Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1912 — Sneezing as an Omen [ARTICLE]

Sneezing as an Omen

The only attention we pay to a sneeze at the present day is to endeavor to get rid of the chill which causes it; but a sneeze in the days of old Greece was a matter of great concern and import There was then a god of sneezing, and -great undertakings would even be abandoned If a man sneezed at an inappropriate moment the act being looked upon as the oracle of the god. A sneeze between midnight and noon was looked upon as a fortunate sign, but between noon and midnight it betokened great misfortune. To sneeze to your right was lucky; to the left vnlucky. Two or four sneezes were lucky, one or three very un-

lucky and any undertaking in hand should If possible be abandoned; more than four sneezes did not count. . There is a saying in many parts of England today: “Once a wish, twice a kiss, three times a letter, four times something better." . If people sneesed together it was a good sign, particularly if they happened "to be discussing business. ’