Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-12

W. u,
yentive creature, he found reasons 1o'
all happenings, good or bad, In the
supernatural, and superstition rar
such riot in his veins that we have
not been able to entirely get rid OF II
even to this day.
The earthquake was terribly puz'
zling proposition to people who mac
not had the advantage OF physica
geography instruction. Underneath
the earth's surface was supposed to DC
a cayernous place inhabited by huge
fiery dragons, who slumbered most oi
the time, their presence only being In
dicated by lazy puffs Of smoky breath
through the volcanoes. But when the
gods became displeased with the peo-
pie they poked or tickled these pets
into activity, and whether they hump
ed UP their backs in anger and blew
their redhot noses in fearful blasts up
through the craters, or merely gam
boiled about in kittenish manner
one thing was certain-the resultant
vibration played havoc with the rooi
of their dwellings and the poor. help
less mortals who dwelt therein.
Thunder and lightning was another
mystery. Dense black clouds rolled
up, concealing bad-tempered mons
ter. who stuck out his hot, forked
tongue, roaring out an unpleasantry
at the same time and licking the best
shade trees to pieces, a COW, horse, or,
II the mortal had offended too deeply,
his house was set on fire and he him
self wholly or partially executed, as
the case might call for.
A little school boy or girl Of today
would tell you that lightning was
caused by clouds heavily charged with
electricity coming in contact, and that
thunder was the noise of air rushing
into the vacuum left by the bolt as 1t
sped along. But vacuums were not
yet recognized in the early days, even
though nearly every person carried a
large one around under his hat, and
had any one ventured the above scien-
tific explanation he or she would have
run the risk of being burned for a
witch.
Droughts, floods, early frosts, blight
ing Of crops, sickness, as we'll as all
favorable conditions Of health, wealth
and happiness were sent by unseen
beings, according to their pleasure OF
displeasure with mortals and mans
main idea was to propitiate these ter
rible powers. Here is where his in
ventive mind came in handy again
for there was a charm. amulet or pre-
ventive for everything, and If they did
not work it was not mans fault and
he took his medicine with the thought
that at least he had done his best to
bribe the spook.
OF course in these days We know the
why's and wherefores to a much
greater degree. Our weather bureau
men, astrologers and scientists keep us
so we'll informed on what is going or
inside, on the surface and all around
the earth for billions of miles and ex-
plain 1t all in such a reasonable and
satisfactory manner that We have got
ten over the idea of general spook
control.
But superstition Is part Of oul
makeup; It is in every ones blood tc
a greater or less degree and more con-
tagious than measles or mumps, and
until everything above and below Is
made perfectly clear some superstition
will remain. Ask some very advanced
persons II they are superstitious, and
they will deny 1t emphatically, ther
turn right around and buy a whole
nest full of eggs for Easter, and in sc
doing uphold a custom which origi.
mated in the very hotbed Of ignorant
superstition.
Easter was the time of the Solar
New Year, the beginning of all things
therefore, eggs, the beginning Of al
chickens, were chosen as a very ap'
propriate food. On Easter Eve the
people used to take great chargers OF
hen fruit up to the church where the
priest said several prayers over them
made signs of the cross and sprinkled
them we'll with holy water. After the
ceremony he demanded to know jus
how many eggs there were in eacf
dish. and while records do not state
the reason of this request, we presume
the blessing charge was by the dozen
These blessed eggs were supposed t
have the virtue of sanctifying the in
terror of the eater, and were the frs
fleshy nourishment taken after the
lenten abstinence.
Probably one reason why this Gus
tom is not followed out to the letter
today is that the clergyman standing
over a great charger Of cold storage
eggs might be tempted to murmul
something besides a blessing anC
sprinkle them with eau de Cologne in
stead Of holy water
Then there are the engagement ant
wedding rings, which very few con
ventional people like to do without
In the beginning of that custom there
was an exchange of rings between two
lovers becoming engaged, and these
little symbols were said to strongl!
promote perfect union and unendint
love. AS to why man refused to wea
his engagement ring is great ques
ton, but we presume that before wo
mans suffrage came to the fore he haC
a masculine dislike to displaying an!
visible signs of bondage to the weak
er sex.
Old shoes are said to be lucky un
der any circumstances. especially a
to the beginning of a Journey henc
the reason why we hurl our yearlinl
No 10 after the departing bridal pair
who fail to see where the luck come
in If the cowhide chips the ear Of th'
groom or treads heavily into tn
brides new travelling hat. The smGl
boys of our families also fatty den!
any connection of good luck and oil
shoes, but their decision is based oi
experience with soles of same while II
recumbent position over fathers o
mothers knee, and should be takel
with a grain Of salt, for in after year