The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-26
SEVENTH SON OF
 A SEVENTH SON Hartford Confronted With An Heir to Good
 Fortune. SIGNIFICANT EVENT s'Born With a Cau1 and Who Shall Stand Before
 Him."
(Hartford Times.)


 Fien of No. 165 Front street, himself seventh son; and certain it is that no more interesting record was ever spread upon the pages of the vital sta tistics of the city of Hartford than the record of this invincible infant, who was ushered into the world under com biration Of circumstances so favorable as to insure him a life seven times charmed Here is his record, let the soothsayers and astrologers read and marvel:
 Seventh son of a seventh son, born at o'clock in the morning of August 16, when the moon then in its first quar- ter was just seven days old, weighed IA pounds, was tho 14th child of a mother fl GA reversed) years of age; born under the planets Mars and Jupi- ter, and, wonder of wonders, was pro- tected by the mystic veil, or caul.
 The Sacred Seven.
 The number seven has always been considered the most lucky of numer- als, and it's symbolism and mysticism is found in the mythology and super stitions of almost every people, ancient as well as modern. The International encyclopaedia says:
 "The reason for the preference of this number for sacred use has been found in it's consisting of three-the number of the sides of a triangle-and four-the sides of a square, these be- ine the simplest rectilineal f1gures-or ,tV .to Tn numerical symbolism also, three stands for the spiritual (e. g. the Trim ity) and four for the material -four el- ements) and the combination repre- scnts the medial or supernatural sphere. The original reason, however, seems to be astronomical, or rather as- trological, viz. the observation of the planets and the phases of the moen- changing every seventh day. As in- stances of the use of this number in the Old Testament we find the creation completed on seven days, wherefore the seventh day was kept sacred ev- ry seventh year was sabbatcal and the seven times seventh year ushered in the jobel-year 2. In the New Testament we have the churches, candlesticks, stars, trumpets, spirits all to the num- Der of seven; and the seven horns, and seven eyes of the lamb. The same num- Der appears either divided into half or multiplied by 10-70 Israelites go to Egypt, the exile lasts 70 years, there are 70 elders and at a later period ther9 are supposed to be 70 languages and 70 nations upon the earth"
 rp. L. of the moon has always been symbolic of good fortune, but to be born when the moon is just seven days old is par ticularly symbollcal. The aggressive ness of Mars and the strength of Jupi- ter, shall be his, and the caul shall ward off dangers that might beset him. The CauI, Symbol of Good Fortune.
 The last piece of good fortune which makes the record of symbolism com- plete in the birth of the mighty Julius, should be given the foremost place in casting his horoscope. The caul or veil is a membrane, one of three which cover the unborn child. In very rare instances this caul remains unbroken and the child is born with it. Brands g Popular Antiquities" deals at length and very interestingly with this super stition and says it is thought a good omen to the child itself and vulgar opinion is that whoever obtains it by purchase will be fortunate and escape dangers. This superstition was very prevalent in the primitive ages of the church. St. Chrysostom inveighs against it in several of his homiies He is particularly severe against one Praetus, clergyman, who, being desir. ous of being fortunate, bought such a coif of a midwife. This caul though medical in diseases, is also es- teemed an lnfallibe preservative against drowning; and under that idea is frequently advertised for sale in our public papers and purchased by sea- men. Midwives used to sell this mem brane to advocates as an especia means of making them eloquent They also sold it for magical uses. Grose says that person with a caul may know the state of health of the person born with it; if alive and well, it is firm and crisp; if dead or sick, it is relaxed and haccid."
 Brand gives us a number of these interesting advertisements, among which are the following:
 London Morning Post, No. 2,18S, Sat urday August Fist, 1779: "To gentle men of the navy and others going long voyages to sea. To be disposed of, 8 childs caul. Inquire at the Bartlett Buildings Coffee House in Holborn, N B. The avoid unnecessary trouble the price is twenty guineas.'
 The London Times, May Sth, 1S4S: "A Childs Caul. Price six guineas Apply at the bar of the Tower Shades, cor ner of Tower street The above article for which fifteen pounds was originally paid, was afoat with it's late owner thirty years in all the perils of sea. mans life and the owner died at las at the place of his birth"
 Symbol of Success.
 It is a common belief, too, tha, tn, child born with a caul, and the sev enth son of a seventh son, will be par. ticularly successful as a doctor oI healer Lupton, in his second book O Notable Things, says; "It is manifest iii by experience, that the seventh malt