The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-04
THINGS TO BE DONE FOR LUCK.
Several Old superstitions Particularly
Described.

From the Chicago Times-Herald.)
We are content today to throw rice at a
newly married couple, or an old shoe or
two, and the bride. losses her bouquet
among.the girls to inform her who is
lucky enough to catch it that she will be
the next one married. But wheat is
really the thing to throw, because the evil
spirits hate the color yellow above all
things-if white grain like rice is used
it attracts them, and, to become effica-
cious, should be colored yellow with
tumeric. orlsome similar dye. Ghosts and
the. things that bring ill-luck hate leath-
er, so old shoes are proper, except in
those instances when it was suggested
that the guests throw the carriage and
let the. couple drive away in the shoe. But
a shoe under your pillow is radical cure
for nightmare, and cramps in bed can be
ayerted by placing slipper upside down
ats.the foot of the COUCH The use Of
trunk straps, slippers, leather whips and
the like on.small boys also prevents the
approach of new spirits Of mischief and
drives of the old Ones It is well for. the
bridegroom to sew garlic, cloves and
rosemary in his waistcoat before the cere-
Inony-no spirit gets depraved enough to
stand that ombination The route at a
wedding.must besarranged so that every
thing Is donesas the sun travels or as the
hands Of a watch go round; anciently
there used to be sacred fire about which
the bride and groom danced in this man
ner.
1t is all right enough to find four
leaved clover, horseshoe, or the like, but
mere picking them up Is not lucky. 1t
must be an assured fact that the finding
Is a thing of pure chance; then, as the
object is taken in hand, you must say:
!" do not pick up this horseshoe Cor as
the case may be- but pick up good
luck. May it never leave mep Horse
shoes are useful for more things than
one; crooked nail from one is a sure
cure for fits, or if placed in the nest of a
setting hen will keep her from being
frightened off by thunder. Made into a
ring and worn on the third finger of the
left hand 1t cures rheumatism. But it
cannot be insisted upon too strongly that
all these things must be found-you can
not buy luck.
they remain whole. 1t is always wise to
have little one set in a ring, brooch
or bracelet. You know evil things are
unabl to Withstand sight of themselves.
If they catch the Highest glance of their
ugly visages they flee for their very exis
tence. This makes barber shop a lucky
place to have your hair cut In, but the
barber must be particular to go to the
top of hill with all his clippings and let
them be blown away, else something I'M
desirable may find the hair and work you
mischief. There are some BARRIERS in
Chicago who are known to be careless
about climbing hills for this purpose
Holding mirror in front of man when
he is sleeping will put stop to any hail
storm If persisted in. And, by the way,
the unluckiest thing in the world Is to
steal from blacksmith. Many man
has been known to be defeated on election
day because in his boyhood he took things
from the smithy without permission.
And it is also unfortunate to make any
disposition of the parings OF your nnger
nails except to bury them.
The evil eye Is an ancient institution
and one, worthy Of regard. The anlmus
behind the owner of the bad eye Is always
envy. He sees something he wants and
thing never has any luck. Then, when
the evil eyed one sees that, she cannot
wish for it and her power Is gone. In
some places tn is is done by putting a lit
tie piece of black court-plaster or some
thing similar on the face. Lampblack on
the eyelids is famous, though pains
should be taken not to make 1t lock like
long eyelashessb i IN n1 lineage the favorite
the British call "blacks.' These are
generally worn; and it has been eruditely
surmised that this is one reason why the
city and its inhabitants have such good
luok-no envious visitor has ever been
able to make the evil eye work through
the smoke nuisance.