The Grenada gazette., 1885-10-17
A HORSESHOE FOR LUCK.
An Old and Almost Universal
Superstition.

SupeTSGlGlOH'
i declare if there amt a horseshoe in
the street, and am going to pick it up
said young lady to the Herald report
er, as they were walking along Adams
street the other day; and, suiting the
action to the word the maiden pounced
upon the prize and landed it safely on
the sidewalk.
"And what do you expect to do with
it?" asked the reporter. looking
, askance at the rather worn iron semi
circle.
"Do with it? | shall take it home
and hang it on the door--pelhaps | will
gild it. Don't you know it is lucky to
find Il horseshoe? | thought everybody
knew that ana she threw back her
head and stepped out rs if she already
had the purse Of Fortunatus in her
pocket.
The young lady carried her horse
shoe home, but with what fortune to
her time has yet to tell. 1t is good
old superstition. and we come legiti-
mately by it. MAY the horseshoe
never be pulled from thy thresh-
DID," is friendly wish more than three
hundred years old. 1t dates back to
the time of witches and wtchcraft. To
find horseshoe and hang it behind the
house door was considered TO bring
good luck to the household and protec-
ton from 'w;tchcraft or evil eye In
Hudibras, the conjuror could
Chase evil spirits away by dint
Of SICKLE horseshoe, hollow flint"
An old writer saws the houses in Lon
don were protected against witchcraft
by horseshoes nailed over the door, and
he adds that to be eflicacious the shoe
must be an old one, and accidentally
picked up by its posse sor. One of the
commoncst sights in the rural districts
of this country, particularly in the older
States, is q horseshoe nailed over the
barn or stable door THIS is to keep
away the witches, whose great delight
it is to knot up the names of the horses.
If Hocato and her sister hags still ride
on the midnight air they carefully avoid
all places marked by the horseshoe In
deed, it may be that it has so discour-
aged their midnight prauks that they
have left us entirely. Certain it is that
it is great while since they have been
automatically seen. Tam O'Shantor
was one of the last witnesses we know
Of Lord Nelson was a great believer
in the horseshoe as a lucky omen, and
one was nailed to the mast Of his fa-
nous ship Victory. Harriet Mellon, the
actress, who married the great banker
Coutts, grandfather of the Baron
ess Burdett- -COutts, and after his death
married the Duke of St. Albans, pinned
her faith upon the horseshoe, and
had two of them nailed on the
outer gate of Holly Lodge, her country
seat. Ii q horseshoe could bring good
luck it certainly did to her. A poverty
stricken Irish girl, her childhood was
passed in wre:chedncss and misery,
which some years life as strolling act
ress did not much alleviate. Whether
she found her horseshoe during this
period her yeracious biographer does
not disclose, but she finally obtained an
engagement at Drury Lane, and short
ly after drew q prize in lottery. Then
followed her acquaintance with the
great banker. and fortune smiled on
her for the remainder of her life She
was not great actress, nor woman
of extraordinary beauty, but she was
the lucktest OF all the actresses ever
raised to the English peerage.
DR.. James, of London, many years
ago invented fever powder. Hc was
very poor, and desired to get promi-
nent chemist named Ncwberry to sell
the powder for him. In going to New
berry's house one morning DR.. James
found horseshoe, which he picked up
and put in his pocket Newberry be-
came his agent for the sale of the pow
der. and DR.. James made an immense
fortune. He ascribch all his success to
the horseshoe, which he subsequently
adopted as the crest on his carriage.
The poet Gay, in his fable OF The
Old Woman and Her Cats makes the
supposed witch complain;
"Staws laid across my path retard;
= The horseshoes nailed, each thresholds
guard
In the large beer shops OF London
horseshoes may be seen. md there has
been considerable discussion among be-
levers rs to whether the horseshoe was
most effective nailed behind the door or
upon the first step of tho door. Both
positions have their advocates, and in
stances of extraordinary luck recountcd
as having attended them.
Some of the largest stores in Chicago
have q horseshoe prominently visible
over door or window, and there are
probably few families who have not at
one time or another placed considerable
confidence as source of good fortune
in this peculiar piece OF iron. As II
charm and as scarf-pin, tho miniature
horseshoe meets with the readiest sale