The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-09-01
SUPERSTITIONS OF THE HUMAN
RACE.

ton, even among the more intelligent
people, and most of it is traceable to
the infantile phrases OF thought which
obtained in the earlier history of the
human race before men had learned
TO observe facts with reference to their
origin or to reason from effects toward
their causes. The superstition about
"thirteen" has come down to US from
the time when that number was re-
garded as containing superhuity,
twelve being looked upon perfect
and sacred number, compound of three
and four. Probably Friday came to
be thought unlucky because it is the
day next preceding the original or
Jewish Sabbath, which was a day of
rest that did not permit the finishing of
a work begun Friday and left uncom-
pleted, though in tnany minds it is
associated with the crucifxion and with
the hanging of criminals.
The belief in ghosts and hobgoblins
is well-nigh b universal. 1t is traced back
by Huxley to the infancy of human
thought, and by him considered as the
foundation OF human belief in the
supernatural. And it is grained deep
into the individual OF today during
childhood. As rule, the belief in the
existence OF ghosts or shades of the
departed becomes part of the mental
furniture between the ages of 4 and 2,
or not at all. Whether it be the "pious"
teaching that angels watch over the bed
of babes, or the demoniac threat that
the ghost will come for the child if it
is not "good," the general result is
much the same. The boy grows up
with a shaded mentality, in which
doubt alternates with superstitlous
belief, the latter being blt seldom com
pIetely removed as a result of deep
study of the laws of the universe. The
more impresslble mind of the female
childs accepts these things as entities
or verlties, from which it is not released
by the more mature thinking Of adult
life, and naturally it indoctrinates with
the same false and hurtful notions the
Juvenile minds over which the girl then
has control. Thus the belief in ghosts
pervades the people from one genera
ton to another long after genera
attainment of the knowledge a proper
application of which should make such
absurd belief impossible. The more
weak. minded become towards in the
dark or in the vicinity of graveyards
their intellects are muddled and thei
judgments clouded, while their live
are rendered more or less sad by ths
gloom with which the belief in tht
existence OF ghosts enshrouds them.
1t is the duty of teachers OF youth II
this "enlightened age" to help thei
pupils to think correctly in regard ts
natural phenomena. If they do no
oive noSitiya instructions to that effec
they lead those in their charge ava,
from the idea that the rolling thunde
and the flashing lightning are exhibition
of some one of thousand OF angry god
which the ancients supposed to peopl
earth, air and skies. They should b
required to be more direct in relation
to the almost universal tinge of belle
in the existence of spooks, these bein;
originals of the "gods" which IN tn
infancy of the human race were fanc'e
to be all the time meddling with tn
affairs of poor mortals. There may b
| SOME ulllSiCH(C VI OPiuioh oo " IA
. wisdom of informing mere infants tha
! Santa Claus is myth, that a wo
never spoke 10 little Red Riding Hooc
, or that Jack did not climb up a been
stalk into a land above the clouds. Bu
there shauld be none as to the duty {
disabusing the minds of young childre
about the supposed ghosts that haur
millions of children, and cause the
, one great source OF unhappiness aftt
they have been sufficiently housed
clothed and fed. To eradicate ii
ghost superstition we'll may be noted {
one of the highest and noblest effor
that can be made by those who unde
take to mold the juvenile mind an
v implant in it the seeds of correct kno
! edge OF the things they will meet wi
l IN after life.
!, 1t is more easy to evade II
k trouble which heaven sends us tha
e which we bring upon ourselves.