Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1896-05-23 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MAGIC IN NUMBERS.  To "Superstitious" and " Curious " the following will convey all the information required: The number 1 wag held to be sacred because it represented the unity of the Godhead. This number is esteemed as very lucky by the Javanese, who allot but one day to each of the several operations of husbandry, leaving that portnin of the crop that could not be gathered in one day. The !second digit acquired an especially evil reputation among the early Christians, because the second day hell was created, along with heaven and earth. The Cabalists said it typified the tunostatio union of Christ. It seems to have a number unlucky in English dynasties. Harold 11. was slain in battle; William 11. and Edward 11. wee murdered ; .ethelred Richard IL, and James 11. were forced to obdicats ; and Henry IL, Charles 11., and George 11. were unfortunate in many ways. The number seems to have been an unlucky one to the sovereigns of other Euronean countries. The Charles IL's of France, of Navarre, of Spain, of. Anjou, and of Savoy passed or ended their reigns unhappily. The number 3 has an abundance of superstitions connected with it. It was the perfect number of the Pythagoreans, who said it represented the beginning, middle, and end. A greater im-e was given to the number because it rethe l'rinity, not only in the Christian 'but in many others. was but little mystery attached to the numk 4 and 5. In folk lore the four leaved lover ... especially lucky. The four of clubs is in unlucky card, and it is named the devil's four pot bed. The .behests asserted that the number 6 was potent in mystical properties. The world was created in six days, the Jewish servant served six years, Job endured six tribulations, and hence the figure typified labour and suffering. The rabbis asserted that the letter vale which reproeents si,s, was stamped on the manila, to remind the Job% that it fell on six days only. The number 6 was an unlucky one at Rome. Tarquinius Sextus was a brutal tyrant, the church was divided under Urban the Sixth, and Alexander tbe Sixth was a monster of iniquity. The iiumber 7 has been invested with more mystery than all the other digits together, and to it were "scribed magic and mystical qualities possessed Iv/ no other number. Several learned treatises have been written on this number, and septenary combinations have been sought everywhere. In an old writer of two centuries ago we may read why, in his opinion, the number is peculiarly excellent. First, he says, "It is neither begotten nor begets;" secondly, "It is a harmonic number and contains all the liarmonies;" thirdly, "It is a theological nunfaer, consisting of perfection;" fourthly. it is composed of perfect numbers, and "participates of their virtues." He may find better reasons for the importance attached to this number. Much of it is doubtless due to its prominence in the Bible. The seven days of creation led to a septenary division of time to all ages. Several of the Jewish feasts lasted seven days. Elisha sent Naaman to wash in the Jordan seven times, and Elijah sent his servant from Mount Carmel seven times to look for rain. For seven days seven priests with seven trumpets invested Jericho, and on the seventh day they encompassed it seven times. There were seven virtues, and seven mortal sins.  irirtance esexed There nbeee 'I.  The ancients not only noted the importance of seven as an astronomical period, but also con, fleeted with the seven planets the seven metals then known. The soul of man was anciently supposed to be controlled by this double septenary combination. It was also an ancient belief that a change in the body of man occurs every seventh year. The Koran enumerates seven heavens. There was an old Russian superstition to the same effect, and a ladder of seven rounds WU placed the grave to enable the defunct to ascend these aewen grades.