The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-25
5cfr.'tE-- >
TEST OF THE SUPERSTITIOUS
chIcagoans Refuse to Pass Pins Placed
on the Sidewalk and, 50 In ..,e
.2-.,., r woke Bad Luck. $3.50 .,s,
Chicago Record-Hera1d. :.

Vn1caG0 RecOrd-Herald. cH 80
Do you Rf4ieye It Is a: bad omen to step over
you have company -, - row of pins
formed a barrier across crowded sidewalk yes
'terday afternoon, and for half the pedestrians
who saw it 1t was stone wall. -s1si1IfIa->+ -
They refused to risk the threat Of the ancient
couplet: ~. ... >s~ 81 .,ta
"See pin and let it lie, ,. .....,rr,- ~,
Bad luck you'll have before you die '.t+
Visions of bad luck, of epdemics, accidents,
sickness, death and loss Of money, of convul-
sions Of nature and fresh outbreaks on the part
of Captain Streeter were called up by the
thought of stepping over the pins. and more
than one pedestrian: gathered them up and went
on his way looking like human pin cushion.
To make this test of the superstitious
Der of large, glistening pins were selected, but
at the best row OF pins on the sidewalk can
not be made conspicuous. Many of the people
who passed did not them. but at least half
of those who did stopped to pick them up.
Nearly every time superstitous pedestrian
hit the row he demolished it, and it had to be
prepared. One test made in North Clark
city hall.
The barrier of pins had just been laid when a
prosperous looking business nlan-not man who
seemed to need the pins in his of6ce-came along
He saw the row. 1t was something of an eff
fort, as he was more than middle-aged, but he
every pin on the sidewalk. He glanced about, as
it wondering if he was observed, and when he
had the pins all carefully gathered he passed on,
looking sheepish, hut reassured. s. H.
The row was laid again. Two men approached
and saw the pins and stopped. >. .......
| do you believe it Is bad luck?'' asked one,
laughing
''weil. said the other. hesitating AZ don't
| know, but guess we can risk It, But there
! is one thing, though, I1never do. never step
over hairpin .--~:... st- " ~. ...-,-
s'But what does Mrs say when she finds your
| pockets full Of hairpins:" asked the first. The
! reply was inaudible.
| Then came several men and women who did not
! sec the pins at all, then several who saw them
md n them others
| saw and stopped to pick up one or two. -
i messenger boy saw them and picked up
| several. The row was gone and had to be re-
newed again., Children who passed invariably
picked up one or more pins if they happened
| to see the row. Some of the superstitious ones
had their arms full of bundles but that did not
| interfere with the picking UP of the pins One
| or two got down on their knees and gathered up
all of the pins. while some contented themselves
with picking up just one, STOPPING for it as they
passed. ."-
Just to see what luck followed one Of the SUI
| perstitious who paid heed to the warning of the
| couplet, man who picked up handful Of pins
! was followed. He7deInolished the row which was
| laid by the city hall in La Sale street. Wha,
| follows may have been mere coincidence, but il
| Is fact. According to tradition, some one
should have met him at the next corner and tolt
| min that a far-away relative had died and left
him fortune. but this Is what really did oc
| cur:
He had put the pins in his overcoat. pocket
He boarded North Clark street car at La Sallt
| and Randolph streets. Getting he found
seat Perhaps that is all the good luck t.
| which one individual is entitled. He sat dow
but arose suddenly with yell that STARTLED thu
passengers. ~
| OF course it was the pins, and therein lie
the reason why the superstitious one stood III
till he reached Goethe street. There he lef
the car, and the cedar block pavement, whicl
had just been torn up. did the rest He STUN
bled over one OF the blocks aligbting full
length
i It was not considered fair to conduct the in
i vestigation further. Enough evidence had bee
& secured.