Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-22
SUPERSTITIONS
CAUSED BY WAR
Vision of ''Mons Angel"-Soldiers
Believe Gold Coins Are Tails
mans to Save Them.

Paris, March 22.-The stationary
character Of the war has allowed
number Of legends and superstitions
to be born and spread. some Of which
can be traced and explained, while
others remain obscure. The story of
tho ''Mons angels' last year was prov
ed to have arisen from q newspaper
ed but not az an account Of q fact.
The superstition that declares that
It is unlucky to light three cigarettes
or cigars with d single match has be-
come very widespread. Quillaurne
Apollinaire. the poet, In writing about
It in the current number Of the Mer-
cure de France says that It has been
introduced into France by tho English
army. although the present writer
first met with it in France long be-
fore the war, but had never heard OF
It in England.
Apollinaire tells how no was tnvtt.
ed to mess with a friend, Second
Lieut. Francois v, how this su-
perstition was discussed and laughed
at by all present except himself and
Francois v, and how Francois
v happened to be the third to
light his cigarette with the same
match.
Thrifty Soldier n Killed.
was killed five or six miles from the
front lines by a German shell. It ap-
pears that the superstition 10 that the
death Is always Of this nature. as
Apollinaire quotes q captain OF mix
ed tirailleur and zouave regiment as
saying:
"It is not SO much the death that
follows, as death no longer is a dread
to any one, but it has been noticed
4c a 80
death. A shell splinter in the trench
es or at rest in the rear, which has
nothing heroic about it, IL there is
anything in. this war which is not
heroic"
To dream Of an autobus has become
token Of death. Apollinaire has
found this superstition in four differ
ent regiments and gives story of q
sergeant who succeeded in averting
the omen in the case Of a corporal
who said he had dreamed of an auto
bus. How can that be-" the sergeant
asked. when you have never been to
Paris or seen an autobus?" The COR
poral described tho vision. THAT an
autobus!" declared the sergeant
Why that's one Of those new ma
chimes that the English arc using.
Don't let that worry your
A regiment from the south has the
oesAaAo OSASA 0OVNI I'll duIOLlOUll0 lCIEy
instead OF an autobus and can quote
many examples Of the truth Of such
dreams.
Gold coins are mascot in the front
lines, a superstition not dificult to ex-
plain. It was at first believed that
wounded men on whom some gold
was found would be better looked aft
er by those who found them, and by
degrees the belief grew up. especially
among artillery. that gold coin was
taltsman against being mutilated II
they were taken prisoners whether
wounded or not.
Battery Had $1,000 In Gold.
Apollinaire knew Of certain bat
tery which In May. 1915. had some
$1,000 In gold among it, men. thanks
chteny to their commerce in rings, pa
per knives and other souvenirs. made
by them for cartridge cases and
The governments appeals to have
gold sent to the Bank OF France ana
not to let 1t fall into enemy hands in
the amount Of gold at the front. but
Many mon sew coins touching one
another in such q way a. to make .
shield over the heart.
"A story that IL believed In the ranka
shows how gold can attract the Ger:
mans. A sergeant made q gold coir
sitter In the sun ana some thirsty
German soldiers walked right up ia
the French trench. charmed by IL
das1le. and were easily captured.
Every man has his own particular