The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-17
MINOR SUPERSTTlONS
How They Have Worked Their Way Into
the Fabiic of society.

the Fabfic of society.
.You don't know how these minor super
stitions nave eaten their way into the fabric
Of society. Take the matter OF thirteen at
table. Everybody processes TO laugh at it,
1ut nobody, until we started the opposition,
dared 10 oppose it," said member OF the
Thirteen Club 10 a writer in the Epoch.
"Thc idea of thirteen being an unlucky
number at table is as old as the church
fathers. II sprung from the traditions OF
the Last supper, Just as hangman's day Is
said to- De "a tradition Of the cruciiiNlOn.
Perhaps YOU think that the strong practical
sense OF this age has outgrOwn these weak
nosscs. lr so. the next time that you catch
"a party OF intelligent, even religious. people
at table, make the experiment. Cry out
that there are thirteen at table, and remind
them that one will die within the year.
Then see TO what eXpedents they Will re-
sort to make the number twelve or lOuricen.
But they will protest that it j. only Joke.
81 have given some attention 10 popular
euper,titi0us. and let me tell you that argu-
mcnt Is pOweriess against them. They have
a grin upon the imagination that nothing
but ridiculs VIII lesson.
.let me give YOU "A few instances
"1hcre is an old and widespread notion
room in which "a corpse Is lying. | found
the custom in ireland, among the peasantry
of France. and among the New Engllndcr-
Of Ohio aud Minnesota. In these latter
places they cover the mirror mp with cloths
instead of removing it. Now make the cX-
pertinent Yourself, aud the next time you
are called upon to slt zap with corpse. no.
tico how uncomfortable a mirror Will make
YOU feel. OF course it is matter OF the
Imagination. but You can't reason against
10. An tho ingrained terors Of six thou
sand wears are i'm your bones. You walk
across tbe floor and catch glimpse OF yOur-
-elrin the glass. You start; was there MOI
a spectral something behind you! 80 YOU
cover it up.
at matcs you smile when youthink that
The gili OF 70 p0ckct-kniio is supposed ID cut
friend -hip iu two. and yet, when you Wish
90 Give 90 knife To- your son on some dear
friend. YOU eo through the farce oi selling
it t0 him. have seen the wi-cst and '-i
of men d0 this. Rather than load nay ltlr
nephew with unknown evils 1 have dome it
myself.
..Whcn You want idiotic sulcr-t.tons
y0u have t0 take actors aud sin-cis-pco-
bile who mi .ht Doe supposed 20 know better.
know actor, Who would rather sleep Oh
the roof of h0tc, than in room NO. l3. or
any particular number which could be con-
-irucd as unlucky. There are certain ac-
tors who are called JOnahs. because their
presence is always supposed TO bring iii
luck. Cross-eyed men and women are par
ucuarly feared IN "a company, and an actor
who is marked With smallpox can scarcely
yet am engagement. Actors always carry
charms and amulets around with them:
they have their lucky DAYS and their un-
lucky days. and are slaves 90 superstition.
"lbe form OF superstt on which We ma
likely 10 battle even rid.cule is the idea that
certain houses are unlucky. In my own
eXoCrieuce / have known several houses
which really seem to bring misfortune upon
their tenants. Il is hard to rldicule this
sort Of thing: OF course it is all internal
nonsense, but people insist that there are
facts % De faced Boston Herald.