Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-02-18
SOME QUEER BELIEFS u Il.
suPE6STITloNS THAT llNeER IN
THIS MOVING WORLD.
fhere IL Not Country on the Face
or the Globe That II without Its
Peculiar Notions or Quaint Ideas
Regarding SignH and Omeus.

superstiti0ns have passed. there still
remain among every race hundreds
pnu thousands of popular beliefs.
Early religious teachings. fauatical be-
liefs, worship OF idols, sorcery, NEGRO
NANCY and the like perhaps laid the
foundation for the superstitions found
among the peoples of the globe. 1t
may be interesting 10 specify a few
particularly. BY comparing them with
those which have come under his own
observation in the United States The
reader will he astonishcd at the siml-
larlty Of n number and SO, to wonder
ing how they became so widespread.
Did they in some form exist before
the confusion Of languages. or wore
they carried from country to country
by restless individuals in their travels
and explorations during The centuries?
How is il that tue most important and
degraded tribes on The other side Of the
world have some supersttions in com-
mon with the most civilized and pro-
gressive countries on this side?
The Eskimos believe in ghosts. To
change the wind they drum. chant aud
howl shoot against IT, build fires and
ms n last resort fire the graves Of The
dead. When n child dies in Greenland
the natives bury 1.-Two dog with II 20
he used by the child ms guide to the
other world. When asked about this
superstition they answer that "A dog
ran find his way anywhere Similar
IL this custom Is tho pathetic one pre-.
vailing in some parts Of France, where
y mother hurics her dead child with its
favorite toy or her own hair. that it
may not feel quite alone"
Sperking Of France. tho belief Ia
popular that The position of n drowned
body may bo discovered NY II floating
lonf Of bread possibly the only scicn-
tifc basis being that tho loaf is apt to
hc carried hy n current Just M n body
is. IN Java - live sheep is thrown into
the water In locate n drowned body by
the United States n shirt belonging 10
thu deceased or some near relative is
thrown in 10 float on its grewsome mis-
sion. hui in Norway those in search Of
drowned body row TO and fro with
cock in The boat. fully believing that
the bird will crow when the boat reach
es the spot where the corpse lies
r The cock and certain omens have
long been connected in various coun-
.trIes. IF il crows at particular time
in Persia il is the sign Of some event
affecting the family. and the master of
the house rusllcs OUT Ia feel the birds
feet: II they ore cold. it ia forcrunner
OF death. but il warm. the sign Is propi-
tious. In West Virginia the Growing OF
cock before the door tells Of com
ing COMPANY" while II Is believed
In other portions of the south-if not by
the rural populations Of other sections
of the Union-th The shrill clarion aft
CT sunset Indicates early weather
changes or the announcement or IN
welcome news.
The natives Of Cuba have one belief
at least in common with Americans
they regard the hootng Of an owl as a
very bal sign. II they can succeed in
killing the owl they believe this will
break the spell involving the life of
some member Of the family There is
something weird in its hooting. and |
have known persons TO get ont of bed
nj midnight 10 drive II from the tree
or corner of The dwelling. believing
il a harbipger of ills. Perhaps the bird
Is held in awe in other countries. 9th
crs OF the feathcred tribe are so held
or regarded with reverence The poo
pie in tho south of Ireland are particu.
Iarly fearful of the robin entering their
houses: ii Is prOgnostic OF severe SHOWS
ana frostS. The crow and pigeon are
looked upon ms unlucky in Poland.
where the goat is harbinger Of good
luck! In Sweden If one kill n wren he
will break bone before the year Is
out.
The animals and insects that In
frendliness live near the abodes OF
imam ought 10 have outlived the super
stitions surrounding them long ago but
they have not. In Switzerland If n
huntsman going ont In the morning
secs fox cross his path or meets AN
old woman he turns back home. The
nrst means no game. the second that
he will shoot II man hidden in the
leaves or do some other irrcpara bile
mischief. in America ii is thr rabbit
crossing ones path which brings some
sort of bad luck. In Hull. England. il
is unlucky to kill crickets. In Lanca-
shire 1t is thought they cut holes I'm the
stockings OF those who kill them. In
portions of England also 1t is Gus.
tomary 10 announce 10 the bees n dea tn
III the family. especially that of the
master. while If a swarm settle on the
dead branch Of tree death will oc-
cur In the family within a year. In
rural America IL one kills the first
snake he sees In the spring 1t prcsages
that he will overcome his enemies dur.
In -. -