Charleston, the place and the people, by St Julien Ravenel With illustrations by Vernon Howe Bailey . present limits were attained. A wharf or pier which projected from South Bay, witha sort of tea-house at the extremity, where people droveof a warm afternoon to enjoy the breeze, and WatsonsBotanic Garden, were the only outdoor places of amuse-ment. It is customary to speak of the superstitions of our an-cestors, — a phrase which often comes strangely fromthose who eagerly receive every ism of the present. Itmust be confessed, however, that whether they were moreor less superstitious than ours
Charleston, the place and the people, by St Julien Ravenel With illustrations by Vernon Howe Bailey . present limits were attained. A wharf or pier which projected from South Bay, witha sort of tea-house at the extremity, where people droveof a warm afternoon to enjoy the breeze, and WatsonsBotanic Garden, were the only outdoor places of amuse-ment. It is customary to speak of the superstitions of our an-cestors, — a phrase which often comes strangely fromthose who eagerly receive every ism of the present. Itmust be confessed, however, that whether they were moreor less superstitious than ourselves, their fancies were sim-pler and more candidly expressed. Everything was an omen of good or bad luck. Youtook your life in your hand if you went your way when arabbit had crossed your path; but if he came from a grave-yard, to keep his left hind foot in your pocket preservedyou from danger. If the screech owl hooted, death wasto be expected; soap could only be boiled, or corn planted,on a waxing moon. A waning one would thin the first,and waste the ears of the second. Calabash (the large. I—,..js-; ^, SX\ N> •y^v^- vmi. (Wjl^ General William Washingtons House Side view. 407 408 CHARLESTON water gourd) seed must be thrown carelessly on the sur-face of the ground, to grow where it listed. To sow it inprepared soil would bring disaster on your family. The beliefs common to most peoples were held with in-tensity. He was almost a murderer who should invite hisguests to sit down thirteen at table. A mirror crackingwithout cause was as terrifying as to the Lady of bird flying into a house, or a picture falling from thewall, made many a cheek turn pale; and to start on a jour-ney, marry a wife, or christen a child on a Friday wouldhave been thought impious. There is a certain country road not very far from thetown. Along one part of it, several miles in length, abig black dog bounds at morning and evening attacks no one, makes no sound, but keeps st
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Keywords: ., bookauthorravenelh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1906
