The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-31
HALLOWEEN SUPERSTITIONS
 LURK DEEP IN FEMININE MIND
Love- Phres Horoscopes Fortunes and All Such Things- Such Eminent People as Charles Dickens Dr. Samuel Johnson and the Great Parnell Viewed Super
 stitutions Favoraby, Why Not We?
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

.'The only thing I believe in is St. Jo- scph' Betty declared.
 You've been reading The City Of Beautiful Nonsense,' about the old dream CT, who prayed to St. Joseph to restore his lost Sense of Humor," l suggested. Is that the reason?'
 Please don't gaze at me like wide eyed ngenue, Betty asseverated.
 You surely must know what St. Jo- seph is good for''
 T knew a man once who carried one and somebody took it and he vowed he'd never had any luck since,' I observed.
 When I went to school,' Betty began, T read little French story, a Novel; cite. Let me tell you the story"
 "Go en-" l begged interestedly.
 .Once upon a time, so the story runs, Betty related, there was a little girl named Collette who lived with a grim old ogress of an aunt, who hated men. Their home was in an old Chateau far away from Gay Farce, where it was not likely that any sutor would ever pass, nor TO- nance darken the door of the deserted old place. Collette remembered hearing omehow-some where-that if for a neau- vine Cor nine days( a girl prayed to St. Joseph she might as well get her trous- seau ready. So Collette began her neau- vine, and one day while the sweet lit tie maid was busy with her prison, a great gust of wind came and blew her little clay image-her beloved St. Joseph from Jne sill of her easement window into the snow beneath. Fortunately, be- fore it reached the ground it hit hand some young Frenchman, who happened to be riding past"
 T thought you said suitors never came that way" l interposed.
 This one wasn't suitor; at least he didn't think he was going to be, but St. Joseph willed it otherwise" said Betty emphatically," and being injured by that little clay imagine as it fell to earth, he had to be brought into the house and cared for and nursed by Collette until he was we'll again and a perfectly good nobleman once more. At least I sup pose he was nobleman; if he wasn't he ought to have been. At any rate, he was a very nice young man. And Collette married--"
 The nobleman' I finished out her sen- tence for her, "and that is why your faith in St. Joseph was established
 That was the beginning" she said rap turously. "I had a personal experience too.'
 Then the rumor of your engagement to Jack?" I hazarded.
 'Is rumor pure and simple" returned Betty severely. T refer to the experi- ence as connected with a friend of mine who read the little French story with me. We stopped in Atlantic City in Sep tember on our way from Bar Harbor, and one day on the Board Walk We stopped to look in one of those attractive little curio Shops and we 'spied whole tray full of little silver St. Josephs. We looked at each other and both of us recalled the story of Collette and her Nobeman, and my friend decided that she'd buy one of the little images, just for fun
 And now?" questioned.
 Her engagement was announced last week." related Betty jubilantly. "She is going to marry the very incest man I know, and l don't believe he had any idea of asking her until she bought that little St. Joseph.''
 ever confessed to superstitons. I ejac- ulated teasingly. You are the very worst in the bunch!'
 tended.
 And are you now wearing the Amulet?" I asked.
 when I get through with it, if the charm works, I am going to lend it to all my girl friends who want it."
 But I thought it belonged to your friend?'f said, rather puzzled
 Tt did,' replied Betty, but she has no use for it now that she is going to be married"
 That is the time when she will need it most, for when a man marries" I quoted, This troubles begin, and as for woman-well, come on let's look up those suggestions for our Halloween Party"