Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-21

They had a stiT argument over the
respective merits Of ears being bored
10 make the eyes stronger. and. from
that they branched CT to wearing an
Irish potato under the arm for rheuma-
tism and putting the eggshells. out Of
harms way until the chickens Matched
from them were able to look out for
themselves.
After they had gone back to work 1
began TO think OF all the superstitions
that had collected when on my broth
er's plantation. and compared them to
those OF Korea, Japan and Scandinavia,
and I've decided that mankind of all
ages have been prone TO all sorts OF
superstitiOns- We who are educated
have 70 look very carefully into our own
practices and beliefs TO keep out Of
unconscious lucky and unlucky" be-
nefs or superstitions We could trace
every one Of them back TO heather prac-
tices. Look in any Jewish chronicle
ard see how that nation, after their
four hundred years in Egyptian bond
age. were Continually mixing supersti-
ton with their worship Of the only true
and omnipOtent God. and see how they
ran after strange gods in Canaan
The Egyptians. Notwithstanding their
learning. were grossly superstitious;
they believed in dreams. lucky and I'M
lucky days charms and omenS Their
education did not lead them into any
thing really helpful. and IL seems un-
reasonable for them TO have worshiped
the creatures that are on their rolls of
honor. Every school was dominated by
priests OF various cults. and If enc goes
hack 20 the foundation one finds fear in
stead OF love as the basis. The calf that
Aaron made was the result Of the He
bEews seeing worship the OK or bull in
prosperous Egypt.
Then. where has there been a more
cultured people than the Greeks and Ro-
mans. yet where has superstition been
more rampant Their gods and god
desses we're contemplate and even ants
and bees. various reptiles and beasts
-arrfed messages or gave omens- Com
e. and ecIipses caused widespread ter
ryr and confusion, for they were sup
nssed 10 foretell public disasters, The
srtroductiOn OF Christianity was the be-
ginning OF the downfall OF SUPERSTITION
as a world power, and the dismember-
ment of the Roman empire did away
With a great many decisions Though
'3me we're so thoroughly disseminated
shat 10 this day they crop up again and
pgain in Asiatic and eastern peoples
The idea CT the beginning OF all things
icing chaos is In every land. The Baby
iouians. Greeks, Scandinavians. down to
she japanese Of the present day. have
stories Of some diviues. or superhuman
couple who redeemed the world from
chaos Odin. OF the Scandinavians. ana
Jupiter were similar. while BaIder and
Apollo were similar. never tire Of Scan
dfnavian folklore. Their mythology sur
vived until the eleventh century. St. Olaf
king Of Norway. Is given the credit OF
having overturned their belief. he was
a zealous Christian. and had the cour-
age Of his convictions. There was one
statue Of Thor. ne was next in rank Ia
0din. and his statue was usually a man
with a beard painted red to represent
the lightning he was supposed to WELD
Bread and meat in quantities were daily
offered 20 him and at stated intervals
Hbations were poured out in his honor.
That there was some connection be-
tween the worship Of Scandinavia and
Britain seems confirmed by the fact that
Il disappeared there shortly after it's
overthrow on the continent.
Greece has the credit OF naming the
days OF the week. and again we see
the same thread of connection holding
all mythology and superstition. The
fact OF the resemblance Of so many Of
the delties OF Greeks and Scandinavians
has never been explained. so far as I
know by any philOlogist. and If any Of
my readers have read any explanation
I would be PLEASED to hear OF H. The
name wednesday comes from Odin. or
Wodin's day. That being the day the
Scandinavian Jupiter was most honored
or worshfped Thursday. or Thor's day,
was also called Dies JAWS Friday or
Freya's day was also Venus day. both
~ then, GODDESS Of ryoafrfunony and were
most beautiful women. Saturday or Sa~
turns day was also Saeter's day OF the
Ecandfnavians. Tuesday, or as II is still
sometimes pronounced in some parts Of
Scotland. Tuesday" is supposed TO be
for lisa. the wife OF Thor, and goddess
OF justice: Sunday and Monday by the