The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-03-28
Popular SuperstitiOns.

The Rev. Minot J. Savage lectured in
Boston on popular Superstitions The
lecturer referred to the almost universal
belief existing, IN all classes of society,
in some sort of superstition. The vic
tins are more than half ashamed of them,
because they do not more than half be-
lievc in them, yet so strange is the fas-
cination that when they are alone they
are mastered by these same superstitions.
The speaker then referred to some of the
popular superstitions of the present day.
such, for instance, as wearing red yarn
around the neck to prevent nose bleed,
carrying horse chestnut in the pocket
to prevent rheumatism, the fear of ladies
to walk under a ladder, the sticking of a
jackknife in the head of the bed to prevent
cramps and the reluctance of some peo-
pie to enter and depart from a house by
different doors. The superstition that
Friday is an unlucky day on which to
begin anything was met by the speaker
by the assertion that Friday had proved
to be lucky day in the history of the
world. 1t was on Friday that Columbus
sailed in search of new world, and it
was on Friday that he discovered Ameri-
ca. 1t was on that day that the city Of
st. Auguttine was founded, and also the
day that the compact was signed which
finally led to the constitution of this coun-
try 1t was on Friday that the battle of
Saratoga was fought; that Arnold's
treason was discovered; that Yorktown
surrendered; that the motion was made
whereby the American colonies were
declared free, and it was the
day on which Washington was
born. The superstition that it was
unlucky to dream bad dreams three
nights in succession was one in which
the lecturer believed, for it showed that
the victim had been eating late at night,
and had otherwise neglected to take
proper care of himself. The superstition
regarding the number thirteen was ridi-
culcd, as was also that regarding getting
the first sight at the new moon over the
left shoulder. The idea or superstition
that child's hair or finger nails should
be cut during the increase of the moon
was made light of, the speaker querying
what possible interest the moon-stuated
hundreds of thousands of miles from the
earth-could have in such small matters.
The upsetting of a satcellar, dog
barking out of a window, wear
ing garments wrong side out and adorn-
ing walls with horse shoes were referred
to, and the significance given to them by
superstitious people and the suspicion re-
garding sneezing prevalent in olden times
dwelt upon, the act of sneczing being
believed to be the repulsc of an attempt
of an evil spirit to enter the soul. Star
worship, carried on extensively at the
present day, was alluded to, and regard
ing supcrstitions in general the speaker
argued that the victims cannot give a
rational account of any they possess,
and they cannot be defended. People
are governed much more by their feel
ings than by their logic and their reason.
Feeling is tremendous test and reason
is often powerless, and yet no one
is safe where reason does not
hold him in check and guide him. The
speaker argued that these superstitious
feelings are inherited; they are like
weeds that grow up in the best cultivated
gardens. The instinct of imitation is
enormous; hats, etc, are worn in spite
of comfort and convenience, simply be-
cause other people wear them; people go
to certain churches and Watering places
because others do The lecturer argued
that the larger part of the supersttions
of the day are but remnants of PAGAN re-
$igious ceremonies, and that the English
language is full of fossils of superstitious
beliefs of olden days.