The Washington herald., 1910-06-26
By RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

large number Of professional fortune
tellers. who do a thriving busisess not
only from the lower and so-ealled ig-
norant classes. but who are patronized
by society people. the cultured, and
wealthy classes. is ample proof for my
contention.
It must be admitted that ornens and
supersttlons have had so much to DO
in giving color TO history and in mold
ing and manifesting the conduct and
character Of nations not less than indi-
viduals. that the subject is more than
merely curious.
Following are a few Of what may be
called the social and personal supersti-
tions-the faneies and usages OF the
credulous, simple, and strange warnings
of approaching fate by omens or dreams
that, come they from what source they
may, form part of the romance of his
tory and OF life, and with regard 20
which not all can be so sl1eptieal as
perhaps they ought or would desire:
POETRY OF ONIENS- Omens consti-
tute the poetry of history. They cause
the series of events which they are sup
possd TO declare to flow into epical unity.
and the political catastrophe seems TO
bu produced. not by prudence or by
folly, but by the experimenting destiny
The numerous tokens OF the death Of
Henry " are finely tragieal. Mary OF
Medicis, in her dream. saw tho brilliant
gems OF her crown change into pearls,
the symbol OF tears and mourning. An
owl hOoted until sunrise at the window
of the chamber 10 which the King and
Queen retired at ST. Denis on the night
preceding her coronation. During the
ceremony il was observed with dread
that the dark portals leading to the
royal sepuieher beneath the choir were
gaping and expanded The fame OF the
conseorated taper held by the Queen was
suddenly extinguished, and twice her
crown nearly fell 10 the ground The
demonstrations of the misfortunes OF
the Stuarts have equally a character or
solemn grandeur. and we are reminded
OF tie pOrtents Of Rome when we read
how the sudden tempest rent the royal
standard on the Tower Of London,
Charles I, yielding TO his destiny, Was
obstinate in the signs of evil death. He
refused to be Cad in the garments OF
Edward the ConfessOT. in which al his
predecessors had been arrayed. and he
would be attired in white velvet. Strange
w did the Earl Of Pembroke attempt to
dissuade him. for the prophecy Of The
misfortune of the White King had long
been current, but his entreaties were In
vain, and Charles was crowned invested
with the raiment which indicated his
misfortunes.
THE SHAKING ASPEN. The aspen IS
popularity said to have been the tree from
which the Cross was made upon which
Our Saviour was crucihed; and thence
forth its Ooughs have been filled with hOr-
ror and trembles ceaselessly. Unfortu-
nately for the probability Of this story.
the shiverins of the aspen In the breeze
may be traced to other than super
natural cause. The construction Of its
foliage is particularly adapted for mo-
ton; a broad leaf is placed upon a long
foOtstalk, so flexible as scarcely to be
able to support the leaf in an upright
posture; the upper part OF this stalk, on
which the play or action seems mainly
10 depend, is contrary 10 the nature OF
fOotstallIs in general. being perfectly
fiattened. and as an eminent bOtanist has
acutely observed, IS placed at a right
angle with the leaf, being thus particu-
larly fitted TO receive the impulse 10
every wind that blows. The stalk Is fur
nished with three strong nerves, placed
parallel and acting in unison with each
other; but toward the base. tho stalk be-
comes round, and then the nerves as
sumo a triangular form. and constitute
three distinct supports and counterac-
tons TO each others motions.
THIRTEEN TO DINNER. There IS a
prejudice existing generally on the pre-
tended danger Of being the thirteenth at
table. II the probability be required.
that out OF thirteen persons. of different
ages, one of them, at least, shall die
within a year, 1t viii be found that the
chances are about one to one that one
death. at least viii occur. This calcu-
lation by a means Of a false interpreta-
ton has given rise TO the preiudices.
no less ridiculous, that the danger will
be avoided by inviting a greater number
Of guests. which can only have the effect
Of augmenting the probability OF the
event so much apprehended.
LOOKING BACK. The superstition OF
the ill-luck Of looking back. or returning,
Is nearly as old as the world itself. hav-
ing, doubtless, originated in Lots wife
having looked back from behind him"
when he was led. with his family and
City OF the Plain. Whether walking or
riding, the wife was behind her husband,
according 10 a usage still prevalent in
the east, where no woman goes before
or beside her husband" Oriental Illus
trations says: Il is considered exceed
ingiy unfortunate in Hindustan for men
or women TO look back when they leave
their house Accordingly IL a man goes
out and leaves something behind him
which his wife knows he will want, she
does not call him 10 turn or look back
but takes or sends It after him, and II
some great emergency obliges him to
look back he will not then proceed on the
business he was about TO transact. A
similar feeling is entertained IN some
parts of England. though not carried
SO far into operation.
UNLUCKY FRIDAY. Friday has from
time immemoriaI been superstitiously con-
sidered an unlucky day. because, proba-
bly,. Of the crucifixon Of our Saviour on
Friday. day Of fear and trembling of
darkness, and earthquake; and the fast
ordained by the church contributed to
perpetuate these mournful associations.
The belief in the unluckiness OF Fri
day especially has a strong hold upon
sailors, although the most glorious Voy-
age ever made, that Of Columbus to
America, began on a Friday.
The Romans had their lucky and I'M
lucky days. and on the latter would not
undertake any business for fear ii should
have a bad conclusion; they considered
them as unhappy and Of ill-omen. The
French have also an unlucky or unfor-
tunate day. and this is Friday. On this
day they viii not undertake any bust
ness Of Importance, for fear of its turn
ing out badly, or a long journey, lest il
abound with distressing accidents.
marriage is seldom contracted on this
day. lest It should prove unhappy. Leigh
Hunt tells US that Lord Byron believed
IN the ill-iuck OF Friday and was seri-
ousIy disconnected If anything was to be