Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-20
suPERsTITloNs ABOUT BABIES

are particularly so with respect to their
children.
It is still considered an absolute
necessity in many parts of England,
that a child, when first leaving the
mothers room, should go upstairs be-
fore going down, otherwise it will never
rise in the world. OF course, it fre-
ouently happens that the room OF the
mother is the highest in the house.
When such is the case the Difficulty is
met by the nurse setting chair and
stepping upon that before she leaves
the room. .s
70 lie in the lap of the future of the
child who makes its initial bow to the
world on a Sunday-no doubt on the
nrinciple of the better the day the bet
ter the deed.
Rut here are numerous other super
stitions relating to the first days or a
baby's life which are the heritage OF
the mother for all time. Prosperity
and long life are assured to the papy
in whose hand a silver coin or new
laid egg is placed, and the same good
1uclx will be the lot of the infant II II
is ,,laced in a maiden'S arms before
anyone else touches 1t.
Tbe little one should on no account
make it's first public appearance out
of doors unless it is accompanied py a
small loaf of bread, an egg, some salt'
and a penny. If this precautlon Is
omitted the groWn-up career oi a.. une
hahv will be one of poverty and dis
tress. Good luck is supposed to mover
over the baby that cries Justify during
the Christening ceremony
RABY'S LUCKY DAYS
The child whose birthday falls on
New Years day will always be lucky
if boy: if a girl, she will nave no
luck but great beauty. the Easter
hahv will be free from care and want
and harm. -,
The children born on Christmas day
or All Halloween October 80 will
possess the gift of second sight that
wonderful power of looking INTO the
future which people of the north are
sometimes said to have.
The child who is born on SAINT )
dav must be called by the name of the
saint. as the day must not pe sep
arated from its patron.
Tt seems to matter great zeal on Oh
which day one is born, and well
known old rhyme runs as folloWs'
Mondays child is fair of face
Tuesday's child is full of grace
Wednesdays child is full of woe
thursdays child has far to go:
FRIDAYS child is loving and giving ,
SATURDAYS child must work for It's lVhs'
Born on a Sunday, length of days
In Spain, the newly-born 'lntant $
face is swept with pine poush ~
bring it good luck.
The Spaniards also believe IN deter
mining the baby's walk in life at once
To do this they place silver coln'
sword, a silver cross, book ana some
fruit in front of him, and let hlm make
his choice. ,
IF he takes the coin, he will go into
business: if the sword, he will be a
soldier: the cross, priest; the oooK'
a scholar; and the fruit, a farmer
They also believe that band of gold
or silver, or even jet, put around Dapy
will keep him from harm.
The Turks put piece of mud, Whlcn
has been stepped in hot water. upon
baby's forehead, believing that the
charms which have been used In pre-
pairing the mud will protect the chiid
The Hindus declare that baby must
be called after the name of god, fo1
then will the deity be flattered at the
frequent use of his name, and be in
duced to think we'll of the child.
The Arabians name the child as soon
as it Is born, as then the tribesmen VIII
honor it.
The Persians string amulets and
necklets round baby's neck. as then
the bad spirits will not touch him.
The Belgians teach their babies to
make the sign of the cross, for they
believe that this will certainly outwit
the devil.
The Germans place honey on the
baby's lips, so that, tasting of this food