Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29
HOW TOSTART RIGHT.
significant Omens Which Cluster
Around New Years Day.
TEE FIRST DAT SETS THE PACE
PROGEOsTIClTIOEs OF GOOD AND EVIL
rvnrrrrr Dor rHr p1srArcH.l

new books are opened, while this is regarded
as the last day of grace for the deilnq uent
creditor. Persons inclined to be suPerst-
tons naturally, therefore, invest it with |
considerable importance. This is true not |
only of this day, but the whole period nom
Christmas to January CfWelfth oayl'
Our holiday week was formerly extended TO
include this tine. All the happenings OF
New Years Day, and many occurrences
during the whole period, are invested with
4 peculiar Importance in their eyes, as IN
d;cative of the events of the coming year.
An old English calendar puts 1t thus;
January-Of this month the opening day,
And seventh like q sword viii stay.
In ancient Rome no one would suffer hre,
or sny iron utensil, to be taken out OF the
house. nor lend anything whatsoever There
Is notion among the mountaineers IN
North Carolina that you will continue to
do throughout the year what you do on TINS
The belief that it is unlucky to take any:
fbin0 ont of the house is sometimes moolneo
in this way:
..Take out and then take in,
Bad luck will begin;
Take in and then take out,
Good luck comes about
n;s still believed in France bad thing
IN lend any article on this day. In the
11ortb OF England new clothes are put on
cor luck'' on New Years day. 1t seems to
have been thought a propitious time ior
riffs n we iudgs from the old and WIDE
snread custom of making presents then.
There appears to have existed peculiar
praetjce in England, abolished by statute In
1896. of giving brides to magistrates on TINS
day. Tokens were bestowed upon the hlng
As late as the time of james Ill.
An old work. "The Book Of Presidents
fPrecedents). sets down January 1, 2, 3, and
sas lucky davs. The good luck generally
attends the day elsewhere. In Germany II
Is said that he who goes often to the beer
cask on this day will grow strong ana
rudy, and young girls think dreams mace
New Years Night will come true. 10 IN
sure this. English msidens, before going 70
rest place three pals OF water IN tnelr o1H- Hr
rooms. and pin three leaves OF green molly
tn the night dress, opposite to the heart. In
the midst of her dreams, the sleeper Will be
roused bv three loud yells, succeeded by
three laughs. and then the form OF her
future husband will appear, and show MS
affection for her by changing the position
of the pals of water
Wendish maidens divine their lot ior the
vexr bv going into the henhouse on New
Year, 1--we, anu elIAhAuE saS sFS@~@- ~-~-c
the hens, meanwhile saying:
irIf cackles the hen,
You will have mani
If cackles the hen.
Who knows whenp
BIBLICAL DIvINATIoNs.
This is accounted the proper time of tn
Sear to consult the Bible for. intimatlons a
q coming events. and this is done in tn
north Of England by the master of tn
household, who inserts his finger with n
ewes shut into the sacred volume, and read
the passage first touched ss prophecy.
In Sweden, if the moon is visible on New
years eve. one has but to go out into ne
Ieht with psalm-book in one hand, piec
~ bread in the other, and coin In hi
mouth. If the book opens at q brlda
nsalm of itself, while the holder looks at tn
moon. he will be married that year; II at
funeral psalm, ne will die.
The occurrences during the hrse DAY Q
the wear are received as an augury OF thos
of the whole wear. If you receive money
Won viii continue to do SO; if you pay 1t ou
-ou unust still do SO until the next twelve
month. This would seem to put matter
under easy control.
In Chemwitz. Germany, just after Ne
Years Day, as manv little cakes are bake
as there are persons in the house. Each
these is named for an occupant, and hol
nr7ckeO IN IL II 1OuC SonO SAOSSS =
IN baking. be or she will, it is SAID, surel
die that wear. Cakes are also used in d
Iinatiou in Lithuania. Nine cakes, shape
70 represent money, q cradle, bread, rln'
deaths head, an old man, an old womal
ladder and kew, are baked on New Year
Dav. anc laid in nine plates. Three grabs
are allowed to each person, and he or 81
NAV Judge of late during the coming yei
from the cakes drawn.
Weather prophets in many parts OF th
world rely particularly upon the indication
furnished at this time of the year. In Sw
den II is said that if the sun shines bright
then trouble is at hand If the wind bloN
hard there will be average crops. Ii u
skies are red hard times may be expecte
This theory that fine weather on New eal
Day is portentous is exactly 10 secordan
with the notions about Christmas weatht
and may both proceed from the notion To
s1nck goes by cOntraries-" The first mo-
ofthe new year furnishes important pro
postications to thev Swedish peasant.
ssNyet." /" as it is called, be obscured by clou
the seed will be delayed in sprouting just
many days as the obscuratlon continues
the evening star sets before the moon the
will be abundant harvests, but If 'Nye
sets first crops will be scarce.
MANY in this country believe that
first three days of January "rule the TIL
months. and that the weather during Il
period is exactly indicated by that on tn
three davs. and some call the II days fr
Christmas to January 6 as the keys OF
wear" OfNeW Years Day it is said:
The morning of New Years Day is red
portends foul weather and great need"
roREcAsrINe THE WEATHER.
In the east of France it is said that
4eather from Christmas to New Years in
cstes the character OF that for the next
months. whiles widespread belief characf
Ives that of the u days as an index
the years weather This period is that
the sshalcyon days." when, according
ancient iable, the winds and seas were q
70 allow the hslcyon to sit upon her I
son the charmed wave. Ii the "
blows hard upon fifth night (December
according to an English auti
ity, ships at sea Will De /.
great peril during the coming y
As the weather is the second daF Of
wear. 80 it will be in September, is say
current in parts Of our own country. II
wind blows hard on New Years night
said in Germany. 20 be q sign of com
,,setilence A very old weather book,
nsbepherd's KalendsT," tells Us: IF J
Years Dav in the morning opens '
dusky red clouds, it denotes strife ana
bates among the great ones, and many
heries that year.
New Years Eve was also an lmpor
&,re 10 note the weather.
1f15er Years Eve nightwind blow from SO
T. hctr1teueth warmth and drouth;
n veet much milk and hsh IN sea;
r. no-rh much cold and storm there'n be;
II esst. the trees viii bear much fruit
In Westphalia it is said that IL the