TOMMY’S MASCOTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17206, 28 June 1916, Page 2

TOMMY’S MASCOTS.

CARRIED FOR LUCK. Tommy is a staunch believer in his mascot—his lnck-bringer, as he terms it. - and if his simple faith in its efficacy in the hour of danger in any way helps to “ huck him up,” who amongst us is going to try to upset his belief? Not that it would matter one iota to that gallant fighting man—he would havhdns mascot just the same! i Mascots are not a modern institution, and the strain of superstition which they symbolise, in spite of our advanced educational ideas, is but the “carrying on” of a belief which has existed for many thousands of years, not only in the power possessed by them to bring good fortune, but also to bring safety in time of wav. * DOGS FIRST FAVOURITES. / It is safe to say that nearly every regiment—colonial us well as British—has its “ little hit o’ luck ” in the form of something alive, and besides the regimental mascots, many individual soldiers have private pets to which they arc devoted.

As is only natural, dogs take a foremost pinto among military mascots—dbgs of almost every size and breed—but in addition to what may die the regimental pet,. Tommy not infrequently has a four-footed hero of his own, which, somehow or other, ho lips managed to smuggle into the trenches. Eton puss has been found “somewhero in France ” in very near proximity to the firing line, cared for and looked after by an affections to Tommy. Apropos cf which there is a pathetic little story about a kitten which a soldier had picked up and adopted. She was a stray kitten, a victim to the cruel practice-of turning cats adrift to fend for themselves when the house is shut up for the family holiday., A lonely Tommy chanced to come along, and spied tho forlorn, half-starved little creature mewing piteously on the doorstep of her former home. He picked up the tiny mite, and put her in the pocket of his 'tunic, where she snuggled down comfortably.

Tommy and puss soon became great friends, 'and when tho regiment, went to the front a week later the man could not bear to part with his furry little comrade. But, alas! death separated the pair before they had been long in action, and when the stretcherbearers came round they found Tommy lying very still, with faithful puss in the curve of his arm. She was almost starving, but had not left him even to seek food, and though she was h-01l looked after, she never seemed the same cat again.

A WEDDING-DRESS BUTTON. The mascot of the individual soldier often takes many peculiar shapes and forms, but no matter what the appearance of the treasured talisman may b 0 if it briugs good luck to the wearer. The writer heard of a strapping Scots lad who, when lie went over to f< ranee with the original British Expeditionary Force, took with him a button oft his mother’s wedding-dress. Although ho has been in about a scene of engagements, big and little, lie has never leceived a scratch. Another, an Irishman, took with him a little green silk hag filled with shamrocks, which he pulled himself in a field before lie left, his beloved green, isle. Ho firmly believes that while he wears this on a cord round his neck, nothing will happen to him. His faith has so far been justified, though he has been in the thick of many a fight, the four-leafed shamrock is, of course, supposed to confer ‘‘ health, wealth and happiness,” so that should be a talisman indeed! , WEARING THE HEATHER. Manv of our Scottish soldiers are wearing sprigs of heather, presented to thorn by their wives and sweethearts, as amulets. Numbers of the men, again, who served m couth Africa, pin their faith to lucky empty cartridges, Kruger corns, etc. One of such coins formed part ol a set which, at the time the order. To mobilise was issued, was m the keeping of a pawnbroker. On receiving the call, the owner obtained his property as soon as possible, and; having pocket ed a. certain piece from it, went oft quite contentedly. That piece is aented through having diverted a bullet in a tight corner in South Africa. Many mascots, indeed, have quite remarkable histories. One soldier, for instance, wears suspended from Ins nock by a ribbon a ring which, should its possessor-bring it back to Britain, will have gene through three campaigns. A young woman, who received from her mother, gave sweetheart when he was about to embark for the Soudan: then another member of tlie family carried it dui ing the war in South Africa ; and now it is in France. Another of the “lucks” which accompany our troops has a history which is probably unique. It is a regimental medal which was bestowed on one of Wellington's men for conspicuous gallantry in Spain, and it has been in nearly all our campaigns ever since. KILLED ONE; SAVED ANOTHER! Writing recently to a contemporary, a. gentleman tells the following strange story of a mascot in the present war. At the battle of Mens one of his brothers was killed by a fragment of shell which penetrated his brain. I ho fragment was sent home, and was adopted as a mascaot by a younger brother who was about to proceed to tho front, and who wore it suspended from his neck. “On his very first day in the trenches near Ypres,” the gentleman writes, “a German, bullet struck the mascot and shattered it, inflicting only a slight surface wound on his chest. Thus the fragment, which killed one brother, saved the life of the other.” A. great many, it notoll, of our brave British hovs carry a small Bible, and times without number this has proved a true talisman, having diverted, many a death-dealing'bullot from its billet. Another; very popular mascot is the half of a- broken coin, the other half being left with a loved one at home. Indeed, it is perhaps net too . much to say that the mascots carried by manv of cur troops are treasured as much fer the reason that they have usually been given to them by a relative or friend as that the wearers believe in their powers as iucTs-bfingrs. INDIAN COMR ADES. As one. might naturally expect, the Indian soldiers have a firmly-rooted belief in the power of mascots, and when the Indian Expeditionary Force came over they carried many “lucky charms. Passages from the Koran, ♦Sanskrit* v orses, versus fi'Givi the Vedas, all of these are well known. Then there wore learned wise men, who carried a little “ gunpatt,” or tiny ivory elephant, representing the God of lVysdoni. tut this would ensole them to “ control destiny.” In the East, of course, the white elephanj/is an object, of veneration, sacred indeed. In Ava and Siam it lias a. title. j s called “Lord.” and has a minister of high rank to superintend the arrangements cf its household. It is never allowed to do anv work, and has special revenues set apart for its food and luxuries. _ _ . A very ancient Hindoo charm is that known ns the “Swastika,” which is really a corruption of the sign ot Jupiter. Small replicas of this' sign are carried bv many Hindoos, but not indiscriminately. Only those who are “under” Jupiter wear them. If, for instance, anyone is born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st or 30th of any month, then the “Swastika” will be very lucky indeed. Many Orientals, too, carry a- ruby or garnet, if born under Mars, as that makes them very powerful in a fight, and .able, so it is said I to “ vanquish

many qnemies without themselves being injured in even one smallest particular.” IN RUSSIA. Our Russian Allies carry some curious talismans. Various metal figures are highly favoured, while considerable reliance is placed on tho powers of broken pieces of chains with which prisoners have previously been bound. These are generally blessed by a prist, and are supposed i the wearer against death in warfare. German soldiers are equally superstitious, and it is said that nearly all those who have been taken prisoner possess written prayers against death. In addition to iliise. many Germans wear various charms hung round their necks, which they believe will protect them against steel and bullet. /