Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-06-02
sNEEzING AND ONIENs
sUPERsTiTlons THAT ARE AS OLD AS
THE HILLS.

Sign to SnccIc Before Noon-A
snecHc That Moved an Army.
Such common everyday thing rs
rneczing Is not supposed to be rlfo
with any special Importance or mys-
terry. yet It Is interesting to discover
how many omcns and superstltions of
oldcn times were connected with It,
Superstition, that unknown, mysterI-
GUS fcnr which controls us In spite of
our reason, clings TO and directs us In
even the most common acts of life.
How inny there arc of us, clear head
cd and practical though We may con-
slider ourselves, who do not connect
some pet superstition with simple
events. as the breaking OF mirror, the
burning of IN ear. the finding of q
horseshoe or four leaf clover or the
splitting of salt. And many mother
would rather her baby had the Group
than have him look in the glass before
he Is year old or snccZe at an un-
lucky season. Aud In connection with
snccZinS alone there are more super
stitiOns Than are generally realized
This Is n simple act In itself and
seemingly would give very little cause
for superstition. According TO popu-
lar definition. "sncczing Is natural
respiratory movement, Interrupted by
a strong exploratory effort. cXpcliin.
the ulr through the nose with more or
less noise" This action may DO brought
on by the Inhalation OF dust. ,,un;rnt
vapors or by tile simple inspiration or
mir when tho membrane is diseased or
In an irritable condition. as in the case
of cold. There is also Il spot in the
head the touching Of which will cause
sncezing In many people. BARRIERS are
aware of this fact. as their gentle ina
nipulatiOns are often greeted with Il
round Of snrrzes. This is supposed to
be caused by the touching of small
and extremely sensitive nerve which
runs from the top of the head TO the
nostril and Is much more sensitive
with some than with others.
SneczlnE is now considered favor
able and hrnlthful action and is court
cd by people who believe In Its efficacy
by looking intcntly nj the sun until tile
desired action occurs. Consumptivcs
ti' "''It IitNfl W EsllttIt. anu IIlUIlS I'LL
unfortunate victim of this disease
gnugcs the probability of his recovery
by this standard.
The old custom Of saying God bless
yOn!' when II Snce2r Is heard Is of an.
cicnt origin and still prevails In oricn-
tai countries. In the time OF st. Greg
DRY the Grcnt ut II certain So; On the
air was filled with nh unwlI~ rsunc
vapor or malaria. which so affected
the people that those who sncczrd
were at once stricken with death
agonics. III this strait the pontif Is
said To have devised n form of prayer
to he uttered when the paroxysm was
seen to he coming on and which, II
WAS hoped. would avert the stroke OF
the death angel
SnccHing Is mentioned In works of
mythology. and it Is said that tile first
sign Of life given by the cunningly
wrought image of prometheus was Il
lusty snrcze. Aristotle. in writing of
this subject. says that those who
thought the seat OF the soul to lie in
the brain looked upon sncczing ms
"onc of the most sensible and manifest
operations OF inc Dfain.
In ancient hooks we find many refer
cnccS to this act. MS In the "Odyssey,"
where the sneczing OF Telemachus Is
accepted rs pleasing confirmation Of
the words of his mother Just Mt n
time when she Is denouncing the riot
Gus gormandizlng suitors and praising
the vnlor Of Ulysses:
aloud
Constrained his nostril echoed through
the crowd.
The smiling queen the happy omen bless
ed.
so may these impous fall. BY fate OPP
prcssed!''
Great results often grow from small
acts. mn example OF which is seen In
the time when the fate Of the whole
Greek army was decided by so com
mon and natural an occurrence as the
snccze of Il soldier. While Xenophon
was delivering his famous address to
the army. urging his companions to be
firm and bold. and while they were I'M
decided ms to whether resistance or re-
treat were the better part sounding
sneeze was heard down the ranks.
This omen was ut once accepted, tents
and all superfluous accouterments
burned. and that retreat, since SO IA
nous. with all its hardships and dan
gers. was begun.
An old proverb says, 1.-TWO or three
sneezes be wholesome and there Is
Il prOvcrb to the effect that when a
patient has sneezed three times he may
be discharged from the hospital.
Even where sncezlng is considered n
favorable omen the time of day is
sometimes thought to determine its
good or III effect. as sneeze which
takes place from noon to midnight ia
thought to be suspicious. while one oc-
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