Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-10-14
HORSESHOE sUPERsTITIoNs.
Crescents of Iron Have Always Been
Accounted Lucky.

Accounted Lucky.
The origin Of belief in horseshoe
luck" Is so ancient that it never has
been determined with certainty and no
superstition is more universal. Ever
since horses began to wear shoes those
crescents OF iron have been accounted
lucky emblems Of all peoples, races and
nations that have been acquainted with
their use.
The Chinese, for instance, say they
nail them up over their doors as a
charm against evil spirits because Of
the close resemblance in shape be-
tween them and the arched body Of
the sacred snake, Nagandra, one OF
their principal deities.
Ask a Turkish Mohammedan for in
formation on the subject and he will
tell you that it is because they are in
form like a crescent, the sacred en-
blem Of Islam.
Polish Jew will explain that at
the passover the blood sprinkled upon
the Intel and doorposts, in the manner
directed by their ritual, forms the
chief points of an arch; hence obvious
ly, the value Of arch-shaped talismans
such as horseshoes are.
The solid and unimaginative Rus
sian peasant, on the other hand, main
tains that the luck associated with the
horseshoe is due chiefly to the metal,
irrespective Of its shape, iron being
traditionally a charm wherewith to
nullify the malevolent designs Of evil
spirits and goblins.
Very different is the story by which
the Irishman seeks to account for his
liking for the same talismanic symbol.
The name "Ironclad" or ireland" he
will tell you originated as follows:
The whole island was once sub
merged in the sea, out Of which 1t
only rose once in seven years, and then
only for a short time. Many attempts
had been made to break the spell and
induce the country to remain perma-
nently above the water, but all were
vain until one day daring adventurer
threw a horseshoe from a boat on the
topmost peak Of Wicklow Mountains
just as they were disappearing beneath
the waves. Then, at last, was the
ban removed. The emerald Isle be-
gan forthwith to rise again from the
ocean depths into which it had sunk.
And it has been dry land-more or less
ever since.
In England, up to comparatively re-
cent times, horseshoes were extensive
ly used almost everywhere as anti
witch charms and the custom is not
even yet an extinct one. No witch, it
used to be said, could enter building
over the door Of which a horseshoe
or, better still, three horseshoes-had
been affixed, prongs downward.
The origin of this particular belief Is
referable to the old legend Of st. Dun
stan. This versatile English ecclesi-
astic was a skilled farrier and one day
while at work in his forge the evil one
entered in disguise and requested Dun
stan to shoe his Single hoof." The
saint, although he at once recognized his
malign customer, acceded, but caused
him so much pain during the operation
that Satan begged him to desist. This
Dunstan did, but only after he had
made the evil one promise that neith-
er he nor any Of the lesser spirits. his
servants, would ever molest the in
mates Of a house where a horseshoe
was isplayed.-Chicago Chronicle.
RACES AND ODoRs.-Abbe Hue tells in
his account of his ira uels In China that