The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-02-11
SEVEN THE MAGIC
NUMBER IN LIFE
Figures in Birth and Death and
Many Other Affairs of Human
Importance.

Away back in the dim and shadowy
past, when man, long armed and crook.
ed legged, was the weakest animal that
trod the earth; before ever he had
learned the use of weapons to defend
his title to the cave; when he skulked
in terror through the primeval forest
and slept sitting, elbows on his
knuckled knees and long, claw-like
hands clasped over his head as pro-
lection from wind and rain, he begun
to have a faint conception of number.
He had no use for nor conception of
any number but the concrete. In his
really strenuous life numbers were a
superiority till he had something to
number and to count, according to the
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
He, perhaps, first counted the toes on
his splay feet or the fingers on his mis-
shapen hands, but what were the con-
crete things that the seven stood for
that he should regard it with an awe
that but little diminished has come
down to us!
In his immature mind this number
was associated with material things, his
whole being stirred with awe in con-
templating them; but what were theyl
Superstition and Science Meet.
Nebulous superstition and solid
science meet and mingle in the magic
seven. The seven visible ages OF
earth IS creation may be tinged with pre-
| conceived ideas from the account in
Genesis, the seven ages of man may
be an arbitrary division deferring to
superstition; but the fact that nations
and races that have never heard of or
reject the Mosaic account regulate their
daily lives in weekly cycles of seven
days shows that this number has a uni
versal and unique Importance in the life
of man.
With cry the babe proclaims its all
vent, but not until seven times seven
days can it shed tears, nor does the
smile of intelligence appear until seven
weeks have passed. One-half the births
die before they reach the age of seven,
and the Good Book fixes the span of life
at ten times seven years.
Even the atavistic influences in the
human family run in cycles of seven.
One in seven of the births has eyes of
color different from the parental, and
bears the optical hue of a remote an
cestor.
Religious creed cannot overcome the
influence of the magic number. In both
Protestant England and Catholic France
seven per cent. of the births are illegit-
innate.
In the artificial epochs that the neces.
stiles of society have established in the
life of man the number seven holds a
conspicuous place. Infants are held to
be incapable of a knowledge of "good
and evil" or contributing to their own
support till seven years of age, and the
male does not come into the full dignity
and responsibility of manhood till three
| times seven.
A citizen cannot become President
until he is FIVE times seven years OF
| age; in most States seven years open
adverse and peaceable possession gives
"A title to real estate; homesteader y
is allowed seven years to "prove up
and twice seven months to commute to
"A cash entry.
Morals and Affections.
| The morals and the affections of tho
| human family seem dominated by tn,
| insdious, insistent seven. A tendency
to crime is greatest at four times seven
when the greatest stature is reached
then declines until il ceases at min,
times seven. In the face Of the strong
est circumstantial evidence the accused
was acquitted in French court for thu
reason that HE life had been blameles
| until that are II wns held that "A maf
would not fall after nine times sever
years OF exemplary life.
The average physical strength %
womnn Is seyen'eleyenths that of maj
and her tendency 10 crimes by violence
compared 90 that Of man, Is in the sam'
ratio. When driven io The awful ex
tremiiy of scltdefiueiion one seventl
ns many women as men commit suicid
| by violent means WomAn's chance
in tho matrimonial lottery are creates
"a three times FrYon yensj then ne
rr'Hse until soYen times seYon, whpl
'hrr practically cease
Tho great Ammieau hiof ace suhi5e
io % tldHl 'lh ana hnw 10 Intervals %
seven nae, the rRusr nf which has b
iAF lrnnl solution, lul The yeau o
highest ana lowest water boz SEASONS %
greatest HinfHll in ihr ulHhn region
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commanding position Wien lHn
fnf Nlfhrs Az frifacr b las n
nh.Nh ihf fHllaiinn NJ lnsf nf unhnna
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~ llNhH ln error mlnnt npr saprnll,
ihr fnHffilNH in WlHuifV 80 fHf ifn
! fpHlff lpf pnf aaif AlIli, il,p nunls