The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
CREDULITY OF GREAT MINDS.


Superstition by No Means Confined to
the Ignorant.
United Service
1t is mistake to imagine that supersti-
ton Is a weakness confined to seamen or
persons of feeble and uncultured minds.
Men possessing the strongest intellects
have been swayed by almost childish Gre
dulity with regard to the supernatural.
The great Napoleon was firm believer in
presentiments. Once. when he was anx-
iously awaiting news from Egypt, he heard
that Nile boat had run ashore and that
the crew had been put to death. This boat
bore the name Of L'Italie. Napoleon was
much concerned when he heard this last
piece OF news. He looked upon 1t as an
omen that his hopes of annexing Italy to
France were to be shattered. Nothing
would induce him to believe the contrary.
MY presentiments never deceive me-" he
said; "all is ruined; am satisfied that my
conquest is lost" The presentiment in this
case certainly became true.
A famous writer has said of Napoleon:
He was all star and destiny" Certain it
is that Napoleon had faith in his star, and
it appeared to be the ruling omen of his
entire career. General Rapp, who for a
long time was Napoleon's aid-de-camp, re-
fers to the subject In his interesting
memoirs. Rapp had just returned from the
siege Of Danzig, and, seeking Napoleon's
presence. found him gazing intently
through the window, his eyes fixed upon
the heavens. 1t was some time before the
Emperor noticed the presence of Rapp.
when, suddenly SeiZing him by the arm, he
exclaimed: Look there; up therev' II
see nothing but the pale twinkling stars, I"
replied the astute aid-de-camp quietly.
What" exclaimed the Emperor excitedly,
rs 1t possible that you do not see my star?
The fiery red one, almost as large as the
moon? 1t is before you now. and, ah! how
brilliant" Then, warming up at the sight.
he fairly shrieked as he cried out: 1T has
never abandoned me for single instant.
see it on all great occasions; 1t commands
me to go forward; 1t is my sign or good
fortune. and where it leads will follow"
The Roman Admiral Appius Claudius. on
being informed by the augurs on the eve
of an engagement that the sacred chickens
would not eat. said: Let them drink.
them" and ordered them thrown overheard,
after which he attacked the Carthaginian
fleet and received a terrible thrashing.
The astute Bismarck was superstitious,
meaning for him. He would never sit down
to table when he made the thirteenth.
Count Bismarck Bohlen states that one
day in 1870 at Rheims, when the chancellor
a
TO be countermanded, because otherwise
there would have been thirteen at table.
General Boyer, Bazaines envoy, arrived at
the German headquarters at Versailles on
Friday, Oct. /, but Bismarck would not
see him till the next day, saying that he
would never DO anything of Importance
on any Friday. much less on a Friday the
date of which conceded with the ami
versary of Herchkirk. Jena and Auerstadt.
He was talking one day of a defeat the
Germans had experienced in the course of
he
serve. gentlemen" he said, that that hap
pened on Friday" Bismarck did not be-
lieve IN a lucky or an unlucky day, but
he believed that his life was seriously in
fuenced by a mystic number.
The prosaic DR.. Johnson always counted
his steps before entering any place, so as
to arrange that his right foot should al
ways precede his left; or, again, touched
every post which he passed along a certain
route, fearing that, If he missed one, some
misfortune would befall him.
Lord Wolseley writes. II not only be-
lieve in many superstitions. but hug them
with the warmest affection. They link me
If not with spiritual world of which
l know nothing. at least with glorious
and artistic and picturesque past of which
history has told me much. l believe In
ghosts and in amulets. / have worn out
the rims of several hats since 1 have been
In Dublin through my salutations of single
magpies. That mystic bird abounds in Ire
land; and would not on any account walk
under ladder, ETC. In fact. 1 am prone
Il
which / find others believe in."
The Shah OF Persia is superstitious He
always carries with him when he travels a
circle of amber, which is said to have fallen
from heaven in Mohammed's time and
which renders the wearer invulnerable; a
casket of gold, which makes him invisible
at will, and jeweled star, which is po-
tent to make conspirators instantly CON
fess their crimes is always worn upon his
person.
Abraham Lincoln. few days before his
death, had vivid dream in which he be-
held his own body lying in state. The
vision made a great impression upon him
| and he was rallied on account of it by his
| wife.
Ulysses s. Grant would not have beep o
military man had it not been that his rival
| for a West Point cadetship had been founG
to have six toes on each foot instead OF
dreams, and 10 dream of crockery was
sure to be followed by good luck. The
night before he received his appointment
as colonel OF the Illinois regiment he
| dreamed OF being in a field filled witt
| beautiful china. He Immediately informed
his wife that prosperity was about to dawr
| upon their fortunes.
Admiral Farragut, when at the masthead
of his flagship praying for divine aid pre-
| vious TO passing the forts at Mobile bay
distinctly heard voice saying: Keep on
nailed 10 the mizzen mast of his flagship
! Victory.
Regarding celebrated statesmen and tbei,
suPersutohs, IL Is SAID tnat secretary Car
| Isle would begin no new thing on Friday
Secretary Blaine would never turn back I,
enter his house after leaving il in cas-,
he had forgotten anything Secretar,
/ Folger all his life believed that there wa.
a charm for him in the number three.
| He laughed at il. but let il dominate him
Such hard-headed old statesman a Thad
| deus Stevens believed that there was lucl
in picking up pins. He never passed one 1
he saw il, without picking ii up, settins
| the point before him. Senator Chandlel
counts white horses for luck He count,
everyone he sees until he reaches thirty,
nine, and then he begins over again. Sen
/ ator Sherman would not extend his lef
/ hand in greeting or receive one extended I,
Il him. Senator Edmunds regarded 1T as I'M
/ lucky If the first person he met on emery
/ ing from his house was a woman an,
would return for fresh start