New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-22
Rustic Superstitions.

Apnase of rustic humor which is
destined year by year (and happily
so) to shrink further and yet further
into obscurity, is that belonging to
rural superstitions. Ithas not disap-
peared yet. Far from it. Dwellers in
remote country districts are aware
how very frequently in the characters
and modes of thought of their provin-
cial-reared neighbors the ludicrous
hovers on the border OF the sublime
A man or woman entitled on many
grounds to a place in the roll OF ma
ture's nobility-bold, ingenious, in
telligent, stout of arm, and strong of
Willis nevertheless over and over
again proved the victim of some petty
delusion. or craven. ignoble terror
There are workingmen in secluded ham
let's who still cling to their ances-
tors faith in astrology and in the
''voices Of the stars as translated to
mundane comprehension through the
the medium OF the prophetic almanacs.
And this not vaguely, tentatively, but
with robust credulity which can
shape and govern their everyday &C
tions, their buying and selling, their
sowing and reaping, their contracts,
whether social, commercial, or matri-
monial. We quote a bona fde exam
pie.
A skilled country mechanic, man
OF distinct pretensions 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 som.
Der. An opening offered in a some
what novel quarter. The inquiry was
made if he could commence work on
the Monday succeeding his engagement.
He hesitated, and lugubriousiy de.
INJURED.
II will come on the Tuesday, without
FAIL" he said.
"Why not on the previous day?'
curiously asked the employer.
Its a bad one, sir.
ga bad one? How? Idon't under.
stand.''
"By the almanac, sir. I wouldn't
marry on that day ii I were ever so
deeply smitten by 'Cupid's arrow as
they call it on the valentines, and if it
were a choice between then and nev-
er; and l won't start at new Job on
Monday next for any master IN the
country. Sorry to disoblige, sir."s
Remonstrance and ridicule were
alike in vain.
"No, no; Imayn't be able to explain
it-there's {, heap o things in the
world that we can't Just tell the why
and the wherefore of-but I've proved,
and that's better than explaining it,;
in fact, there's a proof here in this lit
tie bit of business. My almanac told
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 sSe that after
all the almanac was right, and I've
| noticed it scores Of times
This same artisan stood sponsor on
| another occasion for a statement so
curious as to be worthy reproducing
as a specimen OF the humor not sim
ply OF rural, but OF technical supersti-
tlon also. He was descanting on var.
ious occult influences Of the heavenly
bodies-a favorite topic with q genial
audience.
''TEe moons power is very remark
able," he said: cas- is we'll known and
admitted, it rules the tides. And it
likewise makes a wonderful difference
to timber. You may hardly credit
this, but it is a matter OF experience
again. Timber felled when the moon is
waxing 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. ."-Cassell's Magazine.