The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-03-26
THE LUCKY PENNY.
Some of the Peculiarities of Men and
Women Who Carry Mascots.

Some of the Peculiarities of Mon and
Women Who Carry N1ascots.
The cherished preservation of odd or
particular coins as poke t-pieces is an
old and harmless sort of idolatry fire.
quently INDUCED in by large percent
age OF humanity. Such souvenirs often
possess intrinsic value as we'll as le-
gendary Importance. but, whether rep
resented by broad piece of gold or a
battered copper-token, all have associa-
tions or little histories of peculiar in
tercst to their owners. When these
treasures are under inspection in a
social way, remarks of the following
tenor are frequently heard:
''This is the first bit of silver earned
when left home.'
81 found this half-penny near Shake
spcare's tomb"
Daniel Webster gave that Spanish
quarter to my father when boy for
holding lis horse"
Here" said a man, noted for his un-
thrift, sis the only money ever saved,
and l wouldn't have saved that were it
NV Uduc VI UeFHl1H Silver.
1t is the custom for many kind old
persons to say, while rendering bright
piece of silver or gold to an emigrating
lad or lass: keep this in your pocket,
and you'll always have money"
The present and injunction are, per-
heps intended for practical suggestion
OF thrift. although in most cases tho
lesson is likely to be disregarded. Few
people possess the quality of economy to
an extent that will allow them to join
Shylock in his boast Of ability to make
coins breed.
A large number of these coins strug-
gle into the hands of New York money
changers, whose locations give them
daily opportunity of dealing with emf
grant arrivals. While speaking of this
incident in the business, one broker
said: st used to give me pang when
some poor fellow or woman would UNI
wrap time-smoothed piece of foreign
money or remove perforated one
from a chain or faded strip of
ribbon, and fearful offer it for
sale or exchange. But one soon
loses sentiment in this business,
and in mattcr-of-fact way, 1 simply
pay for the weight of most of such odds
and ends as you see heaped in that
tray. I've had cases wherein persons
who had struck prosperity have returned
after long time to see if their keep.
sakes could be identified and recovered,
but the crucible of the Assay Office had
generally put them beyond hope"
Sometimes special piece of money is
kept sight of with almost religious in.
terest. Instances are known where
pawn-brokers have made advances often
enough on a revered coin to make the
interest exceed its nominal value many
times over. 1t is case of indescribable
horror when the owner of metallic
mascot" or priced talisman has paid it
away in some unguarded moment. Hal.
lowed heirlooms thus have been ruth.
lessly swept into the Golfers of an un.
sentimental railroad or more profane
tills. This risk is always likely to pre-.
vail, regardless of the many ways of
safely storing such precious things.
Nine out of ten of the devotees of these
little gods would decline the use of
safe-deposit boxes or bank vaults, be-
lieving as they do that the luck or
charm chances of the object only be.
come potent by personal contact.-N.
Y. Tribune.