WHY HORSESHOES ARE LUCKY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2209, 22 August 1910, Page 2

WHY HORSESHOES ARE LUCKY.

Why is an old horseshoe supposed to bring luck to the owner if hung in the hall or behind the door ? Horseshoes were at one time nailed up as a protection against witches. Many houses in the West End of London had one of these emblems of superstition on the threshold, and in Monmouth Street there were seventeen in 1813, and seven as late as 1855. Lord Nelson had„a horseshoe nailed to the mast of his ship Victory, and our forefathers loved to nail one* on their house door. There is a legend that the devil one day asked St. Dunstan—who was noted for his skdll in shoeing horses—to shoe his "single hoof." Knowing who his customer was, Dunstan tied him tightly to the wall, and proceeded with his job, but purposely put the devil into so much pain that he roared for mercy. And it was not until he had promised that he would never again enter a place where he saw a horseshoe displayed that Dunstan would release his captive.

When Robert set forth on his canvassing expedition, armed with his bag of sample books, his heart was keen as mustard, and as hopeful as the Kangaroo's on the eve of a Test Match. By George, he would make 'em buy ! But when Robert returned from his canvassing expedition still armed with his big bag of sample books—his Kangaroo tail was between his legs, and he handed in hifi resignation to the manager of the firm. "Come, come !" reassured the manager. "You shouldn't be so easily discouraged ! Few make a success at the start ; and you tell me you only went into two places ?" "Yes ; only two," answered Robert, lugubriously. "But one was a real estate agent, who persuaded me to sign a contract for three plots in Fizzlehurst, and the other was a tailor, who sold me a suit of clothes I had use for, and which I didn't want !"