The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-03-24

them long ago, but they have not In
Switzerland if a huntsman going out in the
morning sees a fox across his path or meets
an old woman he turns back home. The
first means no game, the second that he
will shoot man hidden in the leaves or do
some other irreparable mischief In Amer
lea it is the rabbit crossing one path which
brings some sort of bad luck. In Hull,
England, it is unlucky to kill crickets. In
Lancashire it is thought they cut holes in
the stockings of those who kill them. In
portions of England also it is customary to
| announce to the bees death in the fam
lily, especially that of the master, while if
a swarm settle on the dead branch of
tree death will occur in the family within
year. In rural America if one kills the
first snake he sees in the spring it presages
that he will overcome his enemies during
that year. On the other hand, the Afri-
can natives reverence the snake, and once
year kill cobra and hang It's skin to a
tree, tail downward, where all the children
are brought ont aud made to touch it, as
this will put them under the serpent care.
Ii they find dead snake they dress it in
clothes and give it a great funeral. The
American Indians believe every white deer
has a maidstone in its stomach. The cat
and dog, universal pets though they be,
are associated with superstitious belief. In
England it is considered unlucky to sell a
dog If one bowls before the door of
some American household they fear the
brute foretells an early death in the fami-
ly. In Germany it is believed that any
one who during his lifetime may have made
enemies of cats is certain to be accompanied
to the grave amid storm of wind and rain,
and in Poland it is thought that the wear
ing of the skin of a cat on the breast will
cure consumption.
Sailors of all countries have been noted
for their peculiar superstitions froA. the
time Jonah was thrown overheard to the
present. Scotch sailors will not speak of
footed animal while on the ocean. The
Spanish never put the left foot down first
when stepping on board, for to do so, they
believe, will bring disaster. He must be
- Courageous CNSulSh SdlioI, lHuStu, NuO
will mention the name of port for which
he is bound.
The following emotions are as peculiar
as they are popular when they have sway
A Turk who finds piece of bread on the
ground picks it up, kisses it and carries it
until he finds hole in which it can be
inserted. To do otherwise will doom him
to the third hell A sure cure for whoop-
Ing cough in Sweden can be obtained, the
people believe, by asking and following the
advice of man riding a pie-bald horse.
In Scotland young woman who tries on
widows cap is sure to be widow after
marriage A modern Grecian mother,
before putting her child in its cradle, turns
three times around before the fire while
singing her favorite song This is to ward
off evil spirits
When boy friend of mine attempted
to rid my hands of warts by bidding me
| follow these directions: Tie knot in
yarn string for every wart, touching knot
to each one; then bury the string, and when
| it rotted the wart would be gone. Re-
Gently learned that the farof Hindoo,
troubled with a wart, looks at the new
moon, picks up pinch of dust from be-
meath his left foot, rubs the wart with it,
and when the moon goes so does the wart.
In oursory way | have specified some
of the superstitions obtaining in England
and America. shall close this article
with the mere mention of a few others.
The English housewife will not sweep the
dust out of the front door, fearing to sweep
away the fortunes of the house. There
are American housewives, when ready to
move out of their home, who will not sweep
the dirt out the front door, believing it
would bring misfortune to the next tenant.
Neither will they carry eat or broom with
them. In Devonshire it is believed the
person who plants bed of lilies of the val
ley viii die in the next II months; in the
United States there are many people who
think that if weeping willow be set out
in the yard some member of the family will
die before its topmost branch reaches the
| caves of the house