LOVERS’ SUPERSTITIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3204, 27 April 1911, Page 6

LOVERS’ SUPERSTITIONS.

Rather an eerie charm still prevails in Russia. At midnight an unmarried girl, fasting, lays a cloth upon the table, and places bread and cheese upon it, then, leaving the outer door ajar, sits down as if to- eat. and the ghostly visitant who is supposed to come and join her will be her future husband. In connection with this custom a tragedy once occurred. A young and beautiful girl, the daughter of a rich fanner, fell in-love with a dashing young lieutenant stationed in the neighboring town. Knowing this custom of liis countrywomen, the young officer made a bet with his mess-fellows, and-, climbing the barrack wall, reached the girl’s house. He partoook of the supper and departed, the girl all the while believing him to be merely the apparation of the man. But on leaving he forgot his sword, which he had laid aside before sitting down to supper. After he had departed she found the weapon, and treasured it as a momento of his visit. x Time passed, and when the regiment changed quarters the gay lieutenant went too, having probably long ago entirely forgotten the incident, but the girl still kept he sword l hidden, away in her cupboard. A year later she became the bride of another man, who, though he could prove nothing, seems always to have had his suspicions that he had a rival in her affections. Then one day he chanced to find the sword, and, believing her guilty of disloyalty, killed her in a fit of jealous fury. A very ancient . custom, popular among the Greeks, was known as alectryomamcy, or divination by means of a cock. A large circle was drawn on a smooth floor, and sufficient radii were drawn from the centre of the circle to the circumferences to' divide it into twenty-four compartments, one for eacn letter of the alphabet. Next a grain of corn was laid over each of these letters, and, when the bird came in, what were supposed to spell the initials or grains (or letters) he selected to eat were supposed to spell the initials or name of the future husband or wife. Two odd superstitions about the days of the week tell us that: To sneeze on Sunday before you break your fast, You’ll see your true love before a week is past. Thus they say in Devonshire, but- in Herefordshire the line runs : Sneeze on Saturday see your sweetheart to-morrow, which agrees with the belief that if you cut your nails on a Saturday your lover will come on the Sabbath. Fond as lovers are of having each other’s photographs, there is often a distinct aversion to being photographed together, owing to the .superstition that if this is done they will never be "wedded, or, at least, not enjoy happiness in marriage. The same belief forbids lovers to address each other as “husband 1 ” or “wife” before they have the legal right, or they will never do so in reality. Sailors are ever superstitious folk, and they steadily aver _ that if a black silk scarf, similar to their knotted handkerchiefs, be given to a- maid she will never wed the giver. An Irish superstition relates to the finding of a crooked sixpence. This is called a lucky sixpence, and, being cutin twain, one half is kept by the- man the other by the maid, and so long, as the portion is retained will, love remain true and constant. Little wonder the pieces are well treasured; - •