Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-03-26
HOUSEHOLD sUPERSTITIONS.
Some OF the Queer Fancies Entertained
by Good People.

nrfne OF the Queer EanCies Entertained
by Good People.
A favorite superstition, in many
parts of this country, says the 81. Louis
Globe Democrat, is the one concerning
new houses; that it is unlucky to build
a new house, since the coffin of the
builder will be the first one carried out
at thedoor. Hence, in many parts of
the Southern states additions will be
made to the old house as long as prac-
tlcable rather than resort to building
an entirely new structure. The super
stition, perhapsarose from the fact that
so many retired merchants erect fine
houses only to die in them as soon as
they are finished. This is often the
case, but no supernatural reason is
needed to account for the occurrence.
The merchant has up to that time been
engaged in active pursuits, has never
been idle in his life, and as long as his
new house is building he has occupa-
tion, even though he may have retired
from business But when the house
is done he has nothing to do and moth
ing to think of but his ailments and
lntirmities, consequently thinks Of
them great deal, soon loses his cour-
age and dies.
SpilEng the salt on the table is a par
ticularly bad omen and, contrary to
most OF these superstitions, has dei
mite reason for its own existence. Salt
is the emblem of hospitality, of friend
ship, OF gOod-fellowship, and when salt
is spilled on the table the friendship is
supposed to be in danger of being
broken. Like other superstitious
fancies sufficient number Of instances
of the verifcatiOn of the ill-omen have
been found and recorded to inspire
popular relief in the reliability of the
sign, and it is therefore respected even
more than most others of its kind.
So far as number is concerned, the
most numerous class of superstitions
are composed of thoie which
cluster round the family candles.
The origin of these probably dates far
back in antiquity, when the world was
full of superstitious fancies about light
in general and candle light in partcu-
ular. When we come down to the
carly days Of the Christian church
however, we find that not a few Of the
ordinances of religion were accom-
panied by ceremonies, in which lighted
candles played an important part.
Candles were lighted at birth to keep
off evil spirits, at marriage to prevent
the evil eye from affecting the happy
pair, and at death to drive away the
demons who were thought to be always
Oh the lookout for the soul Of the dy-
ing man, Naturally then, as candles
played so important part in the cere-
monies of religion, men became accus-
toned to regard them with something
of a superstitiouS eye and to look to
them for signs and wonders which
were not to be elsewhere found. SO a
peculiar appearance in the candle, for
which no reason could be given, was
always regarded as indicative of some
remarkable event about to happen. \
collection of taIlow round the wick, is
still known as winding-sheet, and is
believed to foretell the death OF one of
the family, while a bright spark is
sign of the future reception of a letter
by the person opposite whom the spark
is situated, and the waving of the flame
without any apparent cause is supposed
to demonstrate the presence of spirit
in the room. In addition to these fanci-
full notions there are some Others which
are founded on natural facts too well
known to admit of dispute, such as the
candle to light readily which indicates
state of atmosphere favorable to a
coming storm.
III Ireland, where household super
stitions, and indeed superstitions of
almost every other kind, grow as if by
magic, the house leek is Il lucky plant,
which, if planted in the thalch,
will preserve the inmates from all
dangers brought about by uRfricndiy
fairies, while the four-leayed clover is
considered certain to give its possessor
success in love, and is consequently
,nnh cnurbt after IN thiS upcnuut