Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-11-18
SUGGESTIONS WHICH PREVAIL.
BY Lue F. Vsrnea.


There are many people who will
tell you that the really ignorant are
superstitious. Webster defines sup
erstition as fanaticism. and fanati-
cism as excessive enthusiasm. Since
fanaticism pertains to fanatic. the
latter defined at bigot, and a bigot
a religious extremist, one can read
lily deduce that superstitiouS people
must necessarily be enthusiastic, re-
ligious, and of pronounced ideas.
A pronounced idea is the ultimate
result of continuous study along gen.
eral lines, combined with judicious
pruning, rejecting that which we do
not believe, and holding fast that
which we feel is right.
Throughout countless ages, super
stition has played It's great part in
the history of the world. ION so
small thing doth much depend"
said Socrates, and it does seem so to
most of us-at least to those who
look with eyes that see and listen
with ears that hear.
There's hardly anything we see or
use in daily life but has its connec-
ton somehow with superstition.
We awaken in the morning with the
feeling that Something's going to
happen to-day; we cannot tell why
We feel so, we only know we do, and
sure enough that something" does
happen. Scientists say it is the men,
tai pressure or the liberation Of fear
Thoughts" that brings about that
which we fear would happen. If
this be the cause. how can we then
explain why it happens when we
prayed or hoped it would not ? Ask
your dearest friend about the num-
bers Z, Ii, or their multiples; with q
strange fatality they weave them
selves in and out of ones life, carry
ing with them, like evil spirits, their
terrible or good results. You live in
a No. Z house, and it seems that
nothing but ill-luck crowns your
every endeavor; everything goes
wrong. sickness comes into the fam
lily. or million little miseries crop
up on every side, until finally you
move to break the spell or get away
from bad vibrations. You 60 to IA,
II, or some other multiple of your Z,
and the same bad luck pursues you.
But perhaps you move to 8 or 8, 3
or 4, and 10 good luck smiles on
you.
There is as surely superstition in
letters as well as in figures. Your
name, or you are closely associated
with some one whose name begins
with an A. the white, architectu-
raj letter; you build and plan, but
perhaps never finish. Perhaps red
20" comes into your life-a circle
impregnable, it is sale" nature,
cold, sure and certain. Or a blue
"E" figures in your plans in some
way-the Glove" letter-and you are
warm, impulsive, affectionate land
easily led by your sympathies.
Colors, too, play their wonderful
part in the web and wool of life's
great pattern, and are q panacea for
many ills. To some one, color brings
luck, wealth, and love, while to
others it carries only unhappiness
and poverty.
Even the days of the week have
their significance. On Monday, be-
fore noon, if you file your nails, pres
ents will pour into your lap all the
rest Of the week. Any business
man will tell you that il on Monday
morning, when coming out of his
door, he meets man the whole week
will be prosperous; if a woman greets
him first, then ill luck will surely
follow.
You start to cross street, and a
funeral meets you. Woe to anyone
who crosses that long, black line, lest
failure awaits him.
In the artists studio, "a brush
dropped to the floor brings luck to
the door," and the picture is sure to
be accepted. Even the little house
hold things find their niche in super
stition's realm.
See pin and let it lay, brings
bad luck the livelong day." though
ungrammatical, has its own signif.
icance; but ''pick it up, splendid
luck us another story.
The scissors fall and. sticking up
right from the floor. they bring a
fight. You mend a rip in your dress
while it is on your back, and unless
you put pin in your mouth to ward
off the Evil One somebody will juggle
with your good name.
For every stitch you sew on a
Sunday the devil will put as mahy in
the end of your nose when you 60
below.
A knife and fork left crossed on
the plate is sure sign of quarrel;
you knock over the pepperbox or
spill the salt, and you'll have hot
words with someone; a knife falls and
a man comes to the door; the fork,
and woman drops in to tea; the tea
spoon, and little child will visit; a
big spoon. and crusty old bachelor
comes for a smoke. You ask for
brand md fudipn you,yo MT oo@ov,