MASCOTS

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1938, Page 4

MASCOTS

Why do people buy mascots and display them in odd places? The “luck : bringers” hang in the back windows of cars, sit on drawing-room cushions,' go about in aeroplanes, and are used as articles of jewellery. | I Do they really give confidence to their owners? It is difficult to im-l agine that the modern generation actually believes in the personal power] of mascots, so why are there so many, about? Is it merely fashion, or is life so uncertain that some sort. of. prop is needed and the mascot sup-! plies the want? | Perhaps the mascot is the means of, bolstering up failing courage and helping certain natures to have con-, I lidence in themselves, which they I could not have had unless there were I something outside on which they could concentrate. ( The mascot has a great deal to do with the elusive thing we call luck. In the past it was a person, animal or thing calculated to bring good fortune to people or projects. No doubt regimental mascots originated from this idea, which has something in common with the totem. People believed that | certain animals had a kind of kinship, with themselves, and tribes were djs- ( tinguished from each other by a liv-, ing or carved bird or beast supposed, to inhabit the totem, and it was taken' into battle to ensure success.