Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-05-18
OLD SUPERSrlTlONS.
'ons of tho Very Wholesome and Eco
bomio Lessons Taught by Them.

bomic Lessons Taught by Them.
many of the old and apparently base
less superstitions are believed in and
cherished by so many educated and re-
fned 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 credulous people And the basis
IN most Eases was in the direction OF
better manners and morals, and large
iy for the promotion Of economy and
discretion.
One of the ancient superstitions
which take hold of many people who
ire 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 very worthy and
evident idea that it was not well to be-
gin any work of Importance on day
80 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 a holiday, and this
is evidenced in the sessions of congress,
the lcgisla lures, the schools and other
public bodies. So thus far there is
reason in the idea that Friday is an I'M
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 very uncomfort-
able number to have at table, for ii
makes it necessary that one of the COM
pany shall be without partner, and
even the arrangement Of chairs at the
ordinary dining-tabl BILE would have to be
irregular to seat thirteen. Then, more
over, thirteen is rather large number
for little family party, and an excep-
tionally scant one for generous ban
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-
oles.
1t is unlucky, also, to break look
ing-glass. Seven years of bad luck
will follow. In the days when look
ing-glasses were worry scarce and expen
,ive, the breaking of one was undoubt'
eddy very unlucly accident, and sever
years of bad luck was very sure to fol
low him or her who had to make VI
the loss. But the superstition origin
ally served, no doubt to illustrat,
,ome priestly lessons on carefulncs'
and economy, and very powerfully too
in view of the frail structure of the
mirror of earlier days, and 81
far it served good purpose
and will continue to do so. o
the same order Of economic les
>ors are other superstitions, such a
that of upsetting the salt, which
though 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 an
superstition, very worthy spirit c
thrift was engendered.
There are many other superstition'
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
cribs also that have neither sense 20
beauty in them. IN. Y. Tribune.