The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-20
SIGNS AND OMENS.
One American Statesman Who Does Not
Believe In Them.


Believe In Them.
Do public men believe in signs and
omens? This is a question which is
often discussed, but no conclusive an
swer can be, or at least has been, given
except that which may be drawn from
individual cases. On the occasion OF
his last visit to Washington ex-senator
Ransom of North Carolina discoursed
most entertainingly upon it in the pres
ence of a few friends gathered in his
old committee room at the capitol and
shed some light upon the subject. The
conversation came about by his state
ment that he intended to start for his
new post of duty as minister to Mexico
on Friday.
ooh, aren't you afraid" exclaimed
one of the party, ''to begin such an i'm
portant and extended trip on that day?"
'No," the new minister answered.
ST do not recognize any difference be-
tween Friday and the other days of the
week. I don't believe that it can have
the slightest possible influence IN deter
mining the issue of an enterprise pro-
jected or begun on that day. In fact, J"
u6 uOQ III d D1dOlF0 4uOOOs
ST think I am not given to guiding my
actions by any sign OR omen. Only to-
day, coming down to the capitol, my
companions saw funeral procession
coming up the avenue, evidently bound
for Oak Hill cemetery, Georgetown.
Said he: Senator, let's turn off here
so as to avoid meeting it. You know
it's dangerous. I said to him: Look
up the avenue There are at least a
thousand people in sight, many of
whom must unavoidably meet the pro-
cession. Before it reaches Georgetown
it will have met hundreds of people.
Do you believe that all of them are to
be afflicted will sudden death because
of the presence of this funeral process
sion in their way? I don't, and we
won t change our route. And we dldn' t.
F'There are some old saws the ex-
senator went on to say, ''that have a
basis of sound reason or had for their
existence which may not be generally
known. That one which goes, 1T is I'M
fortunate to meet lady when starting
on a Journey, is based on very good
reason. Ladies are so attractive that the
would be traveller is likely to be be-
guiled into a conversation with the one
he may meet on his way to the station,
which will prevent him from reaching
there in time to take his train or boat
and he is thereby delayed, probably to
his embarrassment or loss. Therefore it
may be unfortunate to meet a lady in
those circumstances.
''There is another that has historic
and philosophic basis-'to put ones
sock on wrong side out is sign of good
luck. That had its origin in the olden
times before the modern conveniences
of gas and electric lighting were added
to the appliances of home and hotel
life. Therefore the man who rose early
in the morning before daylight and
dressed himself, not stopping to discov-
er whether or not his hose was strictly
in order because of the diligence i'm
piled in that action. was often enabled
to score triumph over a business rival
who waited until he could determine
that every article was in order Hence
the proverb, which simply means that a
hustler, as we would term him in these
days is bound to succeed.
THE same is true of the saying that
it is unlucky for rabbit to cross your
age as a warrant for its circulation, but
it has long lost it's force or should have
done so. Rabbits haunt their warrens
generally until dusk, and then they be-
gin running about III search Of food.
In olden times travelling was dangerous
even in broad daylight, and to have a
rabbit cross ones path meant that he
was likely to be caught after dark, and
bad luck, either in the shape of injury
from robbers or damages or delay
through bad roads, was almost certain
to befall the traveller.
''But that simple signs or omens in
these days of practical things can affect
ones interests, either for good or bad,
1 don't believe" concluded the senator.
Washington Post.
Mrs &reenspan Buys.