Current Superstitions | Page 8

indicate a habit of association anciently prevalent,
which in early times had the most serious consequences.
The gathering of expectations relating to "Wishes" shows that the name
and idea of folk-lore must not be limited to primitive beliefs, or to the
ideas of uneducated persons. The assumption that an occurrence,
neither unusual nor characterized by any correspondent quality, may
promote the fulfilment of a contemporaneous desire, illustrates the
arbitrary nature of a considerable part of this lore. Nevertheless, it
cannot be doubted that many of these beliefs, if they could be followed
back to their origins, would be found to exhibit some process of
consistent though erroneous reasoning, as exhibited in the case of
wishes made with reference to the state of the moon, hereafter to be
mentioned. It is also to be observed that prayer to the evening star
forms a feature of the usages in question.
Of dreams we are presented with a series in some degree representing
their function in surviving belief. The comparison of these with dream
books, still sold and used, and with a more extensive collection of
superstitions, retained in this and other continents, would no doubt
offer curious results. At present attention may be called only to one
remarkable trait, namely: the interpretation of dreams by contraries.
This practice I conceive to be altogether modern, and to have resulted
from the extension of scientific culture, which has lead to the discredit
of more direct explanations. So far as I am aware, dreams in literature,
ancient or mediæval, are always presumed symbolically to represent
the future, and to be capable of straightforward interpretation.
The usages of folk-medicine form a wide subject, which would occupy
many volumes such as the present; a mere bibliography of the literature
could not be included in the number of pages here allowed. The
gleaning, also, is in this case very imperfect; the greater number of such
"Cures" would fall in that part of the subject here omitted, relating to
the function of animals and plants. In this field, conceptions formerly
operative have not yet disappeared; "the doctrine of signatures," that is
to say, the rule that the healing object is indicated by its resemblance to
the organ affected, has scarcely passed into oblivion, while popular

systems of treatment are still based on rules not essentially different. In
addition to this guiding idea, an exorcistic method has survived; in our
folk-lore is retained the removal of the trouble in virtue of its transfer to
another place or person. Especially in the significant case of warts, such
rule of early medicine operates with full force. Here, as in other
instances, the obscure influence of suggestion plays a complicated part;
belief in the efficacy of any system of treatment appears sufficient to
promote its effect. These charms are perhaps sometimes effective, even
although no conscious attention is paid to the process; but to enter on
this field would be foreign to the present discussion. It is sufficient to
point out that in popular belief the preservation of the theory goes hand
in hand with the survival of the practice.
Weather proverbs form an extensive body of popular observations, here
only partially recorded. From the psychologic point of view, the
principal interest attaches to the mental causes of these prognostics.
Collectors have generally assumed that in this field experience is at the
basis of a great part of the alleged knowledge. It may be so with a few
of the simpler signs; yet, even in respect to these, great diversity is
visible. In general, I should myself attach small importance to this
consideration. Remarkable in man regarded as an intellectual being is
the variation to be observed in the effect of experience. In certain
relations of daily life the savage is as quick to learn, and as accurate in
his judgment, as civilized man; mention need only be made of his skill
in the hunt, and his intimacy with the forest. But under complicated
conditions, whenever this action falls outside of daily habit, he appears
incapable of profiting by observation; on the contrary, it is usually
imagination which dictates presumed experience. The latter rarely
corrects a superstition; as already remarked, discovery of error in the
application of inherited theory is applied only to increase the
complexity of the formula. Not until the existence of a means of record,
and the formation of a body of observations capable of methodical
arrangement, is an erroneous belief superseded, when the true causes of
the events become manifest; of this principle ideas respecting the
weather constitute good illustrations.
Students of this collection will be surprised by the number and vitality

of formulas and beliefs relative to the moon. It is probable that the
majority of the readers of the male sex will have no other associations
with the newly