The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-29

VI eHrpEi uot star WHICH N
the tirmament, not a thing under the
earth, which has not Its superstitions.
The actor on the boards OF the theatre
isgnsrled with superstitions that can,
not be eradicated by any amount Of
proof. The negro takes them into his
system with his first breath and holds
to them with tenacity strong as his
love Of life, and not only in civilized
communities do they exist, but they
are foundin the interior Of Africa, and
in the very heart Of China.
All countries lave their peculiar
"tolk lore" and IL may be remarked
that the Africans seem to have super
abundance. 1t may also be taken for
granted that the English take the palm
for tfolk lore among C~aucastans. One
OF the commonest ~superstitions is that
i'll luck attends the person who goes
under a ladder.
The superstition concerning the
number thirteen has been pretty gem
orally eradtcated by tho Thirteen Club
of New York, forthe clubihas disproved
it in hundreds Of instances. Whence ii
originated it is impossible to say. Like
all other superst:ions, 1t seems never to
have hada birth, but grew spontaneous
~ aud hourished until the lie was nailed
to the mast. Some attribute its origin
to the Lords Supper, others to the
thirteen gods OF Valhalla. andthe seven
year archvist of the Thirteen Club re-
marks that it probably originated with
with the thirteen tribes OF Israel, to
whom, including Ephraim and,Manas.
sch, sons OF Joseph, thirteen portions Of
tho promisedland were given by Jacob.
This superstition declares that OF thtr.
teen persons sitting at the family or
festive board, one must necessarily die
within a year. Like all other supersiti-
tons, when the saying comes true. be-
liyers are loud and eagerin the circul-
alton OF the fact, but the numberless
instances OF thefallacy of the ridiculous
REPRESENTATIONS are never noted by
them.
The same maybe saidfof Friday, the
sixth day OF the week. It is declared
by superstitious peoplethat a journey
commenced on that day must prove IN:
successful, and that the same Is true OF
any other undertaking started on Fri
day. Yet P. 7. Barnum, the great
Snowman; in a letter to the writer de.
clared that he always began his great
enterprises on Friday. That. he was al.
most invariably successful is well
known. One material fact which cast
odium upon the day was that 1t was
generally chosen inthis country for the
execution Of murderers. Owing princl-
pally TO the efforts Of the Thirteen Club
tho execution day has been changed or
varied in all states Of the Union, and
this has, to q great extent, frightened
the day.
THE JEwE1IED YEAH.
A superstition attaches to every pre-
cious stone. Twelve ofthese have been
selected as birthstones and applied to
the twelve calendar months Of the year.
They are very prettily descrlbed in the
following verses:
JANUARY,
BY her who IN this month Is born
No gem save Gafn.a should be worn
They viii insure her constancyI
True friendship and fidelity.
rnnhuAsy:
sIn sefptd and peace Il mind.
Freedom sd, ~ from on. b s,s on, s1 S atom care
MARCH,
Who, on this world Of oTrS, their eyes
In MaEen I ISL, 9 Rsn, s ~ navy ps wts
And Wear Z Z Sloodtoas 70 their grays.
AshIl.
She who from A .ppSds d ,n.t h 3es ye tsnr.
Iltnhtoaus suhlL Me9t' .nIs.tsHH