The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-26
Special TO THE SUNDAY CALI


The itching of the right palm indicates that
You will soon shake hands, and that of the
left that you are to receive money, while if
the soleS OF your feet disturb you in like
manner you are to journey over
strange ground. The potency Of the
horseshoe is the same the world
over. but in Scotland. if you find
one you must throw it over your left Shout
der in order to secure good luck during the
month to come. The spilIing of salt is I'M
lu ky, but evil may be warded off if you
toss a portion over your left shoulder.
When the fire is blown if the sparks fly
Splteiully strangers are TO visit you. Even
numbers are lucky and odd ones are calan-
ltouS. In handing any object or article of
food to another ii 1t falls or spills it is Ger
tain sign of much further intercourse; but
Il by chance any two persons wash in the
same bowl OF water they are certain to quar-
rel. Entering service or beginning any en-
terprlse or journey on Saturday viii compel
an unfortunate outcome. The same super
StltlOnS regarding cauls and children born
with caulS exist in Scotland as elsewhere
In Europe. When spider is found on
ones clothing or person money will shortly
be received. a gift of knife or other
Sharp-edged utensiI is always to be avoided.
There are countless weather Omens and Dor
tents in Scotland which are common in En-
gland and Ireland, and which any student of
American folklore will find have passed
into usage III our own country.
Again, innumerable Evolutionary customs
and beliefs of the simpler sort will be found
peculiar to the Scottish people themselves,
OF which give 4 few examples. If you
first see the new moon with empty hands
you Will be unfortunate for a month to
come. Ii you see a.cow lick either of her
fore feet you will Immediately hear of
death. Seeing a snail on bare ground is a
bad omen, but to find one on the grass is a
sign Of plentiful year. In R0Xburghshire
those meeting black snails take them by
the horns and throw them
OVER THEIR LEFT SHOULDERS
In order to go on their way proSperously.
The sudden loss of hair is prognOstic of
the loss of children, health or property.
To dream of ones teeth falling out is
certain sign of the death of friend. The
shrinking of meat in pot while cooking
presages downfall in life, and should it
swell you viii be prosperous. 1t is IN
lucky TO be recalled after having set out
on journey, TO be told of something yau
have f0rgotten but you can destroy the
spell by at once partakiDg of meat and
drink. When you first put on new coat if
you will place money IN the right-hand
pocket you will not know want; but if by
mistake you place it in the left-hand pocket
you Will be in need as long as that coat is
worn. To sweep a house by night is the
greatest possible insult that can be offered
to the fairies and the spirits Of the dead;
and TO sweep out the dust by the front door
is TO drive away good fortune. a dock-leaf
will cure nettle-sting if you will meant;
Nettie out. dock In:
Dock remove the nettle sting,
During the operation. Down about Yet
holm if any of the travelling tinkers or
peddlers oil setting cut in the morning meet
person whose face they do not like they
turn back, for to have proceeded would
have given an unlucky day. HlgIlanders
to this day at midnight of August 1St old
Style battle in Locbmanur, Sutherlandshire,
to cure themselves of all bodily ailments,
repairing the Spirit of the Lake in coin for
these benefits. Scan and salt are still
smeared over cows afflicted with I" the evil
eye.' And Goals and salt must be tossed
into new house before taking possession
of it, to drive out lingering evil spirits
The Scotch baby Is the subject and object
of very many traditional superstitious safe
guards and Ominons pOrtents. III in prais-
ing the baby and calling 1t pretty yOn do
not add Save u" your eye will take on
it." Save it!' wards away the "evil
eye" 1t IS equally necessary when prais-
ing your neighbours cattle or fowls to add
My eye will not take on it." Babes are
at the mercies of the fairies before bap-
tism. For partial safeguard against
their hewitchment some article of clothing
belonging to the child's father should
always be thrown over It. In border
shires it is believed that il babe hap
pens to be sitting on the floor and any
one shonld step over 1t, or walk entirely
around it, it Will become q weazened pigmy
II the babe takes a spoon first In its left.
instsad of its right, hand, it VIII be unlucky
all its life. II Is most unfortunate for a
mother, after the birth of a babe, to appear
out of doors until she is 'churched."
The first babe baptized by minister after
his first appointment to parish receives
the clergyman's Christian name; and If a
male and female child are brought together
tor baptism, the boy must be first baptized.
Otherwise he will 60
THROUGH LIFE BAREFACED,
And the girl will be dis6gured with beard.
During nursing, mothers wear amulets of
blue wooden thread or cord around their
neckS to avert ephemeral fevers from their
babes. These are handed down from mother
TO daughter, are greatly priced, and their eff
cacy is in proper ton to their antiquity. In
the Border country cradle is never rocked
as 1t will bring disease to a child. 1.-The
luck O. the BARN is curious outgrowth
OF tradition and custom. Whoever carries
the babe to church for baptism must be pro-
vided with piece of cake. This is given to
the first person met, no matter whom and
II 1t be man 1t Is better luck" for the
child. All manner of i'll comes upon who
ever refuses, and such refusal bodies i'll
fortune TO the child. But few months
since the Scottish newspapers took notice of
gracless fellow who flung this luck-cake
away, thus throwing away with it 1.-THE luck
o. the BARN"
In the matter of courtships and weddings
Scottish people preserve AN extraordinary
number OF peculiar customs and fanciful
superstitlons. 1t is deemed unlucky to alter
the first width OF an engagement ring Many
troth5 have been broken as a result. The
giving OF brooches and pins by lovers is full
Of i'll consequences. No young man or wo-
man, in the tender relation, will take a pin
from the other, without returning the same
alter use. Pins, needles, etc, are all en-
blematic OF the cessation of friendship and
affection. 1t Is very fortunate for the
bride to wear some borrowed article of
apparel at her wedding. Ii swine cross
the path Of the bridal party before it, 1t is
an omen OF the direst import; but il they
should cross its path behind the party, It
would be happy augury. A wedding after
sunset entails on the bride a joyless life, the
loss OF children and an early grave. In the
south OF Scotland rainy day for d marriage
is an unlucky one. The bride is then called
"a greetin, BRIDE; whereas, 'Blest Is the
bride that the sun shines on" To rub
shoulders" with the bride is a sign of
speedy marriage; the first among the unmar-
ried female friends who succeeds in doing it
Will be the first to wed; and / have myself
witnessed scrambles on the part of buxom
Scotch lasSes for precedence quite closely
approaching fisticuffs. As a newly married
wife first enters her new home some elderly
HN'Soi shhOW a SdhO VI ouOILUIedu luLO
the door before her. One securing piece
OF cheese cut with the brides own hand be-
lore she has left the wedding feast is certain
to be shortly happily married. And it is
everywhere in Scotland as inauspicious
Tor the brides mother to be present at a
wedding as it is unfortunate in our country
to have the same individual arrive, to re-
main, at any subsequent period.
Inc Scottish people have some very in
terestlng and occasionally mournful folk
lore and snpersiitious regarding birds and
fowls. The song Of the robin bodies i'll to
any sick person who hears it. A robin seen
sitting upon stone foretells
THE FALLING OF SNOW.
A black cock is highly priced. as its pres
warlocks. To hear a cuckoo cry befora
breakfast is an i'll omen. 1t is fortunate for
q housewife if brood of chickens all come