The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-10

ON6f any petEI vi GllC o1LIO IOdu' NDdAu
winsville, N. W
u. The funeral procession must no
cross "a river. winsville, N. Y,
Is. 1t is unlucky in a funeral fol
those present to repass the house where
death has occurred. (Baldwinsville
N. W
IA. At funeral, entering a churct
before the mourners means death tt
some of the entering party. Boston
Mass.)
-. If one dies, and no rigor morris
ensues, it indicates a speedy second
death in the family.
The superstition prevails in Great
Britain and on the continent of Europe
16. The person on whom the eyes Of
dying person last rests will be the
first to die. Boston, Mass.)
This seems to be form of widely
prevalent superstition that if the eyes
of the dying person open of their owr
accord one of his relatives will soou
follow. 1t is probable that the inn
portance, from time immemorial, at
tached to the ceremony of closing the
eyes of the dead has for its foundation
not merely the natural propriety of a
decent usage, but also belief kindred
to the above.
II. The last name dying person
calls is the next to follow. New
Hampshire
Is. If three persons look at the
same time into mirror one will die
within the year. peabody, Mass.
New Hampshire.)
To break a looking glass is sign OF
death, or of bad lnck for seven years.
This is quite Il general belief. Domes-
tic servants, and particularly super
stitious persons, are often thrown into
panic by accidents OF this sort.
Niagara Falls, Ont.)
In Clum Forest Gas in Scotland) such
breakage is said to be death token.
In North Shropshire it means seven
years trouble, to which, in Cornwall,
Is added, but no want. 1t adds to the
i'll luck to preserve the broken pieces.
At Wellington any one who breaks a
looking-glass will never have any luck
until he has broken two more-a rule
however, which seems to apply to all
breakages. when | have broken
three shall have finished" The folk
say: The third time pays for all.
In Switzerland, when the mirror
breaks, he is said to die who looked in
last. In Bohemia it means seven years
distress.
10. If, during sickness, pair of
shears be dropped in such a manner
that the point sticks into the floor, it
indicates the death of the sick person.
Central New York;
In Greece, if pair of shears is left
gaping on table. it is said that the
Archangel Michael's mouth is open,
ready to take the soul of some member
of the family.
20. To dance on the ground indie
ates disaster or death within a year.
(Boxford, Mass.)
As such dancing has been a univer-
sal custom it seems fair to conclude
that this superstition is local and
modern; the informant, however, an
elderly person, AYERS that she has al
ways heard it so said.
q. If thirteen sit at table the one
who rises first will not live through the
year. Bonneville, Mas1.)
If thirteen sit at table, the last one
who sits down will not die that year.
(Brooklyn Mass.)
This superstition is universal in Eu-
rope. In Germany the victim is vari-
ously said to be the youngest, the last
who sits down. the one who sits under
the mirror. the first to eat or arise, the
one who seems sad and downcast. In
Tyrol, by way ofexception, the augury
only to ill-luck. In one Bohe-
milan town it is held to be true only for
a Christmas festivity, and the fate is
extended to all over the number of
twelve. In a recent newspaper an ac-
count was given of dinner in the in
terror of the State of New York where
the omen was supposed to be averted
by dividing the guests among two
tables. In the Netherlands it is said
that the one who sits under the beam
is a traitor-a statement which points
to the paschal supper as the origin of
the belief, and this is certainly proba-
BILE while other explanations are not
worth citing.
p. A dish-cloth hung on a DOOR
knob is a sign of death in family.
(Deertield. Mass.)
1t is common practice to indicate
death by tying a piece of Grape TO the
dOor-knob of the house, whence proba-
bly, the omen.
%. If hoe be carried through a
house, some one will die before the
year is out. (Mansield, o.
The same superstition is found in
England. 1T is most unlucky to carry
an AK or any sharp tool on your shoulder
the house. as it is a sign of
death to one or more of the inmates.
Some extend this omen to any tool car
ried on the shoulder through house.
At Pulverbatch and Wenlock spade is
the fatal instrument; it is a certain
sign that a grave will shortly be dug
for some member of the household"
The editor observes that collins were
formerly carried shoulder high.
"a. Whoever works on a sick per-