Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-01

act of sneezing As sneezers, the Greeks,
Romans, Hebrews, Hindus, and Persians have
had not a little to say about the habit in their
classics, attributing to it variety of causes
and effects. By the Arabs the creation of the
universe is declared to have come about
through a sneeze on the part of Allah. Both
the Africans and North American Indians
have regarded the sneeze as a potential omen.
However, to begin with ourselves whether
or not there may be found some old-fashioned
people in the United States who still sneeze
" full God-bless-you right and left, it is a
TACT that many OF us possess relations near or
distant in Europe who give vent to the pious
exclamation after sneezing. This custom
extends practically all over Europe from
Sweden to Spain, and for its origin one must
go back to early Christian if not pagan times.
1t would seem that in the days of Saint
Gregory Italy was swept by an epidemic,
possibly grip, the crisis of which was reached
by violent fit of sneezing. This was called
the death sneeze," and Saint Gregory en-
joined that If the sufferer survived it he
should express his gratitude in the form of
the benediction God bless you'll"
But long before this period the Romans had
come to regard sneezing during pestilence as
such dire symptom that it was customary TO
offer short prayer to one of the gods. Thus
while the sneezer exclaimed, " Jupiter help mep'
those at hand responded, A6sit onaen!" From
this source, therefore, the custom spread over
Europe; so that we find the Importance of a
X,
mot to be sneezed att meaning something
to be regarded seriously. In Greece, however,
when person sneeZes, those m his company
bow reverentially in recognition of the epidemic
of sneezing which tradition has it once depopu-
lated Athens.
Turning in another direction it would appear
that the Persians and Hindus still regard the
sneeze as the special manifestation of evil
spirit. In the Sadder, one of the sacred books
of the Persians all people are en- joined to offer
prayers when person sneezes, because Satan
in his fight that way is lowering overhead
and has half made up his mind to descend.
In fact, it is supposed to be the draft made
by his sinister wings which causes person to
sneeze.
But with the Hirldus, on the other hand, a
Sneeze is regarded rather as a matter for con-
graduation. With them it is sign that an
evil spirit is trying to escape from your throat.
Hence, when Hindu sneezes, he exclains in
high satisfaction Livei" to which his COM
panions respond, With you. At the same
time the thumb and middle finger are snapped
vigorously, to scare the evil spirit from the
room, so as to prevent his jumping down
some ones else throat
In China, where every act is governed by
a minute and strict code of etiquette rule
for polite sneezing is in force. If by sundry
twitchings of your friends nostrils YOU
observe that he is about to sneeze you clasp
your hands and bow until the fit is over Then
you express the hope that the bones of his
1lluStT1OuS ancestors nave not been ratified
by the demon of the earth.
With the Japanese it is not considered good
form to recognize sneeze, unless the sneezer
should be fox. Then it is advisable to make
propitiatory offerings at the nearest shrine
Of the fox god.
But in this connection the most remarkable
point is the universal evil significance attached
to sneezing fit. In Northern Africa when a
potentate sneezed horns were blown and drums
beaten to apprise those in the vicinity; so that
faithful subjects might make vows and offer
ings for the safety of the chief Again, when
the Spaniards landed in America thew were
surprised to find their own superstitions
reflected by the Indians when anyone sneezed
Thus on one occasion the Chief of Florida
implored those about him to raise their hands
and petition the sun to avert the evil conse-
quences.
But an exception there is at least one
race or tribe of people who regard sneezing
in another light With the Eskimo it would
seem to be their chief expression of hilaritv, and
Have sneeze with me" to be the equivalent
to whatever form of passing hospitality other
people may offer. In order to produce a fine
bone-shaking sneeze, the Eskimo mix powdered
quartz with ground tobacco and the result is
a nasal explosion that would wreck any other
than Eskimo head. 1t is said to be their
one form of dissipation, and they will travel
two years along an ice-girt coast to procure the
tobacco for its indulgence.