The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-01
MANS cREDULITY.
superstitions Not Confined to Uncul-
tivated Minds.
OUnited Servicel


tivated Minds.
United Service)
II is a mistake to imagine that super-
49, n.e,,o N Is a weakness confined to sea
men or persons of feeble and lIncuItured
ihlhos Men possessing the strongest
inteIlects have been swayed by almost
| childish credulity with regard to the
/ supernatural The great Napoleon was
IirIn believer in presentiments. Once
e ne was anxiously awaiting news
from Egypt, he heard that a Nile boat
mad run ashore and that the crew had
Oeen put to death This boat bore the
name OF L'Italie. Napoleon was much
concerned when he heard this last
piece or news He looked upon il as an
omen tnat his hopes of annexing Italy
10 france were to be shattered Moth
ing would induce him to believe The
contrary. My presentiments never de-
celVe me-" he said, ''alI is ruined.
am satisfied that my conquest is lost.
Inc presentiment in this case Certainly
became true. famous writer has said
or Napoleon: He was all star and
destiny" Certain it is that Napoleon
had faith in his star, and it appeared
10 De the ruling omen of his entire
career General Rapp, who for a long
period was Napoleon's aide-de-camp.
refers to the subject an his interesting
memoirs. Rapp had just returned from
a.
poleOn'S presence, found him gazing in
tently through the window, his eyes
fixed upon the heavens. 1t was some
time before the emperor noticed the
presence of Rapp, when. suddenly seiz-
ing him by the arm, he exclaimed:
LOOK there; up there!" Il see nothing
out the pale twinkling stars" replied
the astute aide-de-camp quietly.
WHAT" exclaimed the emperor ex-
cltedly, lis ii possible that you do not
see my star? The fiery red one, almost
as large as the moon2 < 1t is before Won
now, and, an how brilliant" Then
warming up at the sight, he fairly
shrleked as he cried out: 1T has never
abandoned me for a single instant. I
see it on all great occasions; it COM
mands me to go forward: it is my sign
of good fortune, and where it leads 1
will follow
The Roman admiral Appius CIaudius.
on being informed by the augurs on the
eve of an engagement that the sacred
chickens would not eat, said: Let
them drink, then" and ordered Them
thrown overheard. after which he at
tackled the Carthaginian fleet and re-
celved q terrible thrashing
The astute Bismarck was supersti-
tfous, the number thirteen having a
very deep meaning for him. He would
never sit down to table when he made
the thirteenth. Count Bismarck Bob
len states that one day in 1870 at
Rheims, when the chaneellor. gave a
dinner. one of the invitations had to be
cOuntermanded, because otherwise
there would have been thirteen at table
General Boyer. Bazaine's envoy. ar
rived at the German Headquarters at
versailles on Friday, Oct. l. but Bis
marck would not see him till the next
day. saying that he would never 60
.f
much less on a Friday the date of
which conceded with the anniversary
of Horchkirk, Jena and Auerstadt He
was talking one day of a defeat the
Germans had experienced in the course
of the campaign Of 1870. Il beg YOU to
observe. gentlemen" he said, that that
happened on Friday" Bismarck did
not believe in a lucky or an unlucky
day, but believed that his life was seri-
ously influenced by a mystic number.
The prcsaic DIR. johnson always
counted his steps before entering any
place, so as to arrange that his right
loot should always precede his left; or,
again. touched every post which he
passed along a certain route, fearine
mat. If he missed one, some misfor-
tune would befall him.
Lord Wolseley writes: II not only
believe in many superstitions, but lug
them with the warmest affection They
INK me, if not with a spiritual world
of which l know nothing, at least with
a glorious and artistic and picturesque
past of which history has told me
much believe in ghosts and in ANU
let's. I have worn cut the rims of
several hats since L have been in Dub
lin through my salutations of single
magpies. That mystic bird abounds in
ireland and | would not on any account
walk under a ladder. etc In fact /
am prone to adopt any superstition 1
am told of which 1 find others believe
in
The shah of Persia is superstitious.
He always carries with him when he
travels circle of amber which is said
to have fallen from heaven in Moham-
meds time and which renders the
wearer invulnerable; a casket of gold
which makes him invisible at will. and
jeweled star which is potent to make
conspirators instantly confess their
crimes. is always worn upon his person.
Abraham Lincoln, few days before
MS death had vivid dream in which
he beheld 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 been
military man had it not been that
had been found to have six toes on each
foot instead of FIVE. General Grant was
firm believer in dreams. and to dream
Of crockeTy was sure TO be followed by
good luck. The night before ne re.-