New-York tribune., 1906-04-01

and effects BY the Arabs the creation OF the
universe Is declared 10 have come about
through a sneeZe on the part OF Allah. BOtn
the Africans and North American Indians
have regarded the sneeze as a potential omen.
However to begin with ourselves, whether
or not there NAV be found some Old-fashloned
people in the United States who still sneeZe
y full God-bless-yOu right and lett, 1T IS a
fact that many OF us possess relations near or
distant in Europe who give vent TO the p1ouS
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!'
But long before this period the Romans had
come to regard sneezing during a pestilence as
such dire symptom that it was customary to
offer a short prayer to one OF the gods. IhuS
while the SneeZer exclaimed" 4" Jupiter help me!
those at hand responded. A bSft ODreH! From
this source therefore, the custom spread over
Europe; so that we find the Importance of a
sneeze further illustrated by the saying,
Not to be sneezed at" meaning something
to be regarded seriously. In Greece, however,
when a person SneezeS, those in his company
bow reverentiallv in recognition of the epidemic
of Sneezing which tradition has 1t 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 an evil
spirit In the Sadder one of the sacred books
of the PerSianS, all people are enJOined to offer
PRAYERS when a person SneezeS, because Satan
in his flight that way Is lowering overhead
and has half made up his mind TO descend.
In fact it is supposed to be the draft made
i,I-b VrI a Dpr a.
Sneeze.
But with the Hindus, on the other hand, a
sneeze is regarded rather as matter for con-
graduation. With them 1t is a sign that an
evil spirit is irving to escape from Your throat
Hence. when Hindu sneezes. he exclairns in
high satisfaction "Live'' 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. II 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
ustrious ancestors have not been ratified
by the demon of the earth.
With the Japanese it is not considered good
form to recognize SneeZe, unless the sncezer
should be a 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 a 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 they were
surprised to find their own SuperStitions
reflected by the Indians when anvone sneezed
Thus on one occasion the Chief of Florida
implored those about him to raise their hands
and petition the sun 10 avert the evil conse-
quenCeS.
But as an exception there is at least one
race or tribe of people who regard sneezinq
in another light With the Eskimo ii would
seem to be their chief expression of hilaritv and
Have a sneeze with me- to be the equivaIent
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 anv other
than an Eskimo head. 1t Is said 10 be their
one form of dissipation and they will travel
two years along an ice-girt coast to procure the
tobacco for its indulgence.
To the majority of us. however. who are
unlike the Eskimo in this respect. it NAV be