The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-11-29

How They Have Worked Their WAY Ists The
Fabric OF society.

How They Have Worked Their way lsts The
Fabric Of society.
You don't know how these minor
superstitlons have eaten their way in
to the fabric OF society. Take the
matter OF thirteen at table. Every
body Processes to laugh at IT, but
nobody-unti! we started the opposi-
tion-dared TO oppose II. said men,
Der OF the Thirteen Club TO writer
la the Epoch. The idea OF thirteen
being an unlucky number Is as old as
the church fathers. II sprung from
the traditions OF the Last supper. just
as hangman's day Is said 10 be ira
dition OF the crncifixion. Perhaps
you think that the strong practical
sense OF this age has outgrowu these
weaknesses? lfso the next time that
you catch party OF intelligent. or
even religious. people at table. make
the experiment. Cry out that there
are thirteen at table. and remind them
that ono will die within tho year
Then see TO what expedlents they
will resort TO make the number TIVE I've
or fourteen. But they will protest that
IL Is only "a joke.
! have given some attention TO pop
ular superstitlons. and lot me tell you
that argument Is powerless against
them. They have grip upon the
imagination that nothing but rldicule
will lessen. Let me give you a few
instances.
There Is an old and widespread no
ton that the mirrors must be removed
from room in which n corpse Is
lying. found the custom In Ireland.
among the peasantry of France. and
among the New Englanders OF Ohio
aud Minnesota. In these latter places
they cover the mirror up with cloths
instead OF removing IT, Now make
tho experiment yourself, and the next
time you are called upon To sit up with
n corpse, notice how uncomfortable a
mirror will make you feel OF course
IL Is matter OF thesimagination. but
you can't reason against IT, All the
ingrained terrors of six thousand years
are in your bones You walk across
the floor and catch glimpse OF your
self in the gllss. You start; was there
not spectral something behind youe
SO you cover IL up.
IL makes you smile when you think
that the gift of pocl1et-knif is sup
t,oooa 80 ont f,.iord,h;,, L., ,,v1 ,,d vat
when you wish to give knife TO your
son or some dear friend. you 20 through
the farce OF selling IL TO him. have
seen tho wisest and best OF men do this.
Rather than load my little nephew
with unknown evils, have done 1t
myself.
When you want idlotic superstitions
you have 10 take actors and singers
people who might be supposed to know
better. know actors who would
rather sleep on the roof OF a hotel than
in room No. i3 or any particular num-
Der which could be construed as un-
lucky. There are certain actors who
are called Jonahs, because their pres
ence Is supposed TO always bring Ill
luck. Cross-eyed men or women are
particularly feared in company. and
an actor who Is marked with small
pox caa scarcely got an engagement
Actors always carry charms and anu
lets around with them; they have their
lucky days and their unlucky days.
and are slaves 10 superstition.
The form OF superstition which We
find likely TO battle even ridiculo Is
the idea that certain houses are un-
lucky. Ia my own experience have
known several houses which really
seem TO bring misfortune upon their
tenants. IL Is hard TO ridicule this sort
OF thing; OF course il Is all Internal
nonsense. hut people insist that there
are facts TO be faced.