Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-10-21

A CUSTOM THAT BELONGS TO EVERY
NATION AND CLINE.
There Ar. Many aud varied Answers
60 the Qu-.sios. Why ID" We ID" NV
That Was Asked by Play some
Nineteen Centuries Ago.

Niasteen Centuries Ago.
"why do we Salute the sneezerf' ask
Ell Pllny nineteen centuries ago. we
stlll ask the question, aud one won
ders II Pllny could collect 10 many
ingenious replies as the ana OF the
twentieth century furnish.
In Cations 1883 edition OF The
Golden Legende" Is an account OF
pestllence In Rome In the time OF Greg
ory the Great. from which many died
suddenly. In this manere. sometyme
.uesying they deyed. 30 that when any
persone was herd snesying. hnone they
that were by said to hym. God helpe
YOU. or Cryst helpe. and yet endureth
the custome." As Pope Gregory reign
Ell in the sixth century Pllny's query
far antedates the explanation In THE
Golden Legende."
In the BUDDHIST Scriptures, dating
nj least 80 Il. c.. IL Is related that
Buddha. when preaching one day 10
his disciples. sneezed. wnereupon All
exclaimed: MAY the Blessed LORD
i've! May the welcome one iive! thus
seriously interrupting the discourse.
Buddha said. Tell me. when person
.neezes. II the bystanders say. May
Won live will he live the longer or
die the sooner for itf' Certainly not
lord" So he forbade them 20 say II.
But the people took offense because tne
priess did not thus salute them. and
Buddha revoked his COMMAND.
, The Talmudic tradition Is that the
, custom dates from Jacob. Before his
time man did not die OF disease. but
when his appointed time was come %
sneezed once and WIS dead. Jacob pc
! titioned for exemption from this law
Q and his prayer was granted on condi
ton that among all nations a sneez'
n should be hallowed by the words. Co
4 bless you"
!, The Greeks traced the custom bacl
20 the myth OF Prome,heus. who mad
an image OF clay and wished 10 give
J., life. From the sun he stole reedfu
II OF rays. and. fastening back to Ill
n statue. he placed the reed under II
nostrils. producing sneeze-a PM
pomenon we may at any time produc
,, by standing In the sun. AT this slg
q OF life In his creation Prometheus eja'
81 ulated n blessing and a payer for II
E. preservation. and this response to
sueeze has been landed ao'Sn throue
IN all generations.
Also in the story OF the Shunami
70 child restored TO life by the proph
n Elisha do we Ind the idea that IN
a. conyulslve effort Of nature Is the nr
er sign OF life The child sneezed seV'
times. aud the child opened his eyes
According TO Scottish folklore, ne'
n born child Il under the fairy spells u
M Il sneezcs. Aristotle mentions Z
w practice OF physicians who, when dea
- seems near. give medicines TO indu
20 sneezing. hoping thereby to arouse I
IT, failing faculties Aristotle seems
er. have given much attention TO ONE
OF sneczlng. He says sneeze on I
right hand brings good fortune on
.ts left hand Il betokens III.
:. In the odyssey. when Penelope ca
=" on the absent Ulysses TO punish wror
Teiemachus then sneercd aloud
st Tho smiling queen the happy omen DIE
ed
80 may these impIous fall BY fate
pressed
Ut 81 Augustine records that when
anclents arose in the morning II n
sneezed while putting on their sh,
they Immediately went back 10
'"s again In order TO get up more
'eu plciouSly aud 80 escape mlsfortu
mes likely 10 occur during the day. II
les Hindoo sneezes while performing
cid morning ablutlons In the Ganges
,all touches his forehead, nose. chin
md checks with the tips Of his fingers
-, rerommences his prayers from the
beginning. In illness sneezing is
slder,-i good omen, a sign OF ret'
'he ing health Howell IN 1859 said.
ON that hath sneezed twice. turn him
ICES OF the hospital" Among the ANGLE
to n any one sneeEed directly after
be ner a dish was brought back and Z
cen cd 10 avert misfortune.
lad. The custom Of salutlng belongs
every nation and CLINE. In Ethl'
when the king sueezed those al
!. him saluted so loudly that they
Y n heard and echoed through the W
I'LL city. In 1912 DE Soto had an II
~ view in Florida with cacique
during conversation happened
sneeze. All his attendants bowed
IL heads. opened and closed their
10 and saluted the prince with May
sun guard you. shine ON you' de
you. prosper you" and similar phri
An Italian chIld's primer OF 1893
ngs' Being prompt In salutiug any
hid who may sneeze and returning III
rop. 20 any who ON such an occasion
rms. have wished you WELL
An epigram in the Greek anth'
shows il was customary To say
oNe' bless YOU" The ancient Homans
pol "salve." The modern Roman OF
lower class says, "Figll maschi'
EST Won have male children. The
Germans say. Your good health
Vienna. God be with you In In
ON the peasant says. God bless your
anne or" Long life to your honor.
Irger Russian form Is TO your good he
buys or How do you doH English To-
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