St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-26
THE REIGN OF SUPERSTITION.


THE REIGN OF SUPERSTITION.
THIS is world of superstition, always
has been. and probably will be until the
end of time. Still, it is gratifying to OBJ
serve now and then an effort made by
those in high plat es to break the charm
of superstition which holds mankind
under spell of destructive fascination
similar to that which the serpent eXerts
over the bird. Gov. HILL, of New York,
has recently given wholesome demon
stration of moral courage in this direc-
ton. The murderer LYONS was SEN
fenced by the court to be hung on Friday,
the nth of August. Gov. Hill. granted a
respite in the case until the next Tues
day, for the reason, as stated by him,
that he disapproved of the custom which
has so long been in vogue, of having all
executions on Friday. He changed the
date of execution for the simple purpose
OF baniShing this superstition.
Friday has been made hangman's day
for no other reason than that according
to universal superstition throughout
ChriSteudom it is regarded as an I'M
lucky day. 1t is not a superstition which
is confined to the ignorant classes, but
so strong hold does it have upon man.
kind that it actually has the force of
law in governing the actions of those
high in authority. For Instance, within
the last fifty years there hasn't been a
Judge ON the American bench who has
been called upon to perform the I'M
pleasant task of pronOuncing the death
sentence that hasn't considered it part
of his official duty to name Friday as
the day of execution. The governors of
the states, and occasionally presi-
dent of the republic, have all
given their official sanction to this
popular superstition respecting Friday.
Everybody knows in what adherence
the day is held by sailors, and perhaps
three-fourths of the land lubbers have
an equal dread of it. Some of them may
not make public confession of the fact,
and yet it might be safely asserted that
three-fourths of the business men right
here in st. Paul would hesitate to in
augurate business enterprise of any
Importance on Friday, and would rather
incur the risk of financial losses in their
business affairs than to start out on an
extended trip on the black day of the
week.
The superstition concerning Friday is
not the only one that dominates the
human race. The superstition that
thirteen is an unlucky number is Just
as prevalent, and finds lodging
place in the minds of the upper
classes. There is BISMARCK, the great
German chancellor, who would rather
risk the destruction of the German en-
pire than to sit down at table with
thirteen. The Iron Chancellor also holds
Friday in superstitious reverence, and
believes in anniversaries, prophetic
dates and predictions. Nor of the great
men of the earth is BISMARCK alone in
his SupersttiOus notions. Superstition
Is common TO royalty, kings and queens
often placing more reliance in dreams
and prophecies than they do in the wis
dom of their cabinet ministers. Nor is
superstition in high. places peculiar to
European dynasties. There could be
produced a long list of prominent Amer
leans who are influenced in their con
duct by superstitiOus vagaries. The
Importance that Mr.. LINCOLN attached
to dreams and omens is part of the his
tory of that great mans life. No less a
distinguished parsonage than JAMES G..
BLAINE is known to be superstitious,
and during the last presidential cam
paign confidea to some of his most init
mate associates the presentiment of his
coming defeat. Il am not Supersti-
tious,' remarked DAN VOORHEES, once
in the hearing of the writer, ''but | al
ways pick up pin when the point is
toward me-"
And thus there are thousands who
refuse to admit that they are governed
by superstitiOuS influences. and yet
who demonstrate by their daily action
that they are. The reign of snpersti-
ton is more general among women than
among men, because women are of
a more emotional nature. The young
lady who breaks a mirror is in
mental torture, because of her absolute
belief that she is thereby doomed tC
seven years more of maidenhood. On
the other hand, what eXultation springs
in the maidenly breast when the righ
fellow comes in under the chicken bone
that has been placed above the from
door. How many homes have beer
giaddened by the unexpected visit of {
black cat, and how many hearts have
been filled with an undefinable horror
by the midnight bowling of the watch
dog. Instances might be multiplied in
definitely to show that most OF us are
more or less the creatures of supersti
ton. and that but few of us can truth
fully claim that we walk exclusively il
the light of reason and along the path
way of good horse sense.
1t is to be hoped that the notable ex
ample set by Gov. Hill. in breaking tht
bonds of superstition will be generally
initiated by those who occupy official
station.
THE ENCYCLICAL LETTER.
As presentation of theology an(