Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-20
LORE OF THE HAIR.
SOME OF THE SUPERSTlTiONS EN-
TERTAtNED IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES.
The Hair Not to Be Cut at Certain
Times-Combing to Be Performed with

/ Times-Combing to 30 Performed with
! Cautioa-A Remedy for Dis-ase-Creel
| Custom.
The belief that the hair, like the nails
must be cut at certain times only, and that il
( is u0lucky to trim hair or beard at other
times, is very old Petronius says it must
not be done at Sea- lest q storm ensue, and
forty blows were necessary to overcome the
evil effects OF such deed in a Roman vessel
Propertius says the same; and Juvenal says
the hair was only given US final offering
to the gods, and should not be cut at other
times 1t was bad omen even TO dream OF
emitting the hair, as it portended shipwreck
Ia Calabria, at the present day, the hair,
like the nails, must not be cut on Tuesday,
Wednesday or Friday. In England the old
rhyme says:
Friday cut and Sunday shorn
Better never had been born
And In Devonshire, as in many places in our
own country, 1t must not be cut during the
waning moon, and Friday is an unlucky day
in Iceland, where it is said the one who cuts
his hair then viii die soon, and in Oidenburg,
where it is then cut, 'for sorrow."
The sudden loss of the hair, or consider
able portion Of it, is also regarded in many
places as unfortunate In England it is said
that loss of children, health or property will
ensue The attachment of the Chinaman for
his queue is well known. It Is regarded as
disgrace to have it cut off, as well as entail
ing bad luck upon the owner. This is the
more strange since 1t is mark Of conquest
imposed upon tie Chinese by their Manchu
princes.
USE CAUTION WHEN COMBIN0.
Combing is an act that sometimes must be
pursued with caution. In Scotland it was
thought that combiag it by candlelight or
at night at ali, would cause disaster to friends
at Sea Many fear to throw away their hair
when cut off or conbed out. Ancient Greeks
offered it to the gods, and japanese present
it as thank Offering for preservation at sea.
Irish maidens of the last century hung their
hair up before the shrine of St. Urbane, that
it might be long and yellow. The Persian
Venidad forbade the casting away of the
hair or nails, as the devils would then gain
increased power The hair must be buried
in a hole dug ten fingers deep, at distance
of ten PAGES from the faithful, twenty-five
from fire, thirty from water and fifty from
the sacred broons, and then three circles
three SIX or nine prayers said.
In parts of England it is thought imprndent
to throw away cuttings and combings Of the
hair, or to leave 1t lying about Some say if
birds get it and build nests Herewith, it will
be fatal to the person from whose head the
hair was cut II the bird were magpie, he
would die in a year and day Others say it
should not be burned, but buried, as the
owner will return for it at the resurrection
day. In Lancashire it is thrown into the fire,
and if it burns up brightly it is sign Of Ion
gevity, the greater the higher the flame. but
il it smolders and burns slowly it is sign Of
death In Belgium it is thought that witches
will gain possession OF hair carelessly thrown
away, and thus acquire power over the
former possessor of it. The Gauchos OF
South America feGr TO cast the hair to the
winds, but put it carefully away Ia holes in q
wall
AS A REMEDY FOR DISEASE.
As remedy for certain diseases, the hair
is sometimes cut or, or the hair itself used
In Devoushire, England, il
you have the ague all you need do is to cut
of some Of your hair ard convey the disease
to your next neighbor by burying these locks
under his door step In Scotland, when
child was afflicted with bells, it was formerly
a custom to cut OF its hair and throw 1t in
the fire, and thus compel witches to come
and remove the disease. Irish peasants cut
off the hair from the head of any ono suf-
fering from scarlet fever. and convey ths
disease to an ass by examining the hair down
its throat. In Hertfordshire, TO cure the
agne, peg a lock of Jour hair into young
oak tree, ard wrench it from the bead.
Mixed with nail parings and ciucers, the
hair WIS formerly used as Scotch remedy
FOR epilepsy and. mixed with nail cuttings
aud hair from the eyebrows, it was a specific
for commissions The Arabs believe that the
smoke of burning hair taken from Christ |
lan's head viii cure any disease
The hair is also used as a charm tn Ireland |
" oman's hair Is cut Oft, and locks Of it made |
into bracelets. rings, etc, to be used a |
charms Perhaps the custom Of obtaining |
ock Of hair from any one for whom you /
nave a regard arose from such superstition |
were said 70 desire similar token |
Tor evil purposes.
Some instances of dvinataon By the hair
lave been gwen In Westphaha, when a
nan Hrst sees the new moon. u be finds |
hair In his shoe or under has foot II Is thought |
% be an Indication Of speedy marriage, and
be color Of bis wifeis hnir Wi be the same
y that found The post Gay records similar
,otious in England There was . singular
,useon II anctent Greece connected with the
saiE. A bride must hsvo ber bar cembed
With spear that bad belonged 70 some ono
aain In battle. or that had been dyed wish
he blood OF some one slain thus This would
lssure her bringing forth brave sou&-E s.
IL, GfnE~ n~..-<-ue