The broad ax., 1898-08-27
War AmaI.t. ma charma

UAr Amuhete ana Cnnrma
There Is not mothers son marching
away to the southern states and prob
ably TO Cuba who does not wear around
his neck. or arm, or In his pocket
come one or two old-time safeguards
against battle, disease and sudden
death. not to speak Of such common
place illnesses as toothache, earacha
bonefeIons and what not, says the Chi
cago Record. Some Of the queer and
more or less eficacious talismen the
men have chosen for themselves, and
every good Catholic wears a comfort
ing scapula about his neck, but In the
majority Of cases the women have beeh
responsible for this outburst of super
stitious belief In the powers Of the va
rious amulets.
"Of course there may be nothing s.
all In wearing potato in your pocket,
but II you would Just do it for my
sake" Is what an anxious wife says to
q rheumatic or neuralgia husband, who
she knows viii have to sleep In damp
places and run all manner Of risks.
Well, he usually pockets the potato,
with a shaking sort OF confidence In
the humble tuber himself, while anoth-
er man submits to the wearing of Q
tiny white silk packet hung by q rib
bon around his throat The packet
holds finely ground charcoal and as
wsrder-off Of typhoid fever and all
other ills that arise from drinking
impure water, is said to possess an
honorable record.
Stronger than fear Of Spanish bull
lets and torpedoes is the American wo-
mans dread Of fever, and every wife
or mother has her own opinion Of
special preventive Of the dangerous
yellow jack. A turquoise Is supposed
to render its wearer impregnable to
what the ancient believers In amulets
called IRE In the blood. A gold or sill
yer band. on the fourth finger, set with
blue jewel. is a popular military dec
Grafton Just now and apprehensive wo-
men beg that their soldier boys will
keep their hair as closely clipped as
possible. or wear sulphur boots, else
q square Of raw white silk seved into
their coats over the region Of their
heart. Lambs wool bracelets over the
ankles and wrists are also considered
effective for preserving the blood at Q
normal temperature, and women In
louisiana gather wild olive flowers and
sew them into little bags for wear about
the neck in fever-ridden districts.
IF wife breaks her betrothal ring
with the husband who goes on to the
wars he will be sure to come back to
give her the half she gave him." There
Is rather grewsome tailpiece to this
saying, which assures the doubling
ones that IL the husband does not come
back alive his wife viii always be able
to meet him In her dreams, and thus
learn the fate Of the lost half Of the
ring.
The soldier who wears jewelry these
days Is wearing 1t to some purpose, for
one way to escape gunshot wounds Is
supposed to be found in the wearing of
a ruby. The red stone does look omi-
nously like blood, but no matter. ira
dition speaks to the contrary, and ruby
rings, or rubies set In cuff buttons O
the backs Of watches, are very much
the mode just now.
1t is not to be supposed that the un-
worthy Spaniard will ever get near
enough to our soldiers to offer them any
injury with sword thrusts or the bayo-
nets point. However, It Is as wen,
think the superstitious, to be on the
safe side, and wear bit Of dried Span-
ish moss in ones pocket. Almost any
where south of Tennessee the moss win
be found in abundance. A wisp of !,
must be set to soak In water, then dried
in the sun. After this its mere pres
ence. when It is mixed with a little
green grass. will stanch the severest
wound.