Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-04
CONSCRIPTIONS COMIC SIDE.

In Belgium, the first sign of the silly
season is. not the sea-serpent, but a
proposition for the abolition of con-
scription. If the "tirage au sort" or
drawing lots. were abolished, many
curious customs would speedily become
extinct Pilgrlmages are already be-
ing made, all manner of "song-dances''
are being performed. with a view TO
securing a good number.
A good number Is one which frees
the drawer from liability to serve in
the army
At Nivelles. the conscript makes var
ious VOWS connected with the Seam
less Coat" He then takes a pilgrim
age to Notre-Damc de Hal; and in
order that this expedition may DO
productive of good results, 1t is neces-
sary to put harlcots into the boots. The
more hard beans there are. the better
tho issue of the pilgrimage VIII be.
AN ALL-NIGHT VIGIL.
In the neighborhood OF Charleroi.
a method believed to be extremely ef-
ficacious is to pass the night upon a
ladder leaning against wall, and to
recite prayers during the vigil.
In the country round about Namur
the recitation of prayers is also In
vogue: but the ladder is replaced by
COW. The conScript sits cross-lesged
on the hind-quarters OF the beast, with
his back towards its head. while. with
his hands, he twists tho unlucky cows
tail. The cow is sometimes replaced
by pig. In this case, the tail of the
animal takes no part in the proceed
lngs but the conScript holds a lighted
wax candle in each hand. II the lights
go out. or ii he slips off the pig. there
Is no certainty that he will draw Il
lucky number.
In the Ardenne country the mothers,
sisters and sweethearts of the young
men join hands about midnight In the
village market-place. AT the stroke of
II. they take their sabots in their
hands and rush three times around the
village church, after which they i'm
mediately run home. No one must
speak. or laugh, or stop running or
drop a sabot II they do any OF those
things the effectiveness of the charm
cannot be guaranteed
A very different method is employed
at Marbaise. In a niche outside the
village church Is the Image OF n GER
tain saint who Is supposed to be able
TO influence the "tIrage." Hero the
young men congregate. and use divers
threats of a somewhat unpleasant
draw goes unfavorably for them.
SOME STAGGERING SUPERSTI-
TIONS.
The old peasants have "truo and
only methods" which they pin their
faith to. and endeavor to get adopted
by their grandchildren. They advise
the use of amulcts. to be bought from
the fortune -tellerS, four-leaved clover.
piece of the rope with which a man
has been hanged, fragment of the
shirt worn at the first communion. a
piece OF skin from the eyebrow, to be
placed under the left heel. a pinch Of
earth taken from the last-opened grave
In the cemetery the bone OF a dead
man dug up at midnight. and other
things.
On the day of the draw. the prospec-
tive conScrlpt should get up early, and
be In good humor, He must avoid nut
Ting on any article of dress inside out.
He must take caro- not to meet-en
route for the town hall-an old woman.
dog bowling. crow: but II is lucky
to meet hunchbnck or white horse
on getting out of bed. he should put
the left foot to tho ground FIRST He
should leave the house fasting. left
foot first. He should go straight to
the "tirage." without stopping or turn
ing back. unless for the purpose OF
giving aims. and In this case he must
carefully avoid looking at the coin he
gives. He should keep his loft hand
In his pocket. only take 1t out on hear
Ing his name uttered and. Mt the
critical moment. should remain COW
cred, draw with his left hand. and re-
1ect the first number he draws
II, after all this. the result is unluckv
the peasant IL easily persuaded that
he has neglected some essential pre-
cautlon.-Answers.