Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-27
HUMAN WEAK POINTS.
A Chapter on the Deceits Practiced
Upon All the People.
THE CHARMS, OMENs AND SPELLS
That Are Used to Work Upon the supersti.
tious Folk.
FRIDAY AND THE THIRTEEN CLUl


its weak point. The same remark applies
to the human frame, and the weak point is
the tendency to belief in the supernatural,
more iamiliarly called superstition. Ere
quentIy there are many weak points, and
in this case superstition is the weakest and
most ungovernable, but if there be but
Zone screw loose" it may safely be set
down to superstition.
It does not, however, naturally follow
that superstitious people are necessarily
moral towards, says q writer in the New
York Times, for where there is no distinction
there is no personality, and as all men are
superstitious none can be coward. Yet,
there are different degrees of absorption in
different beings and some are saturated
with superstition while others are only
touched by this species of insanity.
A Sign for Almost Every Act.
There appears to be an inherent tendency
toward belief in the supernatural, and
this induces faith in representations.
There is a sign for almost every act of life,
and misfortune, or the contrary, is pre-
saged by the most trivial circumstances.
There is not a part of the human beings
dress, not an article in use by man, not 8
thing which grows on earth, not star
which twinkles in the armament, not thing
under the earth, which has not its super
stitions The actor on the boards OF the
theater is gnarled with superstitions that
cannot be eradicated by any amount of
proof. The negro takes them into his sys-
tenn 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 found IN the inte-
rior of Africa and in the, very heart OF
China.
A strong and healthy mind repulses su-
perstition, and the weaker the mind and
body the more it will absorb the belief in
the supernatural. The sick, weak-minded,
nervous, debilitated, old and infrm are su-
perstition's easy victims. Strong-minded
men laugh at tales of the manifestation OF
the supernatural, vet "a constant dropping
weareth away q stone" and even the SEN
sible man has been known to waver, and,
though rarely, to fall victim to that worst
of all insanity, superstition.
The Thirteen Superstition.
All countries have their peculir "folk
lore" and it NAV be remarked that the At
ricans seem to have a superabundance. 1t
may also be taken for granted that the
English take the palm for "folk lore"
among Caucasiana One of the commonest
superstitions is that i'll luck attends the
person who goes under ladder. There is
sense in this provided man be going up
that ladder with hod of brick, for brick
is known to be harder than human head,
and the force of gravitation draws the hard
ened clay toward the center of the earth.
The superstition concerning the number
13 has been pretty generally eradicated by
the Thirteen Club, of New York, for the
club has disproved it in hundreds of in
stances. Whence it originated it is impos-
sible to say. Like all other superstitions
it seems never to have had birth, but
grew spontaneously and 1ourished until the
lie was nailed to the mast. Some attribute
its origin to the Lords Supper, others to
the 13 gods of Valhalla, and the seven-year
archlvist of the Thirteen Club remarks
that it probably originated with
the 13 tribes of Israel, to whom,
including Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of
Joseph, thirteen portions Of the promised
land were given by Jacob This superstition
declares that of the thirteen persons sitting
at the family or festive board one must nee
essarily die within year. Like all other
superstitions, when the saying comes true,
believers are loud and eager in the circula-
tion of the TACT, but the nunberless in
stances of the tallacy of the ridiculous
representations are never noted by them.
The Birthstone Nonsense.
A superstition attaches to every precious
stone. Twelve of these have been selected
as birthstones and applied to the twelve
calendar months of the year. They are very
prettily described in the following verses:
JANUARY.
By her who in this month is born,
No gem save garnet should be worn,
They will insure her constancy,
True friendship and fidelity.
FEBRUARY.
The February born will find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care
II they the amethyst will wear.
The same may be said of Friday, the
sixth day of the week. 1t is declared by
superstitious people that journey COM
menced on that day must prove unsuccess-
tul, and that the same is true of any other
undertaking started on Friday. Yet P. T.
Barnum, the great Snowman, in letter to
the writer declared that he always began
his great enterprises on Friday. That he
was almost invariably successful is we'll
known. One material fact which cast
odium upon the day was that it was gener-
ally chosen in this country for the execu-
tion of murderers. Owing principally to
the efforts of the Thirteen Club the execu-
ton day has been changed or varied in all
States of the Union, and this has, to .
great extent, frightened the day.
MARCH.
Who, on this world of ours, their eyes
In March first open, snail be wise
In days Of peril, firm and brave,
And wear bloodstons to their grave.
APRIL.
She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds shall wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone
Emblem OF innocence Is known.
Who first beholds the light Of day
In springs sweet fow'ry month of May
And wears an en1erd Id all her life
Shall be lov'd and happy wife.
Who comes with Summer to this earth,
And owes to June her day of birth,
With ring of agate on her hand
Can health, wealth and long life command.
JULY.
The glowing ruby should adorn
Those who in warm July are born:
From love doubts and anxiety.
AUGUST.
Wear sdrdcny1 or for thee
No conjugal felicity;
The August born, without this stone
'Tis said must live unloved and lone.
SEPTEMBER.
A maiden born when Autumn leaves
Are rustling in September's breeze
A sapphire on her brow should bind;
twill cure diseases OF the mind.
OCTOBER.