The Hazlehurst signal., 1885-10-22
A HORSESHOE FOR LUCK
An Old and Almost Universal
Superstition.

oupcE StAtlOh.
al declare II there ain't n horseshoe in
the street, andIam going topick it up,
said Il young Lady to the Herald report
or, as they were walking along Adams
stree, the other day; and, suiting the
action TO the word the maiden pounccd
upon the prize and landed ii safely on
The sidewalk,
"And what do you expect to do will,
~" asked the reporter, looking
askancc at the rather worn iron semi
,irclc.
"Do with il? | shall take IL home
and hang it on the door-pcihaps will
-ild it, Don't you know il is lucky to
lind u hor>c>hoo2 thought everybody
knew that" and she threw back her
head and stepped out as if she already
had the purse of Fortunatus in her
pocket.
The young lady carried her horse
shoe home, but with what fortune 10
ncr time has Yet to tell. 1t is good
old superstition. and we come lcgiti-
matcly by il. "Nlay the horseshoe
never be pulled from thy thresh.
DID," i II friendly wish more than three
hundred years old 1t dates back to
The time Of witches and witchcraft. To
ind horseshoe and hang il behind the
house door was considered 10 bring
good luck to the household and protec-
ton from witchcraft or evil eye. In
uudibras, the conjuror could
"Chasc cvil spirits away by dint
Of sickle horseshoe. hollow Hint"
I'm old writer saws the house, in Lon
don were protected against witchcraft
by horScshocs nailed over the door, and
he adds that to BE- cllicaciOus the shoe
must be an old one. and accidentally
picked up by it's possc,sor. One of the
commonc,t sights in the rural districts
of this country, particularly in the older
states. is horseshoe nailed over the
barn or stable door This is tn keep
away the witches, whose great delight
it is to knot up the names Of the horses.
II llecatc and her sister hagS still ride
on the midnight air they carefully avoid
all PLACE, marked by the horseshoe. In
deed. il may To- that it has so discour-
aged their midnight praukS that they
have left Us entirely. Certain it is that
II is n great while since they have been
automatically seen. Tam O'Shanter
was one Of the last witnesses we know
of. Lord Nelson was Il great believer
m the horseshoe Us II lucky omen, and
one was nailed 10 the mast Of his IA
nous ship Victory. Harriet Mellon, the
actress, who married the great banker
COutts. grandfather of the Baron
eSs Burlctt-C Coutts. and after his death
married the Duke of St Adams. pinned
her faith upon the horseshoe. and
nad two of them nailed on the
outer gate of Holly Lodge, her country
seat. II a horseshoe could bring good
luck 1t certainly did to her. \ poverty
stricken Irish girl, her childhood was
passed in wretchedness and misery,
which some years life as strolling act
rcss did not much alleviate. Whether
,he found her horseshoe during this
period her vcracious blographer does
not disclose. but she finally obtained an
engagement at Drury Lane, and short
ly after drew 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 u great actress. nor n woman
of extraordinary beauty. but she was
the luckicst OF all the actresses ever
raised TO the English pceragc.
DR. James, of London, many year
ago invented fever powder He wa'
very poor, and desired to get promi
nent chemist named Newbcrry to sci
the powder for him. In going 10 New
berry's house one morning Dr. james
found a horseshoe. which he picked M
and put in his pocket. Newberry be
came his agent for the sale OF the pow
ier. and DR. James made IN immens'
fortune. lie ascribed all his success t
the horseshoe, which ho subsequent.
adopted as the crest on his carriage.
The poet Gay. in his fable OF "Th'
Old Woman and Her Cats, makes TIT
supposed witch complaint
straws laid across my path rctard;
The horseshoe's nailed, each threshold
guard"
In the large beer shops Of Londol
horseshoes may be seen. and there ha
been considerable discussion among he
levers as TO whether the horseshoe wa
most effective nailed behind the door o
upon the first step OF tho door Bot
positions have their advocates. and In
stances OF extraordinary luck recounie'
a. having attended them.