The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-05-24
SUPERSTITIONS.
HOW cREDULOUS OLD PEOPLE IN
TERPRET COMMONPLACE EVENTS.
Some OF the Weather-wIsdOm Handed
Down from Generation to Generation
Various Other "OId Wives
Fables''-Their Origin.
baltimore Herald

Scat-Whack!
There was a sudden howl as if a fog
horn had been seized with a nightmare,
and a something that bore a decided re-
semblance to a cats tail disappeared over
the back fence of St Paul street resi-
dence like streak of yellow lightning.
AZ don't like to see a cat lying in the sun
in February, said the old gentlemen, as
he slammed down the window and re-
sumed his chair by the fireplace.
"Why?" asked an incredulous visitor.
at forebodes a stormy March, was the
response. why, that's a proverb I've
heard since was a child, and I've never
known it to fail But here in the city,
and particularly here in st. Paul
street, they laugh at a fellow when he
hauls out his country saws. That
shows their ignorance, for goodness
knows farmer knows more about the
weather in a week than they do in the
city for a month. There's another true
saying, that when the north wind does
not blow in February it will have Ms re-
venge in March. And for every thunder
with rain in this month, there will be
cold spell in May. The old proyerb says
that when the snow lies in the bitches it
is waiting for more, and when it falls in
the mud 1t remains all winter. Look out
for rain when the flakes grow larger as
they fall. OF course, you remember the
time-honored remark about the white
Christmas and the lean graveyard. You
people never pay any attention to these
signs, but the farmers, the truckers, the
milkmen-people whom you brush past
every day on the streets or in the markets
believe in them, because their fathers
taught them to do so.
II suppose every month has its own
signs?" asked the incredulous visitor, as
he gaZed incredulously at nickelplated
horseshoe suspended over the mantel.
e ffa nVaNE
"and a few of the most ancient and least
known l will recite for your benefit, 1t is
said that if grass grows in January 1t will
grow badly during the rest of the year.
The original saw for March says that II
the month comes in with an adder's head
it goes out with a peacOck's tail 1t was
believed. too. that 'bushel OF March
dust was worth a kings ransom though
this was a rather poetical adaptation. OF
April it is said that a cold, moist April
fills the cellar and fattens the cow. A dry
May brings nothing
"A dripping June sets all things to tune.
When it rains In August 1t rains honey
and wine If the first day of September
be fair the month will be a good one. y
warm October brings a cold February.
Ice in November forbodes plenty of sleet
and ba weather during the winter, and
warm Christmas indicates a cold Easter.
The first three days of any season rules
its weather. When 1t clears on Sunday II
will be clear until Wednesday. and if it
rains on the first dog-day there will be
flood for forty days thereafter. In spring
a tub of rain makes teaspoonful OF mud,
but in autumn a teaspoonful Of rain makes
a tub of mud We heard thunder peal
two weeks ago. That was prophecy OF
poor year for maple sugar but good
year for fruit .,
@DO you know how to foretell rain with
certainly, " he asked, land without going
out of doors?" Just watch the cock
reaches. When they fly get out your
umbrella Crickets chirp lively. and
spiders come out of their nests also before
rain. III tell you curious old saw about
frost. The first frost, so runs the saw,
comes exactly six weeks after we hear the
first ka.ydid There will be as many
frosts in June as there are frogs in Febru'
airy, forgot to tell you also that rats
and mice make much noise before rain
and horses snuff the air noticeably. Most
of these signs of which l have spoken
have their origin in experience and o6.
servation, and there is in them much OF
truth