table, it is a sign that one of the three will be married within a year.
54. To be startled by a snake is a sign of sickness.
55. When thirteen persons sit down together at table, it is a sign that
one of the party will die within a year. Fosbroke, in his _Encyclopædia
of Antiquities_, states that “thirteen in company was considered
an unlucky number by the ancient Romans;” but he does not give any
classical authority for this statement.
There is at Dantzic a clock, which at 12 admits, through a door,
Christ and the eleven, shutting out Judas, who is admitted at 1. But
is not the belief older than the clock? The iniquity of Judas may have
led him to be considered the thirteenth at the Lord’s Supper; and
his self-destruction may have given to the number thirteen its fatal
association.
It has, however, been explained away by M. Quetelet, in his work on
_Probabilities_ as follows: “If the probability be required, that out
of thirteen persons, of different ages, one of them, at least, shall
die within a year, it will be found that the chances are about one to
one that one death, at least, will occur. This calculation, by means
of a false interpretation, has given rise to the prejudice, no less
ridiculous, that the danger will be avoided by inviting a greater
number of guests, which can only have the effect of augmenting the
probability of the event so much apprehended.”
This belief obtains in Italy and Russia, as well as in England. Moore,
in his _Diary_, vol. ii., p. 206, mentions there being thirteen at
dinner, one day, at Madame Catalani’s, when a French countess, who
lived with her up-stairs, was sent for to remedy the grievance.
“Lord L(ansdowne) said he had dined once abroad with Count Orloff, and
perceived he did not sit down at dinner, but kept walking from chair
to chair; he found afterward it was because the Narishken were at
table, who, he knew, would rise instantly if they perceived the number
thirteen, which Orloff would have made by sitting down himself.” (See
63.)
56. If a dog bays under your window at night, it portends sickness or
death.
Shakspeare ranks this among omens. In the play of Henry VI., he says:
“The owl shrieked at thy birth; an evil sign!
The night-crow cry’d, aboding luckless time;
_Dogs howl’d_, and hideous tempests shook down trees.”
57. The howling of dogs, says Grose, is a certain sign that some one of
the family will very shortly die.
The following passage is in the “Merry Devil” of Edmonton, 1631:
“I hear the watchful dogs
With hollow howling tell of thy approach.”
58. If you break your shoe-string, look out for your sweetheart, for
she will bestow her love upon a stranger.
59. A flake of soot hanging at the bars of the grate, denotes the
visit of a stranger, like the fungus of a candle, from the part of the
country nearest the object.
Dr. Goldsmith, in his “Vicar of Wakefield,” among the omens of his
hero’s daughters, tells us “purses bounded from the fire.” In some
parts of England, the cinders that bound from the fire are carefully
examined by old women and children, and according to their respective
forms are called either _coffins_ or _purses_; and consequently thought
to be presages of death or wealth.
A coal, says Grose, in the shape of a coffin, flying out of the fire
towards any particular person, betokens their death not far off.
Cowper alludes to this superstition in the following lines in his
“Winter Evening:”
“Me oft has fancy, ludicrous and wild,
Sooth’d with a waking dream of _houses_, _towers_,
_Trees_, _churches_, and strange visages express’d
_In the red cinders_, while with poring eye
I gazed, myself creating what I saw.
Nor less amused have I quiescent watch’d
_The sooty films that play upon the bars,_
_Pendulous, and foreboding_ in the view
Of superstition, _prophesying still_,
Though still deceived, some stranger’s near approach.”
60. To drop a slice of bread, with the buttered side down, is a sign
that a visitor will come hungry.
61. To eat up all the food which is on the table at tea-time, is a sign
that the morrow will be a fair day.
62. In olden times it was not considered a good omen to find money.
Melton says that “it is a sign of ill-luck to find money.” We have seen
superstitious people, at the present day, keep for luck any piece of
money they found, but Greene, in his “Art of Cony-Catching,” a very old
work, tells us: “’Tis ill luck to keep found money.” Therefore it must
be spent. Mason, in his “Anatomie of Sorcerie,” 1612, enumerating our
superstitions, mentions as one omen of good luck, “if drink be spilled
upon a man: or if he find old iron.” Hence it is accounted a lucky omen
to find a _horseshoe_. (See 8.)
63. The ancients thought there was luck in odd numbers. In setting a
hen, says Grose, the good women hold it as an indispensible rule to
put an odd number of eggs. All sorts of remedies are ordered to be
taken, three, seven, or nine times. Salutes of cannon consist of an odd
number. Notwithstanding these opinions in favor of odd numbers, the
number thirteen is considered very ominous. (See 55.)
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
The belief in omens has existed in all ages and countries, and traces
of it linger even yet in the most civilized communities, in the dread,
for instance, that many entertain of sitting down to table in a party
of thirteen. Not a little of the philosophy of omens is contained in
the Scottish proverb: “Them who follow freits, freits follow;” meaning
that a fantastic belief in impending evil paralyzes the endeavor that
might prevent it.
There are few omens, perhaps none, which are not universal in their
authority, though every land in turn fancies them (like its proverbs)
of local prescription and origin. The death-watch extends from America
to Cashmere, and across India diagonally to the remotest nook of
Bengal, over three thousand miles distance from the entrance of the
Indian Punjaub. A hare crossing a man’s path, on starting in the
morning, has been held in all countries alike to prognosticate evil in
the course of that day.
WEATHER OMENS.
FOR FINE AND DRY WEATHER OF LONG CONTINUANCE.
1. If the wind be north, north-west, or east, then veer to the
north-east, remain there two or three days without rain, and then veer
to the south without rain; and if thence it change quickly, though
perhaps with a little rain, to the north-east, and remain there--such
fine weather will last occasionally for two months.
2. If there be dry weather with a weak south wind for five, six, or
seven days, it having previously blown strongly from the same quarter.
3. If spiders in spinning their webs, make the terminating filaments
long, we may, in proportion to their length, conclude that the weather
will be serene, and continue so for ten or twelve days.
4. If there are no falling stars to be seen on a bright summer’s
evening, you may look for fine weather.
5. If there be a change from continued stormy or wet to clear and dry
weather, at the time of new or full moon, or a short time before or
after, and so remain until the second day of the new or full moon, it
is likely to remain fine till the following quarter; and if it change
not then, or only for a very short time, it usually lasts until the
following new or full moon; and if it does not change then, or only for
a very short time, it is likely to continue fine and dry for four or
five weeks.
6. If there be a change of weather at the time of the quarters, &c.
(under the same circumstances as in No. 5), it will probably last for
some time.
7. Spiders generally alter their webs once in 24 hours; if they do this
between six and seven in the evening, there will be a fine night; if
they alter their web in the morning, a fine day; if they work during
rain, expect fine weather; and the more active and busy the spider is,
the finer will be the weather.
8. If near the full moon there be a general mist before sunrise; or
9. If there be a sheep-sky, or white clouds driving to the north-west,
it will be fine for some days.
FOR FOUL AND WET WEATHER.
10. If the sun rise pale, or pale-red, or even dark-blue, there will be
_rain during the day_.
11. If the clouds at sunrise be red, there will be _rain the following
day_.
12. If at sunrise many dark clouds are seen in the west, and remain,
there will be _rain on that day_.
13. If the sun rise covered with a dark-spotted cloud; _rain the same
day_.
14. If in the winter there be a red sky at sunrise; _steady rain same
day_; in summer, _showers and wind_.
15. If the sun set in dark heavy clouds; _rain next day_.
16. But if it rain directly; _wind the following day_.
17. If the sun set pale or purple; _rain or wind the following day_.
18. If the sun set, and there be a very red sky in the east, _wind_; in
the south-east, _rain_.
19. If long strips of clouds drive at a slow rate high in the air, and
gradually become larger, the sky having been previously clear, there
will be wet.
20. If there be many falling stars on a clear evening, in the summer,
there will be _thunder_.
21. If there be a change of the wind from the north-west or west, to
the south-west or south, or else from the north-east or east, to the
south-east or south; _wet_.
22. If the sun burn more than usual, or there be a halo round the sun
during fine weather; _wet_.
23. If it rain and the sun shine; _showers_.
24. If the full moon rise pale; _wet_.
25. If the full moon rise red; _wind_.
26. If the stars appear larger, and closer, and flicker; _rain or wind_.
27. If small white clouds, with rough edges, be seen to gather
together; _there will be wind_.
28. Before thunder it often begins to blow.
29. If there be a fleecy sky, unless driving north-west; _wet_.
30. If clouds at different heights float in different directions.
31. If an assemblage of large or small clouds spread out, or become
thicker and darker.
32. If clouds suddenly appear in the south.
33. If the lower clouds drive more from the south than those above.
34. If there be rain about two hours after sunrise, it will be followed
by _showers_.
35. If there be a damp fog or mist, accompanied with wind; _wet_.
36. If there be a halo round the moon, in fine weather; and the larger
the circle, the nearer the _rain_.
37. If the stars above 45 degrees, especially the North Star, flicker
strongly and appear closer than usual, there will be _rain_.
38. If the morning be clear and sunny, in summer or autumn, there will
be _rain_.
39. If the fields in the morning be covered with a heavy wet fog, it
will _generally rain within two or three days_.
40. “A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd’s warning.”
FOR STORM.
41. If the clouds be of different heights, the sky above being grayish
or dirty blue, with hardly any wind stirring; the wind, however,
changing from W. to S., or sometimes to S. E., without perceptibly
increasing in force.
42. If there be a clouded sky, and dark clouds driving fast (either
with the wind or more from the south), under the higher clouds, violent
gusts of wind.
43. If there be long points, tails, or feathers hanging from thunder
or rain-clouds, five, six, or more degrees above the horizon, with
little wind in summer, thunder may be expected; but the storm will be
generally of short duration.
44. If there be a light blue sky, with thin, light, flying clouds,
whilst the wind goes to the south without much increase in force; or a
dirty-blue sky, where no clouds are to be seen; storm.
45. If the sun be seen double, or more times reflected in the clouds,
expect a heavy storm.
46. If the sun set with a very red sky in the east, expect stormy wind.
47. If two or three rings be seen round the moon, which are spotted and
spread out, expect a storm of long continuance.
48. If porpoises and whales sport about ships.
49. If sea-gulls and other birds fly inland.
50. Storms are most frequent in December, January and February. In
September, there are generally one or two storms. If it blow in the
day, it generally hushes toward evening; but if it continue blowing
then, it may be expected to continue. The vernal equinoctial gales are
stronger than the autumnal.
FOR THUNDER AND HEAVY RAIN.
51. If long horizontal strips appear with two or three edges spreading
out at top into feathers, and passing over the middle of other clouds,
generally there will be thunder.
52. If the clouds be uniformly black, or dark gray.
53. In May and July it thunders most; in May, expect thunder with a
south-west wind.
54. If there be north-east or easterly wind in the spring, after a
strong increase of heat, and small clouds appear in different parts of
the sky; or if the wind change from east to south at the appearance of
clouds preceded by heat.
55. If a morning fog form into clouds, at different heights, which
increase in size and drive in layers.
56. If clouds float at different heights and rates, but generally in
opposite directions.
57. If there be many “falling stars” on a fine summer’s eve.
58. If there be sheet lightning, with a clear sky, on spring, summer,
and autumn evenings.
59. If the wind be hushed with sudden heat.
60. If clover contract its leaves.
61. If there be thunder in the evening, there will be much rain and
showery weather.
FOR THE APPROACH OF THUNDER.
62. If an east wind blow against a dark heavy sky from the westward,
the wind decreasing in force as the clouds approach.
63. If the clouds rise and twist in different directions.
64. If the birds be silent.
65. If cattle run round and collect together in the meadows.
FOR CONTINUED THUNDER SHOWERS.
66. If there be showery weather, with sunshine, and increase of heat
in the spring, a thunder storm may be expected every day, or at least
every other day.
ABATEMENT OF THUNDER STORMS.
67. If the air be very dry, with clear, yet cooler weather; or if one
or two following days the atmosphere be heavy, with a little damp
falling.
68. With a north wind it seldom thunders; but with a south and
south-west wind, often.
FOR COLDER WEATHER.
69. If the wind change to the north and north-east.
70. If the wind change, _in summer only_, to the north-west.
71. If the wind shift to the east _in summer only_.
72. If the wind shift from south to south-east _in winter_.
FOR INCREASE OF WARMTH OR HEAT.
73. If the wind shift round to the south and south-west.
74. If the wind change from east, north-east, or north, to north-west
and west, _in the winter_.
75. If the wind change to the east, _in summer only_; especially if
from north-east.
76. If the wind change to south-east, _especially in summer_.
FOR FROST.
77. If birds of passage arrive early from colder climates.
78. If the cold increase _whilst it snows_, as soon as it begins to
freeze.
79. If the wind blow north-east _in winter_.
80. If the ice crack much, expect the frost to continue.
81. If the mole dig his hole two feet and a half deep, _expect a very
severe winter_. If two feet deep, not so severe; one foot deep, a mild
winter.
82. If water-fowl or sparrows make more noise than usual; also if
robins approach nearer houses than usual; _frost_.
83. If there be a dark, gray sky, with a south wind.
84. If there be continued fogs.
85. If the fire burn unusually fierce and bright in winter there will
be frost and clear weather; if the fire burn dull, expect damp and rain.
FOR THAW.
86. If snow fall in flakes, which increase in size.
87. If the heat increase in the afternoon, or suddenly before twelve
o’clock.
88. If clouds drive up high from the south, south-west, or west.
89. If it freeze, and the barometer fall 20 or 30 hundredths.
HYMEN’S LOTTERY.
Let each one present deposit any sum agreed on, but of course some
trifle; put a complete pack of fifty-two cards, well shuffled, in a bag
or reticule. Let the party stand in a circle, and the bag being handed
around, each draw three cards. Pairs of any are favorable omens of
some good fortune about to occur to the party, and gets back from the
pool the sum that each agreed to pay. The king of hearts is here made
the god of love, and claims double, and gives a faithful swain to the
fair one who has the good fortune to draw him; if Venus, the queen of
hearts, is with him, it is the conquering prize, and clears the pool;
fives and nines are reckoned crosses and misfortunes, and pay a forfeit
of the sum agreed on to the pool, besides the usual stipend at each new
game; three nines at one draw shows the lady will be an old maid; three
fives, a bad husband.
LIST OF UNLUCKY DAYS,
_Which, to those Persons being males born on them, will generally prove
unfortunate._
January, 3, 4.
February, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20.
March, 5, 6, 12, 13.
May, 12, 13, 20, 21, 26, 27.
June, 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24.
July, 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18.
October, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 31.
November, 1, 3.
Almost all persons (being of the male sex) that are born on the days
included in the foregoing table, will, in a greater or less degree
suffer, not only by pecuniary embarrassment and losses of property,
but will also experience great distress and anxiety of mind, much
dissatisfaction, dissension, and unhappiness in their family affairs,
much dissatisfaction to each other among the married ones (indeed few
of them can ever be happy in the married state), trouble about their
children, daughters forming unfortunate attachments, and a variety of
untoward events of other descriptions which our limits do not allow
us to particularize. The influence of these days are of a quality and
tendency calculated to excite in the minds of persons born on them, an
extraordinary itch for speculation, to make changes in their affairs,
commence new undertakings of various kinds, but all of them will tend
nearly to one point, loss of property and pecuniary embarrassments.
Such persons who embark their capital on credit in new concerns or
engagements, will be likely to receive checks or interruptions to
the progress of their schemes or undertakings. Those who enter into
engagements intended to be permanent, whether purchases, leases,
partnerships, or in short any other speculation of a description which
cannot readily be transferred or got rid of will dearly _repent their
bargains_.
They will find their affairs from time to time much interrupted and
agitated, and experience many disappointments in money matters, trouble
through bills, and have need of all their activity and address to prop
their declining credit; indeed almost all engagements and affairs that
are entered upon by persons born on any of these days will receive some
sort of check or obstruction. The greater number of those persons born
on these days will be subject to weakness or sprains in the knees and
ankles, also diseases and hurts in the legs.
LIST OF UNLUCKY DAYS,
_Which to those persons (being females) born on them will generally
prove unfortunate._
January, 5, 6, 13, 14, 20, and 21.
February, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, and 23.
March, 1, 2, 8, 9, 16, 17, 28, and 29.
April, 24 and 25.
May, 1, 2, 9, 17, 22, 29, and 30.
June, 5, 6, 12, 13, 18, and 19.
July, 3 and 4.
September, 9 and 16.
October, 20 and 27.
November, 9, 10, 21, 29, and 30.
December, 6, 14, and 21.
We particularly advise all females born on these days to be extremely
cautious of placing their affections too hastily, as they will be
subject to _disappointments_ and _vexations_ in that respect; it will
be better for them (in those matters) to be guided by the advice of
their friends, rather than by their own feelings, they will be less
fortunate in placing their affections, than in any other action of
their lives, as many of these marriages will terminate in separations,
divorces, &c. Their courtships will end in elopements, seductions,
and other ways not necessary of explanation. Our readers must be well
aware that affairs of importance begun at inauspicious times, by those
who have been born at those periods when the stars shed their malign
influence, can seldom, if ever, lead to much good; it is, therefore,
that we endeavor to lay before them a correct statement drawn from
accurate astrological information, in order that by strict attention
and care, they may avoid falling into those perplexing labyrinths from
which nothing but that care and attention can save them. The list of
days we have above given, will be productive of hasty and clandestine
marriages--marriages under untoward circumstances, perplexing
attachments, and as a natural consequence, the displeasure of friends,
together with family broils, dissensions, and divisions. We now present
our readers with a
LIST OF DAYS USUALLY CONSIDERED FORTUNATE.
_With respect to Courtship, Marriage, and Love affairs in
general--Females that were born on the following days may expect_
_Courtships and prospects of Marriage, and which will have a happy
termination._
January, 1, 2, 15, 26, 27, 28.
February, 11, 21, 25, 26.
March, 10, 24.
April, 6, 15, 16, 20, 28.
May, 3, 13, 18, 31.
June, 10, 11, 15, 25, 22.
July, 9, 14, 15, 28.
August, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19, 20, 25.
September, 4, 8, 9, 17, 18, 23.
October, 3, 7, 16, 21, 22.
November, 5, 14, 20.
December, 14, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25.
Although the greater number, or indeed nearly all the ladies that are
born on the days stated in the preceding list, will be likely to meet
with a _prospect_ of marriage, or become engaged in some love affair
of more than ordinary importance, yet it must not be expected that
the _result_ will be the same with all of them; with some they will
_terminate_ in _marriage_--with others in disappointment--and some of
them will be in danger of forming _attachments_ that may prove of a
somewhat _troublesome_ description. We shall, therefore, in order to
enable our readers to distinguish them, give a comprehensive and useful
list, showing which of them will be most likely to marry.
Those born within the limits of the succeeding List of Hours, on any
of the preceding days, will be the most likely to _marry_--or will,
at least, have _Courtships_ that will be likely to have a happy
termination.
LIST OF FORTUNATE HOURS.
January 2d. From 30 minutes past 10 till 15 minutes past 11 in the
morning; and from 15 minutes before 9 till 15 minutes before 11 at
night.
15th. From 30 minutes past 9 till 15 minutes past 10 in the morning;
and from 30 minutes past 7 till 15 minutes past 11 at night.
26th. From 30 minutes past 8 till 15 minutes past 9 in the morning; and
from 7 till 15 minutes past 10 at night.
February 11th and 12th. From 30 minutes past 7 till 15 minutes past 8,
in the morning; and from 15 minutes past 6 till 15 minutes before 9 at
night.
21st. From 7 till 15 minutes before 8 in the morning; and from 15
minutes past 5 till 15 minutes before 8 at night.
25th and 26th. From 15 minutes before 7 till 30 minutes past 7 in the
morning; and from 15 minutes before 5 till 30 minutes past 7 in the
evening.
March 10th. From 5 till 15 minutes before 6 in the morning; and from 4
in the afternoon till 15 minutes before 7 in the evening.
April 6th. From 15 minutes past 4 till 5 in the morning; and from 30
minutes past 2 till 15 minutes past 5 in the afternoon.
20th. From 30 minutes past 3 till 15 minutes past 4 in the morning; and
from 30 minutes past 1 till 15 minutes past 4 in the afternoon.
May 3d. From 15 minutes before 3 till 30 minutes past 3 in the morning;
and from 15 minutes before 1 till 30 minutes past 3 in the afternoon.
13th. From 2 till 15 minutes before 3 in the morning; and from 12 at
noon till 15 minutes before 3 in the afternoon.
18th. From 15 minutes before 1 till 30 minutes past 2 in the morning;
and from 15 minutes before 12 at noon till 30 minutes past 2 in the
afternoon.
31st. From 15 minutes before 1 till 30 minutes past 1 in the morning;
and from 15 minutes past 10 in the morning till 15 minutes before 1 in
the afternoon.
June 10th and 11th. From 15 minutes past 10 till 1 in the afternoon;
and from 12 at night till 1 in the morning.
15th. From 10 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon; and from 15
minutes before 12 at night till 15 minutes before 1 in the morning.
25th. From 15 minutes past 9 in the morning till 12 at noon; and from
11 to 12 at night.
29th. From 9 in the morning till 15 minutes before 12 at noon; and from
15 minutes before 11 till 15 minutes before 12 at night.
July 9th. From 15 minutes past 8 till 11 in the morning; and from 10
till 11 at night.
14th and 15th. From 8 till 11 in the morning; and from 10 till 11 at
night.
28th. From 7 till 10 in the morning; and from 9 till 10 at night.