The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-08-07
SUPERSTITION.

Dillon has had, within the last few months,
its share Of the occult arts. There was the
lady who could tell you the number Of your
watch without looking at it: fortune.tel.
Ter; a fat medium whose diyination extend.
ed even to the color Of your future wiic's
hsir, and whether you would have any hair
at all after marrying her; and then celes.
tial "professor;" an astrologer, who, when
given the date Of your birth, would unveil
your whole future. All Of these visitors
carried away goodly number Of sheckels.
That superstition-ior Of course belief in
any Of these pretenders is supe, stition-
shonld flourish in this age, and especially
in the west, is more strange than any of
the wonderful tricks these humbugs pro.
fess to perform. This century prides
itself upon its scientific spirit, and upon its
exemption from those beliefs that swarmed
like brood Of Nightmares about the in.
tellccts Of our forefathers. Blu, the truth
is that no age has had more superstition
than ours, albeit it may seem of harmless
character. In one ofthe leading papers Of
Cambridge, Mass, a paper that circuates
among the more intelligent classes, pro.
tessed divinator has kept for years an ad-
vertisement of his business. There is
many one to-day carrying a shriveled
potato in his pocket as preventive of
rheumatism. When we consider the
number who follow spirit.mediums, as.
trologers, faith.healers, et omnc gems, we
see that the superstitious form no inconsid.
cradle part of the whole population. What
is the cause Of this belief in things plainly
contrary to common sense: In some cases,
minds incapable Of comprehending the
mystery Of existence and the future life,
seek some fhvSiaal proof Of what they can
not receive BY reason and intuition. A
rap on the table from some supposed
grandfather ghost is more conclusive to
them than the most exhaustive treatise on
the truth Transportation. But in the gen.
crafty IF cases, the reason is to be found
in that unscientific habit of thought that
seeks a mysterious cause for what is as
clear as the day. For instance, an "astrol-
oger," shrewd reader of human nature,
makes some fair guesses as to the traits of
ones character, derived from conversation
or expression, or behavior, and one Jumps
to the conclusion that the astrologer is a
being Of superior disarmament. He tells
YOU perhaps YOU are obstinate. You for.
gc: that he sees the pucker between your
eyebrows. Or he whispers, "you don't
know the value Of money" and you are en-.
tirely oblivious Of the fact that YOU have
been smoking twenty cent cigar in
his presence.
The remedy tor this nonsense is proba.
bly, to b. found in superior education for
the young. Our school system, though
good for It's age, yet in its imperfect scien-
tific training makes no efficient battle
against these pernicious relics Of the past.
The theory Of our government is that the
people are sovereign, and can be only be-
cause they are guided by commoH sense
OF cause and effect. In any serious turn Of
affairs. the believers in mediums. clairvov-
ants, and that ilk mus. prove unfit for the
trust OF citizenship.
IOh <cOrl vsoAl,. ~ <l,:.