Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08

Written for The Star.
| What is your pet superstition? Is 1t more
odd, even. than any of those here men,
| toned? If it is 1t must be very odd SUI
perstition. indeed.
Deserving high place among the oldest
personal superstitions which have come 10
light to date is that of certain millionaire
in New York. who implicitly believes that
something dreadful would happen to him
and his fortune if any one except himself
should ever wash his socks.
This superstition caused the man a peck
of trouble in the days that he was a ''regu
lar of the Hotel Windsor, which was
burned some years ago.
One day, after he had been INDUCING his
pet superstition this man of money. happy
in the thought that all would now be right
with his finances until next wash day, went
over to Brooklyn to pay a long -deferred
visit He was absent from the hotel for
some hours. returning just in time for din
ner. after which he went to mis- room and
unlocked the door-to find the room flooded
with water.
A hasty investigation showed that after
washing his socks he had failed to turn off
the basin faucets. and the flow being too
great for the outlet the basin had over
flowed. The damage to carpet. ceiling. ct
settled with the hotel he was asked to look
for accommodations elsewhere But not even
this costly experience caused the man to
lose faith in his superstition. which still
rides him.
Maine Superstitions.
Maine, among other things, is noter for
Its unusual superstitions The next time
you meet a man fresh from the pine tree
state ask him If he ever stuck his jack
N haa6 natI n &c, Ia1
going to sleep al night. and it's dollars to
doughnuts that he will answer in all Sc
robustness:
why. certainly: it's the only way to
keep the cramps from attacking you in the
night.
The story Is told of Portland man
whose wife banished all the wooden beds
from their house one day and substituted
brass ones. The first night the man was
to sleep in brass bed he was In a uuan-
dary-there was no way in which he could
stick the big blade of his knife in the bed
head. In his dilemma he bethought himself
of the practice of New York friend, who
in order to ward off the cramps ALWAYS
made 1t point to arrange his slippers bot
tom up at the foot of the bed The Maine
man had recourse to this charm but along
In the early morning he was awakened by
the first attack of the cramps he had ha d
in years.
The following night there was no shiny
brass bed in his room; the old bed was
back in its accustomed place and in it's
headboard the big blade of tackknife
was thrust good and Deep
Maine among other thrgs. Is noted for
a queer method to make them immune to
pains In the head. A hole is bored into the
trunk OF a thrifty tree: into this hole a
lock OF ones hair and a weeks parines of
hnger and toe nails are placed and the
hole Is carefully plugged up.
Some years ago the Lewiston Journal
Derstition: "
While saving shingles from a tree that
recently stood near the Boston and Maine
station In that town (Weils) William Max
Well came across just such a deposit The
nalis and dark brown hair were firmly i'm
bedded in the solid wood being separa ted
only when the machinery converted the
wood into shingles. The hair and nails
could be traced In four of the shingles cut
from that particular part of the tree 1t is
hoped that the bringing to light of these
nlDlems In so rude manner has not broken
the CHARM
About Aches and Pains.
All sorts of odd superstitions are en-
ployed by even well-read and fairly well
educated people to prevent and overcome
divers aches. pains and diseases.
To possess a three-colored cat is said to
be sure preventive Of malaria Toothache
can be got rid of by eating bread which
mouse has freely nibbled. II govt or
rheumatism troubles you. carry a rattle
snake skin In your pocket and before the
skin has begun to show signs of disintegra-
ton your pains will leave you. Have you
the stomach ache? Kiss a mule and the
ache will vanish while you are showing
your affection for the dumb animal.
Seven drops of blood from cats tai