The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-04

sacred among German and Scandi-
navian nations, and, next to human
beings, formed the worthiest sacrifice
to the gods.
At chieftain's death his horse
was buried with him. Among the
Indians on our western plains pony
is strangled on the grave of warrior,
that he may be ready for the chase
in the happy hunting grounds. Even
among ourselves military officer is
followed to the grave by his favorite
horse. Poles surmounted by bunch
es of leaves and flowers protect the
farm houses in some parts of Germa-
ny, from lightning, and represent the
offering of bundle of grain to Odin's
horses, Odin being the supreme deity
in northern mythology. At Yuletide
oats are thrown out for Santa Claus
horses. The sheaf Of wheat that is
fastened to the gables in Norway and
Denmark for the use of birds, was
originally feed for Odin's horses.
The last bundle of grain at the har-
vest was thrown into the air by the
reapers that Odin might feed his
horses at Christmas.
THE NUMBER 1s.
1t is a well-known superstition that
if thirteen persons sit down to eat at
one table one will die during the
year. Many people, otherwise very
sensible, will not sit at table with
that number of guests. The origin
of this superstition is, according to
some authorities, the last supper of
Jesus and his disciples, one of whom
betrayed him. Others ascribe it to
the feasts of the gods of Valhalla,
there being thirteen each time, one
of whom was destined to die within
the year.
There is a Frisian legend which
indicates good luck instead of bad,
which may be of some comfort to
anxious souls. According to this au-
thority the twelve mythical legisla-
tors of the Ffisii, called the Asega,
were in the habit of rowing out into
the open sea in order to discuss mat
ters of particular importance in utter
seclusion. 1t happened on one occa-
sion that they lost their rudder and
were tossed about by heavy wind.
To make the matter worse they were
unable to agree upon certain points
of law and usage. They besought
the gods to send one of their number
to row them ashore. Suddenly the
thirteenth appeared in answer to
their prayers, out of the clouds, and
rowed them to land. Having given
them instruction upon the points in
dispute and endowed them with wis
dom to establish the "Friesenricht," /"
the unknown thirteenth vanished
and, SO far as is known, they never
saw him, or it, again. The people
ever after considered it good omen
when the number thirteen appeared
as connected with any public enter
prise.
MAUNDY PENNIES.
The word "Maundy" means COM
mand, and refers to the command
ment given in the 18th chapter of
Johns Gospel: ga new command
ment give l unto you; that ye love
one another"
Thursday in Holy Week, the week
preceding Easter, is especially de-
signed in the Roman Catholic church
as the commemoration of the Lords
Supper, an account of which is given
in that chapter. One of the services
connected with the commemoration
of the event was formerly the washing
of feet. This practice is of such an
tiquity in the church as to suggest
that it might never have declined,
until very late date, since the ex-
ample set by the Master at the Pas
chal supper. In both ancient and
modern times it was the custom to
distribute money, or "dole." James
ii was the last English sovereign to
wash the feet of the poor on Maundy
Thursday; he was also the first SOW
ereign to distribute the dole himself,
it having been done before his time
by the Lord High Almoner. In 1888
the Maundy men received money pay
ment from the clerk OF the Almonry
office; the ceremony of the celebra-
ton of the day has been confined to
this payment since the time of James
III. The Queens dole is now put in
to red "a white purses and distri but
ed in Westminster Abbey.
The Maundy pennies are made OF
silver of the value of one, two, three
or four pence, or full face value of
ten cents. They were first coined in
the reign of Charles H., and are