The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-07
FOLK LcaE OF INFANCY.
superstitions 81 Many Lands-Cur'ous bu.
Widespread Beliefs.

Il is Thought rnsafe, in Sweden. for
any one to pass between the FIRE and
the nursing ba5c. No water should
be brought INTO the room late In the
dav. without FIRE thrown intOit 40
one that enters should be- allowed to
touch the infant without first toleiinr
FIRE 1t Is not permissible % feed
breed 10 the new born, as 10 viii mover
have a good memory II should hrs.
touch the dog. and not the cat on any
account. IL is dangerous % allow n
to play with the fire, nor should j. bo
allowed 10 creep through q window.
Perhaps the most widespread belief
concerning children Is that about the
empty cradle, which must on no ac-
count be rocked VARIOUS reasons .,o
urged against this by mother frmal
the civilized countries az thc world
Some say ii VIII bring some almort
TO the absent child Tie Dutch o.
TEEN it ominous of the speedy death o..
the child, and % siSilar notion Irc.
walls in our western state, In Scot
land it is said that 10 rock the emrv
cradle will insure the coming of other
occupants for il
Charms and amulcts arc frequently
suspended from the nccks of children
Romans used coral beads to prevent
epilepsy and the evil eve Amber
beads will help it to cut It's teeth, a silk
cord or ribbon Is q sufficient proven
tive of Group, and money suspended
in bag will make 1t fortunate frm-
Chilly. A thousand queer remedies
are recorded for Group Wh0op.lg
cough. measles and the like.
1t is unlucky TO weigh an infant hc-
fore baptism, or 10 give 10 annme. ir
many countries. In our onu land
mothers are careful about weighing
young babies. prefcning 10 wmta eor-
tain length of time. 1t is equally
fatal 20 allow the infant TO look iu 3D.
mirror until il is a year old il i~a..
legged that II will never SEQ things
rightly. ifpeimittcd TO do So
The Swedish mother puts a book
under the head OF the new born pa
FAINT, that it may be quick at reading
and puts money into the first bath, to
guarantee It's possession IN the future.
Part Of the fathers dress is laid upon
u female child, part of the mothers
upon n male, 20 insure favor with ,hc
opposite sex
There Is q curious notion among tie
peasmtry Of one OF the depalmen.soi
France that it Is fortunate for a child
10 have lice. as this IS sign of health.
ii none are found on It's head, they
have penetrated the skin, aud VIII cat
to the heart
I'm Morbihan France, a now born
child must not be left in bed with rs
mother or it will die If the mother
hears it cry. as if from distance. 10
has disappeared and Will never be seen
again.
In Germany the first child CHRIS
tened at a new font receives the power
Of divining future events, seeing
spirits. etc. until some one shall tread
ON It's lett foot and look over rs right
shoulder
A widespread notion exists that the
child must b. carried mp before D. is
carried down Where there arc no
stairs the nurse must mount a char
with the child iu her arms
The child's nails must not DE pared
until il is q year old. u IS preferable
for the mothcr to bite thcm of Nor
should lbs hair bc cut, or IL viii never
prosper
If there arc boys and girls 10 hc bap-
TIED the same day the boy. must have
the first turn. as itwouid Do unt0rtI-
nate for the girls 10 precede tlcm
Two babies mast NOT. according go
mothers in many lands. bo allowed 10
embrace as one o. both Wall become
mute.
Moving an empty cradle is thing
carefully avoided ga many places, -
it viii bring Ill fortune - tho family
Scotch mothers say If tho child takes
% spoon i'm tie left hand first 70 VIII
always d. uIucky.-l. S. Bas 81 IN
obeDemoclat