The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-09
cHlLDREN,s suPERsTlTloNs.
Many Of Them Arc Very Grim, but Mono
OF Them Arc Diarecnrtlctl.

oer many OF my own; do not mean
such supcrstitions rs are passed down
from their elders to the children in
family, such as it is bad luck to dream
OF wedding or to turn chair the
wrong way, or to break loolling-glass
or to start any enterprise on Friday, or
that it is good luck to pick up pins, to
see the new moon over the right Shout
der or to have IL cat come to the house.
No; there are superstitions which
belong distinctly to the period
OF childhood, and which exercise
shaping influence over the actions of
those who firmly believe in them. With
n view to ascertaining what supersti-
tons are current among the children of
the present day, gave over one hun
dred children, of varying ages and at
Inherent times, an exercise in oral COM
position, in which each scholar in the
class was called upon to give testimony
as to what cobweb had been spun across
his brain. The tradition concerning
the spider. with its accompanying his
torical fact concerning the Bruce's in
splration of courage and perseverance
from the spider in the hut of hiding,
holds a first place in their minds. AS
for the other superstitions, they were a
tumble of signs and wonders, of omens,
OF talismens, of mascots and hoodoos.
One boy gravely assured me, and his
experience was vociferously corrobo-
rated by score or more of other BOYS.
that ITO spit on the bait brought good
luck in fishing" and that eff YOU spit
on the chip in hop scotch you'll hardly
ever miss"
That the darby should be considered
mascot will occasion no surprise to
those who know aught about the lore
OF superstition. But the schoolboys of
this city certainly have peculiar way
OF testifying their participation in the
belief. IF you get niger to spit in
your hat" said one boy, in tone of in
tense conviction. lit will bring you good
luck" And whether or not it receives
credcncc, the fact is that before going
up to their rooms on examination DAYS.
or bcfor engaging in games of contest,
the white boys present their hats TO
the darlSics in the school-yartl, and re-
spectfully request their duslly brethren
TO use them as cuspidors, for the sake
Of bringing their wearers good luck.
Boys who sell newspapers believe
that the first nickel received in paw
ment for paper must be held in the
hollow of clinched fist and blown ND
to bring quick sales and pleasing profits.
To insure success in playing marbles.
they must be blown up, both to keep
them from slipping out of the hand or
into the pockets of the other fellow.
10 bring good luck take an adobe mar
ble-one of clay is meant-and ATTEMPT
to throw 1T over q house. If it is like
vaulting ambition and overlcnps itself
to fall on the other side, success is as
sured. While playing marbles, to pro-
tect ones own stock and to get posses
sion OF more than he carried into the
game as stakes the youthful gambler
must fortify himself with such mutter-
ings as "Chesa terra" or Clip" "Geno"
or ''Jono," the last lnalediction evident
ly being corruption of the word Jonah
a modern allusion to an ancient affair.
to the hoodoo of mariner. whale and
Ninevch
Childhood being prolonged period
OF teething. many beliefs regarding
those important factors are current
For instance, tooth pulled out and
cast away, and then swallowed by a
dog, is sure to be replaced in the mouth
OF its former owner by dog tooth!
To throw newly-extracted tooth over
the shoulder at once, find it: repeat the
operation second time, then third,
and not find the tooth after the third
throw, means good luck will follow
with all the teeth. Too much clation
of spirits is followed by correspond
ing fit of the blues-so to sing before
breakfast is to cry before dinner. To
see load of hay, Ego wish on it." and
to watch it until it gets out of SIGHT
or turns corner. insures the full
fillment of the wish. When an .eye-
winker falls out, it should be placed
on the palm of the hand, or on
the back; midtown at three times by
a second person, while it's owner makes
wish. If it is pulled off Mt the third
blow. sure sign that the wish will come
true. Of course the wish bone supersti-
ton holds it's sway.
Another superstition which seemed to
be highly popular among the children
questioned was to this effect: Let
child take Il piece Of paper and bow to
every child he meets, whether acquaint-
ed or not is immaterial, and check off
each bow until he has counted one hun
dred on this slip of paper. Then let
him bury the paper, making n wish as
he does SO, and if on returning to the
spot week later he can excavate the
paper his wish will come true. Seven
bows to the new moon will also insure
the coming true of wish.
Among nll children it is considered
very bad luck to turn IL garment which
has been put on wrong side of it, or to
baclS after SOmafbirp xyl,;oJ, L..