Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-10-22
The Worship Of Luck.
SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING DAYS
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.

SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING DAYS
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.
The worship of luck is universal.
That peculiar form of superstition
which has reference to certain unto
ward days is confined to no locality
or country, but exists wherever hui
manity is found. Nor Is it an attri-
butte OF ignorance alone, but often
hourisheS among the scholars and
saVants of educational institutions.
The East treasures among its an
tiquities special belief in the po-
tency for evil Of certain days. An
cient astronomers promulgated the
theory that six days of the year
were perilous to life. These days
were January 3rd, July 1st, October
Ind, August 1st, the last day of
April and the last day of December.
A calendar of evil days was COM
piled in England in the reign Of
Henry vi, in which all the bad
days of the year were tabulated.-
Copies of this curious book are still
in existence. There are many peo-
pie of the present time who have
kept traditional fear of the evil
days, but the superstition seems to
have centered upon Friday as the
black sheep of the days. There is
hardly locality to be found where
the people will marry on Friday
There is an old English rhyme which
refers to this outcast of days:
FRIDAYS moon,
Come when it will, comes too soon."
Another proverb is: "He who
laughs on Friday weeps on Sunday"
The crucifiXiou took place on Fri
day, but it was an unlucky day be-
fore that tragedy of Christianity
Sailors will not set sail on Friday IifI
they can possibly help it, and some
captains give heed to the supersti-
ton which affects the men if it does
not the voyage. Friday, too, is in
bad repute as hangman's day. MOI
business must be done on that day,
as it would not be successful. A |
Fridays dream never bodies any
good to the person who dreams it.
According to the romances of the |
medieval ages, fairies were turned |
into hideOus animals on Friday and |
remained in that form until Monday.
TO sneeze on Friday is to sneeZe for |
danger. A summing up of the days
of the week has been a subject for |
rhyme:
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses,
SATURDAY. no day at all"
Memorable days belong to indi-
viduals, the same day being distin-
guished by either success or misfor-
tune at recurring intervals.
Napoleon's day was on the 18th of
August, which was his birthday;
but it was not his lucky day, that
being the second day of any month.
He was made life consul on Au-
gust End, 1902; was crowned Decen-
Der End, 1904; won his greatest bat
tle-that of Austerlitz-on Decem-
her End, 1905, and married the Arch
duchess of Austria, April 2nd. -
Napoleon III. had the remarka-
BILE experience of hi5 first brilliant
success December End, 1851. He was
emperor December End, 1852. He
opened the Franco German war at
August End, 1870, and
his sword to William of {
Prussia, September End, 1870.
Cromwell had his day on Septem-
Der 3rd. On September 3rd, 1850,
he won his battle of Dunbar; on
3rd, 1861, he won the
battle Of Worcester; on September
3rd, 1868, he died.
Alexander the Great was born on
the 9th of April, and died on the 9th
of April. He won all his victories
upon that day, which was the sue
cessful day Of his father, Philip.
Sunday was considered favorite
day for weddings in Shakspeare's
time, according to couplet in
" The Tanning of the Shrew:"
" We will have rings, and things, and
fine array,
And, kiss me, Kate, we will be married
O. Sunday
The child that is born on Sunday
will never know want. In France,
Sunday is supposed to control all the
days of the week, so that fair Sun
day will bring fair week.
When holy George Herbert was
on his deathbed, he rose suddenly,
called for musical instrument, and,
having tuned it, sang:
The Sundays of man g life,
Threaded together on Times string,
Make bracelets to adorn the wife
OF the eternal, glorius King.
On Sunday heavens gate stands ope {;
Blessings are plentiful and rife,
More plentiful than hope"
Friday should be lucky day for
all Americans, for upon that day
Christopher Columbus sailed from
the port of Palos on his voyage of
discovery. All his plans were made |
upon that day, and the substantial
details of the long voyage were ar
ranged on Friday. He saw the first |
indications of the new land on Fri
day, when birds visited his ships. |
and on Friday October 18th, 1892,
he discovered land. On Friday he
planted the cross on the soil of the
New World. On Friday, October
10th, he sent his official announce
ment of his return in the month of
April. He entered Barcelona in
triumph on Friday. On Friday No
vember 10th, he found cross
planted on a deserted Island in the
sea Of Notre Dame. On Friday,
November Goth, he planted cross
in Puerto-Santo and on Friday,
January 4tb, he set sail for Spain
1t was on Friday his feet caught
phenomenal stock of fish. On Fri