Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-10-20
SUPERSTrTIONS.
The Phases Found in the Country
Districts.

A ptase or rustic numor wn'cn is
destined year by year land happily sol
to shrink further and yet further into
obscurity, is that belonging to rural
superstihons. 1t has not disappeared
yet Dwellers In remote country dis.
trlcts are aware how very frequently,
IN the characters and modes of thought
OF their proyincial-reared neighbors,
the ludicrous hovers on the border OF
the sublime. A man or woman enti-
tied on many grounds to place in the
roll of natures nobility-bold. inge-
NOUS, intelligent, stout Of arm, and
strong OF willis nevertheless over
and over agan proved the victim of
some petty delusion, or craven, ignOble
terror. There are working men in Sc
eluded hamlets who still cling to their
ancestors faith in astroloxy and in the
voices OF the stars" as translated to
mundane comprehension through the
medium Of the prophetic almanacs.
And this not vaguely, tentatively, but
with a robust credulity which can
shape and govern their everyday ac-
tions, their buying and selling, their
sowing and reaping, their contracts,
whether social. commercial, or matri-
monial. We quote a bona fide exam
PIE
A skilled country mechanic, a man
OF distinct pretentions to ability, lost
his situation after fifteen years of ap-
proved service. He sought another,
but at first unsuccessfully. Trade was
depressed, and the outlook sombre. An
opening offered in somewhat novel
quarter. The inquiry was made if he
could commence work on the Monday
succeeding his engagement. He hesi-
tated, and lugubriously demurred,
II VIII come on ths Tuesday, without
fall" he said.
"Why not OH the previous day?"
curiously asked the employer.
Its a bad one, ST."
"a bad one! How? don't under
stand.n
"By the almanac, sir. / wouldn't
marry on that day if I were ever so
deeply smitten by ''Cupid's arrow" as
they call ID on the valentines, and if it
were choice between then and never;
and | won't start at new job on Mon
10y hcAI iOl dLlg LldSlcl Ill tuc COuuiIN.
Sorry to disoblige, SIR"
Remonstrance and ridicule were alike
vain. 'NO, no; l mayn't be able to
explain lt-there's heap o. things in
the world we can't tell Just the why
and the whyfore of-but I've proved,
and that's better than explaining it,"
"in fact, there's proof here in this
little bit of business. Nv almanac tod
me was to have changes this year.
looked all round, but couldn't so much
as guess where they were to come from.
But you see that after all the almanac
was right, and I've noticed il scores of
times"
The same artisan stood sponsor on
another occasion for a statement as
curious as to be worthy reproducing,
as specimen of the humor not simply
OF rural, but of technical superstition
also. He was de5canting on various
occult influences of the heavenly bodies
"a favorite topic with congenial au-
dlence.
The moons power Is veyy remarka-
ble," he SAID; las is well known and
admitted, it rules the tides. And it
likewise makes wonderful difference
to timber. You may hardly credit this,
but It's matter OF experience again.
Timber felled when the moon is wax
ing planes or cuts up nigh as easy
again as the very same sort, and age,
and growth Of timber felled when the
moon is on the wane. It's queer, but
true"