton in some dimly realized scientif
fact.