Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1910 — DO YOU BELIEVE IN SIGNS? [ARTICLE]

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SIGNS?

Omena That Foretell Weather and Dream* That Signify Fate. In all times superstitions have had • powerful hold on men and women, high and low. The great Napoleon himself was a believer in omens, it is chronicled. As times and knowledge have progressed most superstitions have been relegated to their proper sphere, the Boston Herald says, yet even to-day almost every living being is prone to superstitious influence, whether seriously or more out of habit. For instance, how many men choose thirteen as a designating number? Those who do believe the reverse of the old version. Below is a list of the commoner superstitions, leaving out such as are In dally prominence. You may find your “hobby” in the list: Six weeks after you hear the first katydid look out for the frost. Blow out the candle, and If the wick continues long to smolder look for bad weather. If It goes out quickly the weather will be fair. When you hear the first frogs In the spring you may know the frost Is out of the ground. The last Friday of each month Is the almanac index for the next month. If the^weather be fair the month will be likewise; if foul so will the month be. If It storms the first Sunday In the month It will storm every Sunday lu the month. When a person kills a snake he does well to consider what kind of weather he would like. If he hangs the snake up It will rain; if he buries it the' weather will be fair. Rub a cat’s back the wrong way, and If you see the sparks It Is a sign of cold weather. The bones of rheumatic persons ache when a storm Is brewing. When you find tea grounds floating in your cup you know that you "'are going to have company. If the grounds are soft. It is a woman who Is coming; If hard, a man. If the grounds are long the person coming Is tall, If short the visitor will be, short. If you dream of falling and are awakened by the fancied Jar of landing, it is a sign that you are going to be 111. If, however, you awake while still In midair you may be assured you will continue in good health. To dream of a funeral is a sign of a wedding. To dream of a wedding is a sign of a funeral. If you dream of snakes It Is a sign you have an enemy. Let a young woman pin a four-leaf clover over the door and the first pnmarried man who comes in the door will be the one she la th marry. Sleep with a piece of Wedding cake under your pillow for three nights In succession and whatever dream - «s the third night will come to. pass.

Have you white marks on your nails? Put your hands together and repeat this rhyme while In succession you touch finger tips, beginning with thumbs: A friend, a foe, a gift, a beau, a Journey you go. Notice on which Huger nails the marks are and .you will thus gain some inkling of your future. Born on Monday, fair of face. Born on Tuesday, full of God’s grace. Born on Wednesday, merry ajsd glad. Born on Thursday, sour and sad. Born on Friday, godly given. Born on Saturday, work for a living. Born on Sunday, never shall want. So there’s the week and the end on’t. To cut the finger nails on Sunday morning Is a sign you will do something you are ashamed of before the week Is out Pass me salt, pass me sorrow. It used to be a pretty sure sign that a man was conceited if he went about with his hat brim turned up In front. If the bottom of your foot Itches you may know that you are to step on strange lands. Put the wrong foot Out of bed first when you get up' In the morning and you will be cross all day. Always get up with right foot foremost. Don’t make a friend a gift of a knife, for, according to every authority versed in sign lore, If you do, it will cut your friendship. When you have the rheumatism carry a potato In your pocket. The potato will become hard after a time and believers In Its virtue affirm that this Is because of the rheumatism it has absorbed. To find a horseshoe In the road *>s a sign of good luck. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. When you see a shooting star, If you can say “Money before the week’s out” three times before It Is lost sight of you will have some money before the week is out. It Is a sign you are going to be rich If you tumble upstairs. Sneeze twice when you first get up and you will hear of a death before the night. x . In all lands ravens and crows have been considered birds of ill omen. The natives of India believe that elephants have a religion and form of worship. A great Soapy country people believe that the screeching of an owl indicates impending calamity. In Dalmatia it Is an exceedingly auspicious omen for a cat to sneeze when a bride enters the house. In Wales it is believed that if any one kills a wren he will fall down and break a bene before the end of the year. In almost every country the howling of a dog io regarded as a bad omen.

generally predicting death to some person of the household. In France It is believed that the settling of a white pigeon upon a chimney is a sign of speedy death for some one in the house. There is a superstition among the negroes of the south that to meet a frog is a lucky Incident, indicating that the one thus favored is about to receive money from some unexpected quarter. It is a favorite superstition in England that the bacon of swine killed in the waning of the moon will waste away In the process of curing or cooking much more than bacon of hogs killed while the moon is growing