Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-07-18

without q wooden handle, because. she
says. she always wants some wood
around to scratch her hand on. Even
the spots on ono's fpger-nails come in
for share OF superstition. They arc
called gifts.
II is unluclxy 10 cut the fnger.nalis
on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. II
you cut them on Friday you are play
ing into the DEVILS hand; on Saturday,
you are inviting disappointment, and
on Sunday you will have bad luck all
the weok There are people who suf-
fer all sorts OF gloomy forebod-
ings II they absent-mindedly trim
away bit OF nail on any OF these days.
and who will suffer all the inconven-
'once OF overgrown finger-nais sooner
than cut them after Thursday.
Nearly every body has an miluclxy
day, although most people look on
Friday as a day OF misfortune, proba-
bly, because II is known as hangman's
day. You can seldom find any one
willing to move on Friday or Satur-
day. Friday is considered unluclxy,
and saturdays fitting makes short
sitting"
Superstition Is closely allied 10
witchcraft and so extends TO persons.
Every one has heard tho expressions:
That follow is a regular JONAH or
"He's hoodoo," or IL never have n
bit Of luck when / see so aud so.
This is especially so with theatrical
people, racing men and gamblers.
Monkey Charley" successful
steeplechaso jockey, rents his spurs
out when he hasn't got a mount at
five dollars race 20 Jockeys who
think they can absorb some OF his
luck by wearing them. Another
jockey, Kelly, who rode good deal
at Guttenburg, believes that II he can
touch or pass near or ride near certain
race-track habitues he will win, and
resorts TO all sorts Of maneuvers 20
come in contact with his hoodoo. An
other recent superstition Of racing-men
Is that Il d jockey dismounts at the post
before the start for any reason what
ever no will win, and when one is seen
dismounting for cause, or one is
thrown. there is an immediate rush
for the bookmakers, and his mount is
backed. A mascot" is an in
dispensable member OF a baso-
ball club, and when militia
go visiting they carry one also. II
you can ''cross the hump" of hunch-
back with fingers crossed you will
have good luck. This must be done
without the knowledge Of the hunch.
backed person, and IL IL is darky the
charm is so much more eflicacious. II
you can make the cross with money in
your hand it is a sure thing that you
will win any bot you make with that
money. A dwarf is also mascot for
gamblers. They are often applauded
for their generosity by those who
don't know that they believe that Civ
ing to a cripple or beggar brings luck.
II is considered a sign Of coming dis
appointment II the first person you
meet when starting out has red hair
To catch the eye OF cross-eyed per-
ohh - aAAA bAAAAh VI AuAoAuIAuub WHICH
can be escaped from by turning all
the way round three times. 1t can be
passed on by touching some one else
with fingers crossed; then the mis-.
fortune falls on the person touched.
The influence of the evil eyo is
known and dreaded the world over,
and even the most practical can not
avoid a shudder on finding an eye an
swering lis description fixed on him.
The harblngers OF death are many.
The banshee OF the Irish is n fxity
in the Celtic mind, and many weird
tales are told OF its visits and grew
some warnings The bowling OF a
dog under the. window OF a sick room
is an appalling sound TO hear at the
dead OF night, and is enough to fright
en- nervous person into the belief that
1t is a warning OF death. Dogs have
been known to go a long dista nee to
howl under the window whero somo
one was lying i'll. Cats are also sup
posed by tho credulous TO have the
power Of foretelling death. II a bird
flies into room some one will die
in that room before a year is passed,
and II a spade is carried through a
house there will be a grave dug for
some one in the house within year.
II one eye Of a corpse remains open
a near and dear relative Of the dead
person will follow within a year. II
sick person takes medicine willingly
and without complaint, or plays with
the cover OF the bed, it fills the mind Of
a nervous person with apprehension OF
death.
The shamrock, or four-leaf clover,
Is priced as one Of the greatest Of luck
bringing charms. Girls will hunt
through the long summer days for the
little green emblem OF fortune, and
when they find it, which is rare
enough, they treasure it like jewel
,r a first love letter. Few houses are
without the good-luck hor7eshos, al
.hough not every one knows how 10
lang 1t 10 keep good luck-with the |
open part up, so that the luck won't |
'un of the points.
Schoolgirls have practiced "wish-
ng on" rings ever since rings were
worn. The tricks played by young
olks on Halloween are nothing but
turned TO fun. but some
ire quite test Of nerve. as setting a
able for two at midnight, then one
solitary watcher sitting down TO wat
or the wrath Of her better half that
s 10 be.
The prettiest and by far the most
'xcusable superstitions are those
attached 10 wedding The customs
II throwing an old slipper or hand
al OF rice for luck, Of avoiding Fri
lays and the month Of May for we'd
lings, and Of choosing above all the
lappy month Of roses, are so uni