The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-05
OLD suprasr,rloNs.
Some OF the Very Wholesome and Eco
nomic Lessons Taught by Them.

Some of the Very Wholesome and Eco
nomic Lessons Taught by Them.
It is a matter of surprise that SO
many of the old and apparently base
less superstitions are believed in and
cherished by so many educated and re-
fined people-men as we'll as women.
But it must be remembered that most
of the superstitions that have come to
us through long line of ages must of
necessity have some reasonable basis
for their origin, or they could not have
retained their place among even the
most cret.ulous people. And the basis
in most cases was in the direction OF
better manners and morals, and large
ly for the promotion of economy and
discretion.
One of the ancient superstitions
which take hold of many people who
are ashamed to confess it is that Friday
is an unlucky day. Anyone with ordi-
nary intelligence knows that no days
can be especially marked out as un-
lucky, and Friday, according to history,
has been day full of great and glori-
Gus events. But the superstition plain.
ly had its origin in a very worthy and
evident idea that it was not well to be-
gin any work of Importance on day
so near the close of the week that the
progress of it must be delayed or
broken into by the coming of Sunday.
No work that would take up a weeks
time would usually be begun so near
the intervention of holiday, and this
is evidenced in the sessions of congress,
the Legislatures, the schools and other
public bodies. So thus far there lie
reason in the idea that Friday is an un-
lucky day.
Again, to have thirteen at table pre-
sages dire calamity = usually the
death of one of the number before the
year is out, and many good people
would be very much worried If they
should be of the number. AS a matter
of fact, thirteen is u very uncomfort-
able number to have at table, for it
makes it necessary that one of the COM
pany shall be without a partner, and
even the arrangement of chairs at the
ordinary dining table would have to be
irregular to seat thirteen. Then, more
over, thirteen is a rather large number
for little family party, and an excep-
/ -
quet. Thus it is that thirteen is an
''unlucky" number at table, while the
tradition of the death of one of
the number within year took
its root from some ancient allusion to
the events that so rapidly followed the
Last Supper of the Lord and His disci-
pies.
1t is unluclsy, also, to break a look.
ing-glass. Seven years of bad luck
will follow. In the days when look.
ing-glasses were very scarce and eXpen-
sive, the breaking of one was undoubt-
edly very unlucky accident, and seven
years of bad luck was very sure to fol-
low him or her who had to make up
the loss. But the superstition origin
ally served, no doubt, to illustrate
some priestly lessons on carefulness
and economy, and very powerfully too,
in view of the frail structure of the
mirror of earlier days, and sc
far it served good purpose,
and will continue to do SO. OF
the same order of economic les
SONS are other superstitions, such a:
that Of upsetting the salt, which
though a very common article, mus
not be wasted, and that against fail
Ing to pick up pin or a horseshoe tina
one finds on the road. Pins and horse
shoes were by no means as common a.
they are now, to be idly thrown away
and when they were very valuable
which was not farther back by an,
means, as the dark ages .of sorcery ant
superstition, very worthy spirit O
thrift was engendered.
There are many other superstitions
and many proverbs also, that have
very wholesome moral to them, which
fine analysis will bring to view, a
we'll as many superstitions and prov
erbs also that have neither sense 20
beauty in them.-N. Y. Tribune.
Tl,a,.o &c 9, oI,,ral, ;r, Is,,d1,, ,,an