Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-09-20
ERRONEOUS BELIEFS.
SOME ODD NOTIONS THAT ARE
FIXED IN MANY MINDS.

Foputsr Ignorance as to Law In
Everyday Occurrences - Cashiers
Mistakes I'm Banks-The Finding az
Dead Bodies-sundsy Contracts.
1t lis an American prediction TO be-
heye the outre and freakish stories that
are based solely on hearsay testimony
and to reject often the commonplace
matter OF fact. A list OF the cheerful
lies that are commonly believed would
I'LL volume. Only few OF them are
given below.
How often have you been inflicted
with the story OF the man who was
overpaid when cashing a check AT the
bank and the cashier telling him that
no mistakes would be corrected. after
the customer left the window Ac-
cording to the story, the cashier laid
down the mandate before the cashier
knew the mistake was In his favor. II
makes an excellent yarn. but diligent
search discloses that II never had any
foundation I'm fact. Banks have no
such rule. III customer Is underpaId
or oVerpaid the mistake Will appear
when the balance is struck at the end
-of the days business. and the error
VIII be cheerfuhy rectifed. But the
majority OF the public believe the fictl-
tious story OF ''how the fellow got the
best OF the bank" simply because Il is
a good story and they ike TO believe Il.
Probably the most common error on
the part OF the public is the belief that
when dead body Is found no one has
a right 10 touch or move the remains
until the coroner comes" There never
was any such law. Is not now and
probably never viii be The citizen
who Is OF an inquiring turn OF mind
has perfect right TO examine the dead
bodies he runs across I'm the course OF
his travels. TO move the remains and
even search the pockets OF the de-
ceased. provided. OF course. that his
motives are honest. That is all that Is
necessary.
There IS also prevalent belief that
a note signed or contract entered into
on Sunday is void and that either party
can plead the fact OF the sacred day 10
get out OF bad bargain This Is not
true. II a man enters into n contract
or signs note on Sunday he Is legally
bound and can have no defense that he
would not have If the transaction had
occurred In the middle OF the week.
Il had my back against my own
house when I struck this man." saws
the defendant In police court. He be
lieves that his proximity 20 his castle
gives him more rights than he would
have III DC were IN the street. This be
lief has been the cause Of much can
tankcrous litigation. and II has ever
resulted i'm the ruling that man has
a right 20 defend himself I'm n reason
able manner II ne Is attacked. what
ever may he his geographical position.
and the incidental contigulty OF his
home cuts no ice" in the case.
The public has great confidence in
the magic number three. and without
any reasonable basis for the belief. IL
IS commonly believed that II a drown
ing person sinks for the third time he
is gone Tor good and all The facts
contradict this. Many persons die IN
the first sinking. and II one has the
strength and vitality 10 rise 10 the sur
face OF the water twice it furnishes an
excellent presumption that he VIII he
able - DO SO again. In an eddy or
rapidly moving waters people have
sunk from sight a half dozen times
and lived 10 tell the experience 10 their
grandchildren.
Then there is the third congestive
chill. commonly believed 10 be fatal.
Most people who die from this cause
succumb 10 the first or second attack.
II man succeeds In weathering two
OF them the odds are in favor OF his
coming ont victor I'm the third. Almost
every community possesses a citizen
who boasts the fact that lie has a sill
Yer plate In his skull Surgeons say that
very few attempts were ever made at
such an operation, and all OF them
were failures. There does not exist Il
man who has a silver plate in his
skull. although many men honestly he
lieve thar they are carrying this species
OF paraphern0lia In their cranlumS.
The bone of the skull cannot live and
be healthy in the presence Of foreign
body IL is said by surgeons 10 be 4
physical imposSibility. but this serves
in no way 10 overcome the common
and erroneous belief.
The medical fraternity has another
false belief % combat I'm cases OF "shin-
giles" This disease consists of a skin
eruption. always following affected
nerves and commonly appearing on
the body II is Il very common belief
that If the shingles" completely sur
round the body and strike a meeting
point the patient will die Instantly.
The belief is untrue.-Kansas City
Journal.
EnusFaNrafe