Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26
By Laura B. Starr

ntels. Through the door. or flap of the
tent, man went from the world into the
privacy of his own home; the threshold was
the barrier between the two and in time
came to have something of sacredness about
it. Then on the doorpost or Intel man
placed his private mark in the way of his
favorite sentiment or motto or the arms OF
his family. Superstition. which per1neates all
things. failed not to associate itself with this
feature of the house.
The blood welcome Is one of the oldest
superstitions of the Orient. and seems to have
formed an important part of the ceremonies
and lamentations of the doorway.
The most familiar reference to the last is
contained in the history of the Children of
Israel. when Moses commanded the elders to
take bunch of hyssop and dip 1t in the blood
of the Passover lamb and strike the Intel and
the two side posts of their doors. thus to make
a sign for the Lord. who would pass over the
door and prevent the destroyer from entering
In Jerusalem one finds the red hand carved
or painted on the Intel or above the arch of
many doors. Curiously enough. this same
tents of the North American Indians showing
how widespread the superstition is
Among the Jews of Morocco there is be-
lief that the evil eye can be kept away from
house if the impression of an outstretched
hand in blood is left on its doorposts and walls.
1t is prevalent custom among the Arabs
of Central Africa to greet new King with
the blood of human sacrifice. Whenever
the khedive of Egypt returns from an alb
sence of any length. he is welcomed by thresh-
old sacrifice of blood. Buffaloes are usually
slaughtered and the blood splashed across the
gateway SO that the horses hoofs and the car
rage wheels may pass through 1t. The flesh
of the beast is distributed to the poor,
If the absence has not been prolonged one
nor the mission an important one. a lamb is
slaughtered at the palace door. and Abbas II.
steps over the blood that is splashed on the
doorstone. Coptic bride may not enter the
home of her husband except the blood of two
newly slaughtered lambs make her welcome
on the threshold
The Covenant of Life
A HAND print in the blood of life i, symbolic
of many of the covenants of life in many
countries When woman of Corea is married.
she affixes her sign manual to the covenanting
contract by placing her hand on the paper and
having the outline drawn round the fingers
and wrist with fine brush dipped in Chinese
ink. She may employ similar process of
smearing her hand with black paint and hitting
the document with it. Some historians claim
that in former times blood was used instead
of ink paint.
To avert evil. the inhabitants of some parts
of Africa place on the threshold punches of
grass which have been dipped in blood and
touched by the King.
In Syria and in Persia it is thought unlucky
to tread on the threshold: the humble often
bend and touch their lips to it before stepping
over it.
In Southern Europe if the inmates of a
house wish to insure good luck for themselves.
they have the threshold blessed by priest
and engrave pious mottoS on the stone.
The MohammedanS always write inscrip-
tions from the Koran on their doorposts with
ornamental adjoining and fantastic patterns.
The gods of the threshold are invoked at the
doorway by Shrines and inscriptions
Roman househoders affixed to the lintels
and side posts of their doors the spoils and
trophies taken by them in battle.
Pious mottos and legends. relics of the
Middle Ages. are found craven over doors all
over Europe. Sometimes they are descriptive
of the character of the house itself. such as
Dante places over the awful gateway of the in
ferno: All hope abandon We who enter here.
There is curious one over the door of an
old house in Lisbon which embodies strange
PRAYER of a builder:
"r7oS
1.-The year above this house erected:
The town burnt the year before:
People therein by law elected
God hath judgment still in store.
And that they do not Him provoke
To give them second stroke,
The builder also doth desire.
At expiration of his lease.
The landlord living at the time
May think upon the builders case"
The inscription at the doorways of the
houses of ancient Egypt showed that every
building was put under the protection of a
t,1telarV deity There was a temDe in TheheS