The Washington times., 1907-01-20
SuperStitiOnS of MexicanS

come almost d niud uf religion, so
errmg every at of the people.
Ease the average Mexican Of the
puorcr classes, sas the Mexican Her
ali. and you may hear from his lips
hair-raising stories of ghosts and
fairies and devils. He viii tell you OF
the Iar~ qualities OF many animals.
plants ana STONES, of the Things you
can do and those you cannot % on
certain days Of the week OF the month.
and. hnallv. ne WiH invite you to make
III. sign Of the cross 10 drive away
the devils and the ghosts that may
have been attracted by the converse
tion YOU have had.
From their earliest childhood the
poems are taught to make the sign Of
the cross before going 10 sleep Al
night and before touching the floor
with their toes in the morning. Maid
ems, until they become brides, are
urged by their mothers 70 put their
shoes point against point under their
bed at night 70 bring happy dreams.
and will even enable them 10 converse
with the Virgin during their sleep.
when dressing the right shoe never
the lefD is put on first. The buttons
OF the suit are buttoned upwards. that
f.. starting with the lowest and end
ing at the top. This is 10 signify that
We are very low here in this earthly
planet, but that during the dsy Ne vii
try 10 so upward. Furthermore. this
practice. If faithfully and constantly
observed. will lead US very high ~
heaven when We die The contrary
will take US doWn TO Inferno
After one Is ready 20 go out % his
room one must always move the right
foot first. II it happens that YOU hnd
AZ the door OF your home a bunch %
hair or hemp. il is q proof that = witch
e after YOU with some III purpose. and
YOU must At once bring some salt ana
throw four handfuls as far as YOU can,
one TO the east. another 10 the west
the third to the north, and the last ono
10 the routh. Then you have nothing
10 fear from witches in the course 81
the day. But ~ night, when you re-
tire. YOU must take two very fine
sticks. make cross with them. and
nail IL 70 your door No witches.
ghosts or devils will bother you there
after
II before taking breakfast YOU hap
pen 10 see a black cat. three lame feI-
lows on one and the same street or a
corpse. il would be better for you 70 60
back home and stay indoors for the
day, because something wrong f. in
store feT you.
II. on me contrary, you meet a hump
back, il would be good for You 10
shake hands with him. pat his hump
ana give him some money. il he IS z
beggar- that will bring you good luck.
Humpbacks are exceptionally good
omens for those who buy lottery tick
cts II you buy one. do not see us
number until you have rubbed IL
against somebody's hump; then you
are sure to win prize.
Nos. :, Is, and q are lucky. "A
ana Il are unlucky. No. Is. especially,
Is one that never fails TO bring trouble,
so never live in house or room num-
bered Is. he very careful when YOU as
cend a staircase with thirteen steps,
never ride on car No. g. and under no
circumstances eat. drink or wear any
thing that has cost you thirteen cents
or dollars. or that you have bought on
the 18th OF the month.
tuesday and Friday are very bad
omen days. and there is common
saying that means do not marry or
start on any business on Tuesday or
Friday"
Black cats, spiders and owls are very
bad omen creatures. Never keep q
black cat at home. be sure 10 kiu All
spiders you see crawling about your
bed and always close tight your ears
when you hear an owlet boot. Indians
abhor owlets; they say: When an
owlet sings an Indian dies; IL may be
untrue, yet il always happens"
Butterflies are good or bad omens.
according 10 their color White ones
bring happiness: yellow ones advise US
10 maintain alive our hopes OF love or
fortune. and black ones Announce
that death is stalking around US or our
relatives
The dog is the greatest friend OF
man; no doubt about that. a he is
endowed with tae power Of seeing
ghosts. devils. and death When you
hear gour dog bowling IL is a proof
that he Is warning YOU against some
evil event.
One thing Of apparently small i'm
portance. but which brings fatal re-
suits. Is the lighting of three cigars or
cigarettes on the same match One OF
the three persons lighting their cigars
viii die within the year.
Here We hs A very safe means 10
know whether We are going - die IN
the course Of any given year. II can
not be more simple You get up very
early in the morning Of JanusTS and
await on the field for the sun 70 rise.
YOU looking westward The minute
the sun rises YOU see your own shad-
pW. enormously ENLARGED II IL has 4
head on. you are sure Ia live through
the year. but II there is no head at
all then you had better draw up your
will.
For love charms women use. among
others, the lodestone. IL woman sus-
poets that her husband Is in love with
another woman or that he Is willing 20
desert her. let her carry a small load
stone sewn 10 her corset the HUSBAND
will become more loving than ever.