The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-03-24
Some Queer Superstitions.
rrnn N..hrfle A merican


Though many of the old omens and
superstitions have passed, there still re-
main among every race hundreds and
thousands of popular beliefs Early re
Gsious teachings, fanatieal beliefs, worship
of idols, soreery, necromaney and the like
perhaps laid the foundation for the super
stitions found among the peoples Of the
globe. Ii may be interesting to specify a
few particularly. BY comparing them
with those which have come under his own
observation in the United States the reader
/ will be asionished at the similarity of a
number and set to wondering how they be-
came so widespread Did they in some
/ form exist before the confusion of lang
uages. or were they carried from country
TO country by restless individuals in their
travels and explorations during the centur-
| ies2 How Is il that the most important
and degraded tribes on the other side of
/ the world have some superstitions in com
mon with the most civilized and progress
siye countries on this side?
| The Eskimos believe in ghosts. To
change the wind they drum, chant and
howl. shoot against it, build fires and as
last resort fire the graves of the dead.
| When a child dies in Greenland the natives
bury live dog with it to be used by the
child as a guide to the other world When
asked about this superstition they answer
/ that "a dog can find his way anywhere. y
| Similar to this custom is the pathetic one
prevailing in some parts of France, where
a mother buries her dead child with its
fayorite toy or her own hair, THAT it may
not feel quite alone.
| Speaking of France, the belief is popu
| lar that the position of drowned body
may be discovered by floating loaf of
bread-possibly the only scientific basis
being that the loaf is apt to be carried by
a current Just as body is. In Java live
sheep Is thrown into the water to locate a
drowned body by sinking near in. In GER
! tain sections Of the United States shirt
belonging to the deceased or some near
/ relative is thrown in to float on its grew
some mission, but 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 reaches
the spot where the corpse lies.
The cock and certain omens have long
been connected in various countries. If it
crows at a particular time in Persia 1T Is
the sign of some event affecting the fami-
IL. and the master of the house rushes out
to feel the bird feet; if they are cold, it
is forerunner of death, but if warm, the
SIGN is propitious In West Virginia the
Growing of a cock before the door tells of
a coming company, while it is believed
in other portions of the south-if not by
the rural populations of other sections Of
the Union-that the shrill clarion after
sunset indicates early weather changes or
the announcement of unweleome news.
The natives of Cuba have one belief at
least in common with Americans-they
regard the hooting of an owl as very bad
sign. If 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
out of bed at midnight to drive it from the
tree or a corner of the dwelling, believing
it harbinger of ills. Perhaps the bird is
held in awe in other countries. Others Of
the feathered tribe are so held or regarded
with reverence. The people in the south
of Ireland are particularly fearful of the
robin entering their houses; it is prognostic
of severe SHOWS and frosts. The crow and
pigeon are looked upon as unlucky in Pc
land, where the goat is harbinser of good
luck! In Sweden if one kill a wren he
will break bone before the year is out
The animals and insects that in friend
illness live near the abodes of man ought tc
have outlived the superstitions surrounding