The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-19
MARTYRS TO CUSTOM.
Queer Thinga We Do by Inntinct
Rather Than Ncnyon

Queer Thinga We Do by rnatinct
Rather Than Reason.
Why does dog walk round in a lit
tie circle before lying down? Because
his ancestors had to beat out a hole in
the grass or the snow 10 make com
Portable bed Why does he lay his nose
on the paws? Because his ancestors had
to keep their noses clear Of the dust or
snow. says the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Why does cat wash herself so careful
ly7 Because her ancestors had to be
clean, or their prey would smell them
and escape. Instances might Ee cited by
thousands Of ancient habits preserved
by animals long after they have ceased
to be useful. Now, man does exactly
the same thing. without knowing it
preserves innumerable habits for cen
turies after they have ceased to have any
meaning.
Man as street building animal is
guided by instinct far more than by
reason. A builder is accustomed to
houses with windows all over. Suppose
he puts up corner house, where win
dows are needed only on the front. Still
lie makes imitation windows on the
side wall. with Intel, ledge and sills,
and in some cases actually paints sashes
and curtains inside the frame No mat
ter how hideous the result, he is accus-
toned to windows ON every wall. re-
gardless of cost.
Posts are planted at street corners to
Keep vehicles off the pavement. Old
cannon were often used as being both
useful and ornamental--ships' guns
sunk to the trunnions and a round shot
lodged In the muzzle to keep out refuse.
The eupply fell short. bnt as cannon
were popular they were made On pur
poso for ccraec posts
Look at corner post now. and you
will see that it is shaped and banded
like an old gun, with half ball on top
in memory of the round shot in the
muzzle. Look at any iron railing. The
poets are shaped like spears. shaft and
tip, in memory Of some ancient, forgot
ten usage Of weapons. Spears were used
for the fencing Of tiltyards in the tour
naments Of the middle ages.
On gateposts you will frequently find
a stone ball Who would ever suppose
that the balls on the gateposts were the
heads Of the family enemiesP 1t was
once the custom to stick your enemy's
CORY head as trophy on the gatepost.
On the gates Of towns were stuck the
heads OF traitors, criminals and other
offensive persons. In old London. for
instance, the bridge gate and Temple
Bar were always decorated with CHASTITY
relics Of the kind, and the memory of
the custom survives on the gateposts Of
modern suburban villas.
On the back of man 8 coat there are
two buttons because our ancestors
needed them as rests for their sword
belts. Now that women wear an imi-
tation of mems coats. they have the
buttons. too, yet it never enters their
heads that they are only useful for the
sword belt And the modern dress for
sword play has no tail buttons.
When railways first came into use,
wheels and hauled along the track by
the locomotive. Look at any English
railway compartment today, and you
will see that it is nodded and painted
in imitation Of a stagecoach. It's seats.
shape, windows, doors and hatIacks are
imitstio1s cE chs forgotten mail car
riage.
The hairdresser's g shop has painted
pole in front That pole was the sign of
the old barber surgeon and meant
'bloodletting done here" How would
modern surgeon like such a sign in
front of his housef Nearly every carpet
has flower pattern, because in the
days before carpets the floors were usu-
ally strewn with rushes. interspersed on
state occasions with living flowers
At the head or foot Of every business
letter you will see the address of the
person to whom it is written, because
in the days before envelopes came into
use the sheet Of the letter was folded up,
sealed and addressed to Its destination.
On the flap Of the envelope you will
often see stamped mark in imitation
Of seal. because long after envelopes
were invented people distrusted the
gum and still used wax for security.
Animals have innumerable useless
habits, but for every one of these we
men have 100 almest unaccountable
whims