Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1891-07-28
WAKEMAN'S WANDERINGS
SCOTTISH FOLKLORE PORTENTs
AND sUPERsTITIoNs.

Second Valuable Paper on This Inter
esting subject-superstitions Of Court
ship. Marriage. Births and Deaths.
Folklore Of Birds-Barbario DiabIerie
in the Highlands.
Copyright, Isgl. by Edgar L. wakeuan.I
HAwTCK, Scotland, July 13-Collecting
folklore from the people Of any country is
attended with many difficulties. The
Scotch are almost as evasive as the Irish,
and delight in mystifying qualifications.
The intellectual classes rather resent the
possible uses 70 which such information is
20 be put. The average Scotchman Of the
middle classes feels aggrieved that 50 noble
a race as his own should be suspected Of
possessing superstitions. And the ignorant
and lowly have a well defined notion that
the charm is lost If it be divulged to dis
believers.
To illustrate: A certain eminent literator
of advanced age IN Edinburgh, himself an
elucidator of the very heredity Of Scottish
superstition, when applied to him humbly
enough for his own verifcation of a very
weird practice which | absolutely know
still exists among the highlands, told me
in good round terms that the meddling
with such matters by English and Amer
ican Intellectual tramps in general was a
most damnable impertinence." On an
other occasion | ordered suit Of clothing
from a certain town oracle, the tailor, who
in many respects was a second, though
severe, edition Of delicious old Mansie
WAUGH. for the sole purpose Of securing
the lore and superstitions Of his own craft.
With all the diplomacy possible | ap-
preached the coveted disclosures, but the
moment this fellow comprehended the i'm
port OF my wishes condolences were at an
end, and his dignity was 50 sorely tried
that he declined holding furtherintercourse
with me save through the chilling medium
of a deaf and dumb assistant
Among the peasantry, and especially the
crofters and coastwise fishermen, however
much you may gain confidence and friend
ship, the Touch ne not with impunityi"
Of Scotia's national motto Is a stubborn
fact in character, and though it may be
often overcome, on countless occasions
have been met and baffied In folklore re-
searches by the canny remark:
"Guid truth, gin ! wad tell ye onything
ye wad shune hae it in prent: an tn good
OF Ia me wad be duner'
But determination, diligence and hon
esty Of spirit in research will accomplish
much In a years time, even in Scotland
1t is easy enough to find in the main strik-
Tag afiinities between Scottish, English,
Irish and even New England omens, por-
tents and superstitious beliefs OF the more
trivial and ordinary character. There Is
no end TO these, and few examples will
illustrate their universally of adoption
and adaptation.
A babe must never see its image in a
looking glass until all its teeth are cut
Bad luck always follows the removal Of
the wedding ring. II you find two spoons
in your cup or saucer il is a certain omen
that you will meyer wed. Some one Is
thinking Of you when your nose itches-
The omens connected with burning sen
sation in the right or left ear are the same
as with us. The itching of the right palm
indicates that you will soon shake hands,
and Of the left that you are TO receive
money, while IL the soles of your feet dis
turb you in a like manner you are TO jour
ney over strange ground. The potency Of
the horseshoe is the same the world over,
but In Scotland II you find one you must
throw il over your left shoulder in order
to secure good luck during the month to
come. The spilling Of salt is unlncky. but
evil may be warded of II you will toss a
portion over your left shoulder. When the
fire is blown, II sparks fy spitefully,
strangers are to visit you. Even numbers
are lucky and odd ones are calamitons
In handing any object or article of food
to another IL it falls or spills it Is a certain
sign OF much further intercourse; but II by
chance any two persons wash in the same
bowl Of water they are certain 70 quarrel
Entering service OF beginning any enter
prise or Journey on Saturday will compel
an unfortunate outcome. The same super
stitions regarding cauls. and children born
with cauls. exist in Scotland as elsewhere
In Europe. When spider Is found on
ones clothing or person money viii short
~ be received. A gift Of knife or other
sharp edged utensil Is always to be avoid
ed. There are countless weather omens
and portents in Scotland which are com
mon In England and Ireland. and which
any student Of American folklore win find
have passed into usage in our own coun-
try.
Again, innumerable Evolutionary Gus.
toms and beliefs Of the simpler sort win be
found peculiar 20 the Scottish people them
selves, of which give a few examples. II
you first see the new moon with empty
hands you viii be unfortunate for a month
TO come II you see a COW lick either Of
her fore feet you will Immediately hear OF
a death Seeing a snail on bare ground is
a bad omen; but TO find one on the grass is
a sign of a plentiful year. In Roxburgh-
shire those meeting black snails take them
by the horns and throw them over their |
left shoulders IN order 70 20 on their way
The sudden loss Of hair is =
prognostic OF the loss Of children. health or
property. To dream Of ones teeth falling
out is a certain sign OF the death Of
friend The shrinking Of meat In a pot
while cooking presages downfall IN hfes
should it swell you viii Be prosperous
Il is unlucky to be recalled after having
set out on journey TO be told Of some
thing you have forgotten; but you can de-
stroy the spell by at once partaking Of |
meat and drink When you first put On a |
new coat. II you win place money In the /
hight hand pocket you win not know
want. but II 81 mistake you place it ip the /
left hand pocket you viii be IN need as
long a. that coat is worn. To sweep a
house by night il the greatest possible in I
sult that can be offered to the fairies and 1
he spirits OF the dead. and to sweep ouf 1