The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-02
THE RABBIT FOOT.
A Wonderful Promoter of Success. Facts Which Cannot Fail to Con-
 vince the Incredulous.

| RSNsoAAy Ah AA1hS0WI AOaAS RA0\C WhANh nothing can supplant. The buckeye, and the "lucky bone" taken from the catfish have been thrown aside and no longer is 1t necessary for cSlored man to make a cross mark and spi: in it when, having forgotten something, he turns back. He simply crosses himself with the rabbit foot, and the fanciful sentinel, standing on the wall of superstition, cries all's we'll" Reverence for the rabbit foot is not confined to the negroes, Many white men of education and political influence are victims of strong belief in its charm. Robert w. Worthen, sheriff of Pulaski county, Ark, wears a rabbit foot tipped with gold. Itis by no means improbable that he attaches more value to the gold than the foet, but at any rate, during a campaign in which he is personally con- cerned, he crosses himself with the foot and mutters a strange jargon, with rever- ential accent. Some time ago, itis stated upon excellent authority, MT. Worthen was greatly depressed on account of a threatened defeat. He remained, during several days, in cast down state, but suddenly his face frightened, while in the vicinity of his mouth there lurked a pe- culiar smile. He flew to his safe, took out rabbit foot an crossed him self He did no. stop at this, He hastened to the voting precincts and crossed the ballot boxes with the foot. Immediately the votes of his enemies began to diminish. A few more rubs and dexterous crosses settled the question and Mir Worthen was elected. He is an excellent sheriff but he acknowledges that the rabbit foot helps him out of many intricate entan- elements.
 John C.. Carlisle, speaker of the house of representatives, is firm believer in the efficacy of the rabbit foot. Less than twelve years ago, Mir. Carlisle va a con- 6rmed drunkard. He had starte d out with bright prospects but the great horn spoon and the blue trimmed bowl of Ken lucky conviviality was too much for him i; and, in the language of distinguished blue grass poet,
 "He fell
 Like lightning bug | Into a we'll" Temperance lecturers and revivalists tried in vain to brace him against tempta- tions but in vain. He struggled manfully, but he had not the power to control him self. One day, while Mir. Carlisle was bathing his feverish brow at the town we'll, an old kidney footed negro, known as Wall-Eyed Buck, came along and said
 Look heab, Mars John, whynt yer quit dat foolishness
 "l would if could, Buck"
 "I doan 'spute dat, but by yessef yer aint got de power. means why doan yer take de right cou'se an mount ter suthin' in the worp2"
 "I haven't been able to pursue the right course, Buck"
 Oats bercase yer doan know whut de right cou'se is."
 @I have tried everything"
 "No, yer ain't Mars John. Now lem me tell yer whut's de fack: E it's yer earnes' wush ter quit drinkin', jes' cross yessef six times wid CT rabbit foot an 20 on erbout yer business"
 "Go on, old man, you are foolish"
 "Now, look heah," Buck replied, talk ing out a rabbit foot, dis thing kain't hurt yer, an dat oughser make yer willin' ter let me try it on yer. Jes' hole still CT mint"
 Mir. Carlisle laughed at the old negro's superstition, but suffered him to ap ply the rabbit foot
 | "Now," said Buck when he had several times crossed Carlisle. "yer days O ca- rousin' is over."
 Cariisle laughed, went to a saloon not far away, and asked for . little Bourbon with Blue Lick water on the outside. Hold ou," said he, just as the barten- der had prepared the drink. "Iu pay for it but really cannot drink it." He went away rejoicing. for the burning thirst had Left him. The next day he went to his ofics and bent himself to the