Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-12-06
MAGIC IN NUMBERS.
SUGGESTIONS FOUNDED ON THE
NINE DlGITS.

There's Luck In Odd Numbers" Says an
Old Quoted as Proofs of the
Influence of Numbers on Everything In
Life.
Very many superstitious and curious
ideas have been and are still connected
with numbers. Great hopes have. been
founded upon certain combinations of
numbers in lotteries, in horoscopes, or in
predictions regarding important events.
Important undertakings have awaited
favorable dates for their inception, ard
the lives of more thar one leader of men
have been more or less influenced by a
regard for certain numerical combina-
tons, supposed to have a dominating
power III shaping a successful career.
There have been superstitious notions
connected with nearly every one of the
nine digital numbers.
The number / was held to be sacred
because it represented the unity of the
tGodhead. This number is esteemed as
very lucky by the ~Javanese, who allot but
one day to each of the several operations
of ~husbandry, leaving that portion of the
crop that could not be gathered in one
day.
BAD REPUTATION OF NUBBER Q.
The second digit acquired an especially
evil reputation among the early Chris
tians, because the second day hell was
created, along with heaven and earth.
The Cabalists said it typifed the hypo-
static union OF Christ. 1t seems to have
been a number unlucky in English dynas-
ties. Harold IL was SLAIN in battle;
William Ii and Edward II were muir
dered; Ethelred II, Richard II and James
Ii were forced to abdicate; and Henry Ii,
Charles Ii and George III were ~unfortn-
nate in many ways. The number seems
to have been an unlucky one to the sover-
eigns Of other European countries. The
Charles lis of France, of Navarro. of
Spain, of Anjou and of Savoy passed or
ended their reigns unhappily.
The number 3 has an abundance of SUI
perstitions connected with it. 1t yeas the
perfect number of the Pythagoreans,
who said it represented the beginning,
middle and end. A greater Importance
was given to the number because it rep
resented the trinity, 0 only in the
Christian religion, but "a many others.
There was but little mystery attached
to the numbers 4 and 5. In folk lore the
four leaved clover is especially lucky.
The four of clubs is an unlucky card,
and it is named the devils four post bed.
The Cabalists asserted that thanumber
9 was potent in mystical properties. The
world was created in six days, the jew
ish servant served six years, Job en-
dured six tribulations, and hence the fig
ure typitied labor and suffering. The
rabbis asserted that the letter vau, which
represents six, was stamped on the
mamma, to remind the Jews that it fell
On six days only.
The number 6 was an unlucky one at
Rome. Tarquinius Sextus was a brutal
tyrant, the church was divided under
Urban the Sixth and Alexander the
Sixth was a Monster of iniquity.
SEVEN AN IMPORTANT NUMBER.
The number Z has been invested with
more mystery than all the other digits
together, and to it were ascribed magic
and mystical qualities possessed by no
other number. Several learned treatises
have been written on this number, and
septenary combinations have been
sought everywhere. In an old writer of
two centuries ago we may read why, in.
his opinion, the number Is peculiarly ex-
cellent. First, he says: '.Itis neither be-
gotten no begets;" secondly, "it is q
harmonic number and contains all the
barmonies;" thirdly, SIT is a theological
number, consisting of perfection;p
fourthly, 1t is composed of perfect num-
bers, and participates of their virtues"
He may find better reasons for the i'm
portance attached to this number. Much
of it is doubtless due to its prominence
in the Bible. The seven days of creation
led to a septenary division Of time to all
ages. Several of the Jewish feasts lasted
seven days. Elisha sent Naaman to wash
in the Jordan seven times, and Elijah
sent his servant from Mount Carmel
seven times to look for rain. For seven
days seven priests with seven trumpets
invested Jericho, and on the seventh day
they encompassed it sever times. There
We're seven virtues, and seven mortal
sins.
The ancients not only noted the i'm
portance of seven as an astronomical
period, but also connected with the seven
planets the seven metals then known.
The soul of man was %anciently supposed
to be controlled by this double septenary
combination. 1t was also an ancient be-
lief that change in the body of man
occurs every seventh year.
The Koran enumerateS seven heavens.
There vas an old Russian superstition to
the same effect, and a ladder of seven
rounds was placed in the grave to enable
the defunct to ascend these seven grades.
WHAT o MUST DO ON THE NINTH.
Says an old writer: Augustus Caesar.
as Gellius saith, was glad, and hoped that
no was to live long, because he had
passed his G3 years. For olde men seldom
passe that year but they are in danger of
their lives. Two years, the seventh and
tho ninth, commonly bring great changes
to a mans life, and great dangers; there
fore 63, that c%ontaineth both these num-
bers multiplied together, containeth I'M
known dangers"
Leases, now granted for q period of
ninety-nine years, were formerly given
for 900.
There were nine earths, according to
medieval osmogony; nine heavens, nine
rivers of he'll, nine orders of angels. etc.
The number being perfection, since it
represented divinity, was often used to
signify great quantity, as in the phrases:
"a nine days wonder" "a cat has nine
lives" mine tailors make a man." etc.
In Scotland, q distempered COW was
cured by washing her in nine surfs. To
see nine magpies is extremely unlucky.
Nine knots madein a black wooden thread
served as a charm in the case of a sprain.
When q servant maid finds nine green
peas in one pod she lays it on the window
sill. and the first mar that enters will he
her beau" Nine grains of wheat, laid
on o four leaved clover, enable on % see
the fairies.-F. S. Bassett in st. Louis
Globe Democrat.
Rocky Mountain Engineering.