Year: 1861

Horseshoe superstition.


The horseshoe was of old held to be
of especial service as a security against
attacks Of evil spirits. The virtue may
have been assigned, perhaps, by the rule
Of oontraries, from its being thing in
compatible with the cloven foot OF the
evil one; or from the rude resemblance
which the horse shoe bears to the rays of
glory which, in ancient pictures, are
made to surround the heads of saints and
angels; or, finally, from somo notion Of
its purity acquired in passing the fire.
This latter supposition receives some
countenance from the method resorted to
for the cure of horses that had become
vicious, or afflicted with any distemper
which village farriery did not under
stand; such disease was invariably attri-
buted to witchcraft, and the mode of
cure seems to imply the belief that the
imperfect publication by fire Of the shoes
which the animal wore, had afforded an
inlet to malevolent influences. Accord
ingly, the horse was led to the smithy,
the door was closed and barred, the shoes
were taken off and placed in the fire, and
the witch or warlock was speedily under
the necessity of removing the spell under
which the animal suffered. ar r1 d


We have further proof that the efficacy
of fire constituted part of the virtues
inherent in the horseshoe, in the manner
of reclaiming bewitched milk. All who
have the management of dairy know
that at certain seasons of the year butter
will not "come," from cream, nor milk
be converted into curd, with the same
sase at others. The modern reasoners
on the causes of things look upon this as
being occasioned by the sort Of food the
cattle take; but all the farmers wives of
the last century knew perfectly well that
it was the effect of nothing else but some
persons evil eye, and took their measures
accordingly. On the return of the milk
maids from the loaning with their milk
pans upon their heads, when the foremost
ready to drop horse shoe, heated red
hot, into the milk. loa-o') .sau


1t was necessary that the ceremony
should be performed at the instant when
the young woman was lowering the pail;
and as it was further required that no
one should be aware of the good DANES
intentions, the troop of milkmaids were
often thrown into the utmost dsmay by
the sudden fbubbling and Kissing, and the
screams Of their companions more imme-
diately concerned. The loss of the whole
meal of milk was the usual consequence,
to say nothing of the work created for
the cooper by the crash of tumbling
cogues, but these were matters of inferior
Importance, the future produotiveness of
the milk being an ample set off against
any lesser mischances--and that it need
scarcely be added, was inva riably secured


"A horseshoe was commonly nailed
upon the doors of the houses; but this
was not at all times sufficient protec
tlon, as in summer the cows were not
driven home at night, but MIXED in a
field, and shut up in open inclosure.---
When people began to be half ashamed
of superstition, instead of mailing the
horseshoe on the outside, they fixed it
on the inside of the doors both of dwell.
ing house and farm offices, and in that |
situation it may at this day be detected
in many parts of this country.-Thus, the
devil, though not openly defed, might
come to burn his fingers if he attempted
an entrance. nsdi hnR eon gHiTasgf]


Sailors are, or were, for the most part
careful to have horse shoe nailed to the |
mizzen mast, or some where on deck near
midships, for the protection Of the vessel


The Chinese have their toombs built
in the shape Of horse shoe, as we are
iniornod oy Capt. Hall, in his voyage to
Loo Choo; which custom is very curious,
as il may be fairly regarded as branch
of the superstitution prevalent among
ourselves. -iitfa2 p h'Alo


GUARD AGAINST VULGAR LAYGuAGE-