A Treasury of American Superstitions

520 Pages·1948·62.514 MB·English

by  Claudia de Lys

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ATreasury
American
of
SUPERSTITIONS
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A TREASURY DF
AMERICAN SUPERSTITIONS
CLAUDIA de LYS
In A TREASURY OF AMERI-
CAN SUPERSTITIONS, you will
find an abbreviated survey of
current beliefs and practices,
which are traceable, for the most
part, to primitive and other sym-
bolic origins and expressions. The
sole aim of the author is to clarify
the approach to seemingly mysti-
fying questions and clear the
mind of any possible fear or prej-
udice. The book is an adventure
in the form of a short journey in-
to folklore, or symbolic lore,
through the simplest route; that
is, via the familiar by-paths and
lanes of sayings, customs, beliefs
and superstitions, in everyday use.
Throughout the volume, authori-
ties in various fields and many na-
tionalities, have been drawn up-
on extensively.
SIGMUND FREUD:
"I've spent
many fascinating hours with Claudia
de Lys discussing early religion and
symbolism. ... She seems to have
been born with an understanding of
tnhatees.e .th.i.n"gs; a penetration I'd call ii
APR 3 1996
ARCHBISHOP MITTV LIBRARY
8728
Archbishop Mitty High School
San Jose. CA 95129

A TREASURY OF
American
Superstitions
BY
Claudia de Lys
PHILOSOPHICAL LIBRARY
New York
Archbishop Mitty High School
'
Library
DO Mitty Way
San Jose. CA 95129
TO MY FRIENDS
Copyright© MCMXLVIIIbyPhilosophicalLibraryInc.
Library Of Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-87440
All rights reserved.
Thisedition ispublishedbyBonanzaBooks
a divisionofCrown Publishers, Inc.
by arrangement with The Philosophical Library, Inc.
c d e f g h
Manufactured in the UnitedStatesOfAmerica
Preface
—
We were provided with folklore in our early years stories of fairies
We
and imps, ghosts and devils and mystic meanings in simple things.
accepted them on the authority of our parents, or the even more com-
pelling authority of our older playmates. Throughout life they remain
aspartofourcommonculturepattern. Because they were learned early
and during our most impressionable years, they have a firm hold and,
no matter how unreasonable, are often difficult to shake off.
Thisisthebackgroundofsuperstition. Ithasthecharm ofchildhood
fantasy. It has the conviction that comes with long familiarity. It often
retains a hold on the mature mind in spite of common sense and even
scientific training. Indeed no one wants to forget the fairy tales and
the mystic meanings, though every educated mind will want to put
them in their place.
This is what Miss Claudia de Lys has done in this book. It is a rich
heritage of fantasy that she culls with grateful care. These are not
myths of strange and ancient days but commonplace ideas. Some are
supernatural, some unnatural. Some are mere whimsy, others fearsome.
Butthenumberand diversity ofsuperstitious ideas that thrive all about
us in this age of science is impressive. Miss de Lys knows and loves
them all as others love tales of adventure or of mystery.
Butshe tucks them neatly in their place. When carefully examined,
each proves to have a human origin, sometimes all too human. There
is no need then to deny them or to fight them with scientific laws and
material wisdom. Far better to understand that they are the stuff that
dreams are made of and to cherish their imagery.
Itisthis defthandlingthatmakes these chapterson American super-
stitions so delightful and so valuable. They can be read as Miss de Lys
wrotethem,with alovingsmile at human frailty and, incidentally, with
vast profit from her astonishing scholarship.
Dr. Gerald Wendt,
Editorial Director,
Science Illustrated.
New York.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Throughout A Treasury of American Superstitions, authorities in
various fields and many nationalities, havebeen drawn upon extensively.
It would be a physical impossibility to give due credit to each one in-
dividually. Therefore, my appreciation and gratitude are herewith
expressed to all those whose knowledge and "brain-children" appear
here and there, in this book.
However, I would like to mention a few, such as Waldemar
KaemprTert, John J. O'Neill, Gobind Behari Lai, D. A. Laird, David
Dietz, and many other Science editors, and Dr. Hamilton Montgomery
of the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Alfred Edward Wiggam, E. V. Durling, Uncle
Ray (Ramon CofTman), Lawrence Gould, and many other writers
whose syndicated columns appear all over America and elsewhere;
Robert R. Coles (astronomy); Bernard Chiego, Sc.D. (bio-chemistry);
William J. Plews (Ele—ctrical engineer and inventor); Alan Devoe
(widely known writer Down to Earth, The American Mercury);
—
Lucy Shepherd-Kilbourn (Metaramist Color consultant); Freling
Foster (Keep Up With the World, Collier's); A. Cressy Morrison,
(Former president of the New York Academy of Sciences); Henrv
S. Evans, Orientalist (Science Illustrated); Eleanore J. Kendrick, loyal
friend and adviser, and Dr. DagobertD. Runes, editorofthePhilosoph-
ical Library publications, whose valuable suggestions have made A
Treasury of American Superstitions possible.
Claudia de Lys
Dear Reader:
In A Treasury of American Superstitions, you will find an abbrevi-
atedsurveyofcurrent beliefs and practices,which are traceable, for the
My
mostpart, to primitive, and other symbolic origins and expressions.
sole aim is to clarify the approach to seemingly mystifying questions
and clear the mind of any possible fear or prejudice. However, I do
notclaim to have the last wordin any of the subjects presented. I stand
ready to accept any future knowledge which may be unveiled, as the
years go by, for further use and interpretation.
A Treasury of American Superstitions is an adventure in the form
of a short journey into folklore, or symbolic lore, through the simplest
route; that is, via the familiar by-paths and lanes of sayings, customs,
beliefs and superstitions, in everyday use. Because of the vast territory
to be covered, which covers a multitude of ideas and ideals, overa span
of thousands of years, only a bird's-eye view may be indulged in at
this time, so to speak. This mental flight into the past, with which to
bridge the present will serve, I hope, to give the "lift" for which it
is intended. The itinerary was planned for us to meet on the avenue
where there is neither sect, class or race and the passport to frontiers
we may have to cross is an open mind, so let us embark on the cosmic
chariot of thought transmuted into the printed word, shall we? If it
gives your exploring spirit half as much joy and understanding in read-
ing it, as I have achieved already in being your anthropological guide,
wewillbothhaveachievedourgoal, thatofsharingacultural excursion
onthe road which leads to mutual knowledge and happiness.
Claudia de Lys
New York City
Thewore you know the more luck you will have.
—
CONFUCIUS