The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-08-10


The superstition prevails in Grea
Britain and on the continent of Europe
10. The person on whom the eyes o
u dying person last rests will be tn,
first to die. (Boston, Mass.)
This seems to be form of widel,
prevalent superstition that II the eye
of the dying person open of their owl
accord one of his relatives will soor
follow. 1t Is probable that the i'm
! portance, from time immemorial ut
| tached to the ceremony of closing the
eyes of the dead has for its foundation
not merely the natural propriety of .
| decent usage, but also belief kindred
to the above.
IL. The last Wme dying person
calls is the next to follow. (New
Hampshire.)
1S. II three persons look Mt the
same time into a mirror one will die
within the year. peabody, Mass;
New Hampshire.)
To break looking-glass is sign Of
death, or of bad lnck for seven years.
This is quite general belief. Domes-
tic servants, and particularly super
stitious persons, are often thrown into
u panic by accidents of this sort.
Niagara Falls, Ont.)
In Clum Forest Gas in Scotland) such
a 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
ill 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 l 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 a table, it is said that the
Archangel Michae's mouth is open,
ready to take the soul of some member
of the family.
90. To dance on the ground indie
ates disaster or death within n year.
Boxford, Mass.)
As such dancing has been univer-
sal custom it seems faiv to conclude
that this superstition is local and
the informant, however. an
elderly person, AYERS that she has al
ways heard it so said.
q. If thirteen sit at table tho one
who rises first will not live through the
year. (Somerville, Mass.)
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-
0usly said to be the youngest, the last
who sits down, the one who sits under
5he mirror, the first TO eat or arise, the
one who seems sad and downcast. In
Tyrol, by way ofexception, the augury
extends only to ill-luck. In one Bohe-
nian town it is held to be true only for
| Christmas festivity. and the fate is
extended to all over the number of
welve. In a recent newspaper an ac-
count was given of a dinner in the in
erior of the State of New York where
he omen was supposed to be averted
~ dividing the guests among two
ables. In the Netherlands it is said
hat the one who sits under the beam
S traitor-a statement which points
o the paschal supper as the origin of
he belief, and this is certainly proba-
lie while other explanations are not |
worth citing.
%. A dish-cloth hung on n door
mob is a sign of death in Il family.
Deerfeld, Mass.)
1t is common practice to indicate |
cath by tying piece of Grape TO the
oor-knob of the house, whence proba- |
ly the omen.
90. II hoe be carried through a |
ouse, some one will die before the |
ear is out. (Mansfield, o.
The same superstition is found in
,ngland. ut is most unlucky to carry
n ak or any sharp tool on your shoulder
trough the house, as it is a sign of
cath to one or more of the inmates.
ONE extend this omen to any tool car
led on the shoulder through house.
t tPulverbatch and Wenlock spade is
ne fatal instrument; it is certain
gn that grave will shortly be dug
,r some member of the household"
he editor observes that coffins were
'rmerly carried shoulder high.
"a. Whoever works on sick per-
on's dress. he or she will die within
ear. Massachusetts,
20. To put on the bonnet or hat of
ne in mourning is the sign that you
ill wear one before the year is out.
Peabody, Mass.)
To tie on Grape hat or bonnet is a
gn OF mourning before the year is out.
Niagara Falls, Ont.)
Don't try on black bonnet, it means
cath.
26. When woman who has been
swing puts her thimble on the table
5 she sits down to eat, it is o sign
lat she will be left widow, if she
larries. Central Maine. )-Journal of
merican Lore