Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1917 — SUPERSTITIONS ARE MANY [ARTICLE]

SUPERSTITIONS ARE MANY

Seafaring Men, Especially, Have Many Signs Which Are Believed to Indicate Good or Bad Luck. Old actors believe the witches’ song in “Macbeth” to possess the power of casting evil spells, and the majority of them strongly dislike to play in the piece. Some of the creatures met with at sea are considered unlucky. If a shark is seen following a ship for days it is thought that someone on board is doomed to die shortly. The birds known ns Mother Cary’s chickens, ’ when they perch upon the rigging of a vessel, are believed to be the messengers of a storm. Dolphins or porpoises seen in a calm are unfavorable omens. The naming of a warship after stinging or venomous things is considered unlucky. In Newfoundland the superstitious say that if a ship has a starboard list it is a sign of a quick passage; a port list, it is a sign of a long passage. The throwing overboard during a calm of old clothes too bad to wear, which have been saved for the purpose, is supposed to bring a wind. If the nails of the hand be cut with a knife or scissors it will bring a head Wind. A vessel which sticks upon the way while being launched is certain to be unlucky, in the lore of the sea. A vessel painted-blue is supposed to be a hoodoo and to bring bad weather. Misfortune to a vessel is sure to be followed by ill luck to all vessels bearing the same name.