SUPERSTITIONS OF THE POOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 100, 21 January 1908, Page 3

SUPERSTITIONS OF THE POOR.

Such strange superstitions are to be found among educated people that it is hot singular that still moro extraordinary superstitions should be found among the ignorant classes in England, and that those who try to improve tho condition of the poor constantly find themselves checked by. the foolish idea's foi ndcd on the&s'superstitions. In k lecture given, by a lady recently in Loiidon on behalf of tho National Health Society, some of tho more troublesome and injurious beliefs wero dealt with. And these beliefs, sho pointed out, are in tho majority of cases not merely idle tales, not simply whims or fancies, but truths—to the believer —which have 'been handed down to her by her ancestors," and which no amout of ridiculo or chance argument will eradicate. All tho same, the work of advance, in matters relating to hoalth especially, can never make but the most halting progress till these old superstitions, with their coroliorative habits, are exterminated. '

The different. superstitions—many of which, be it noted, have an element of truth in them, which makes their contradiction demand all "th'o more care —were divided into separate gi'ou()s. Thus the lecturer 'dealt in turn with those that concern tho air (it aeeihs strange to know that there are still numberless peoplo who honestly believe that air after sunset is positively poisonous, and to tie excluded at all costs; that tiny babies need only warmth and.no air, so that the best placo for th'cm is tucked right 'down in the middle of the bed), with sunlight, "and with'various kinds of food. Under this heading camo the disastrous, belief among the poor that _ beauty consists in ah alabaster skin, arid that colour is a sign of lack of refinement. Duo to this is tho wide-spread ar.a>mia of the working girls, who manage to secure tho'much-desired pallor by the pernicious process of perpetually chewing various more or less harmful things. Tho common belief that their is no nourishment in milk, befcauso "food is what you can get teeth into," was humourously dealt with, whilo various simple scientific .'facts were suggested as the best means of counteracting these and other mischief provoking fancies.

Next in order came the superstitions on tho evil of water drinking, .of insanity—alasl responsible for so much unmeaning cruelty; on tho-.'fear of washing (it is literally a belief among some poor men that.water touching the spiiw will rob them of their natural strength), on infectious diseases,. on mischievous remedies and quack medicine's, and, lastly, on the treatment.of the dead and flying. Most curious, too, was the part of tho lecturo dealing with thoso extraordinary beliefs in various parts of the country,anent certain animals, which have their origin deeply buried in the mists of antiquity, and yet bear fruits to this day, both disastrous in themselves and absolutely thwarting to the causo of clean■Jineßs and health. Amongst the most curious of these is the belief that n goat is beneficial in,a sick room, that a.black cat looking at.a baby will ■ -se it grievous Varm, and many -Vsterion*.