Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1885 — Horseshoes. [ARTICLE]

Horseshoes.

Now that the horseshoe, as a pretty symbol of good luck, forms so much a part of household decoration, it may not be amiss to saya word about its significance in the olden times. The horseshoe was anciently believed to be an effectual protection against witchcraft and witches, who could no more overcome the sanctity of its semi-cir-cular form than they could the movement of a stream, which even the most powerful could not cross, if in theehape of a running brook, as witness the race of Tam O'Shanter, who, pursued by them, passed the keystone of the bridge himself, while the tail of his good mare, on the wrong side thereof, became the prey of the pursuing warlockß. We have seen the horseshoe nailed to the lintel of bams and masts of vessels, for a witch, mounted on her broomstick, might take it into her head to descend upon some unlucky craft, or she might call up the surging* waves to engulf it, unless it were protected by this holy symbol. For a horse to cast a shoe was a bad omen when a gallant, knight was about to start upon some expedition; hence, if a horse stumbled, which he would be sure to do if imperfectly shod, it was unlucky. We do not in our day believe much in witches or “bad signs, ” but everybody is pleased with the good luck implied in the finding of a horseshoe. By an old Norman custom, which has l>een preserved to the prqp ent, the venerable castle as Oskham is plentifully bedecked with horseshoes. The Lords de Freres were in olden time entitled' to demand from every BarOn on his first passing through the town a shoe from off one of his horse’s feet. There are several shoes over 200 years old, the most notable being one given by Queen Victoria. Tho Princess of Wales recently visited tho town, and, in conformity with the custom, a gilt shoe with her name inscribed upon it ’ will be fastened to the castle wall. In our day it is not mnch to give a gilded horseshoe, as did the Princess of Wales, but it -was a serious thing to an old knight, who, giving direct from his horse’s hoof parted with his good luck. —Brooklyn Magazine.