Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-07
SUPERS1|T|0US IN SPITE OF OURSELVES

a certain amount OF faith In the truth
OF the old saying. Sing before break
fast. and you win cry. before night
Another said; II have an distinctive
dislike of seeing tho new moon over my
left shoulder
EARLY 1MPREsstSs REsPoN-
SIBLE.
Bruce thinks that the influence OF
popular supcrstitions upon tho cdu-
Gated adult mind may be explained
largely by tho fact that they are ae-
uuired in childhood - that plastic
period when the mind is most rcccp-
tive and the critical faculty most Ia
abcyauce. The folk tales OF tho nur-
scry and tho kitchcn.--s he says. tho
superstitious sayings of the older MEM
bcrs OF the family circle make a trc-
mcndous impression on tho mind of
tho child. This would not matter so
much were Il not for tho fact that inn
er.ssions OF childhood. especially when
they appeal strongly to tho emotional
in man, are apt TO persist thruout life. -
He also points out that superstition
has played AN important part in the
development OF all religious and gov
ernmcnts and quotes n British authrop-
ologi-t Dr. j. q. Frazer. who declares
that "thc salutary principle of respect
for government can be traced. In part,
at all events, to the supcrstitious row
ercnce with which primitive peoples
have always regarded their chiefs,
holding them In awe as persons pos
scsscd of supernatural powers. This
attitude. still much in evidence among
savage tribes. seems to have been
shared by tho ancestors OF all Aryan
peoples. while in England a lingering
relic OF Il remained until as late as
the eighteenth century In tho notion
that scrofula. could hc healed by a
touch OF the Kings hand.
Similarly. respect for property was
vastly strengthened by that form OF
superstition known a. taboo by
which the supernatural power sup
posed TO reside in tho person OF tho
chicftain was transmitted to his NOV
able propcr;y-his clothes. tools
weapons. ornaments. in fact. to every
thing he touched.
Respect for human life was long
promoted by tho world wide neiief In
tho ability OF tho ghost Of a murdered
man TO haunt his slayer"
RELIGIOUS FONT of SUPER
STITIoNS
Many OF our most popular -upcrsti-
tions today have been traced to re-
iixious sources. az, for instance, the
unlucky nature of Friday and the
number IL. The dread OF this number
thirteen is wcll-nigh universal. In
rome ana flOfcncc IL II never uScd
In numbering houses. nor on thcstrr
boxes nor In making up lottery lists.
In India the 18th year Is feared like
plague. In Persia people carefully re.
frain from pronouncing tho number
ard in Turkey IT is avoided as far as
possible in conversation. II Is thought
that l3 acquired its unfortunate rcpu-
tation at tho Lords Supper when thir-
teen men sat at the table. The last
to take his place Is supposed to have
been Judas. Yet there is no proof that
Judas was tho last to be seated. and,
Furthermore, there is considerable cyid-
cncc TO show that tho evil thirteen cN-
istcd long before tho Christian era. It
Is generally accepted, however. that
/ Friday is held TO ho unlucky because
/ Christ was crucifcd on that day.
Tho history OF superstition. indeed
presents some fascinating aspects. but
! II is not at all nsttcring to tho race.
/ II shows that in spite of all our rail-
roads and motor cars and gas bombs
and aeroplaneS, We arc einotiouaity
Just about as primitive as wo wcrr
when the rsco was young. We still
Eszo cautiously at the new moon over
/ the proper shoulder. and We still cher
ish haif-ashamed belief in the power
OF charms.