SUPERSTITIONS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
Ste,—One despairs of modern education and good sense when one finds that there is still a number of idiots at large who, out of sheer superstition, are unable to refrain from perpetrating and perpetuating an imbecility such as is exhibited on post- cards which have been delivered at this house thrice within the last few weeks. The handwriting and the addresses are in each case feminine. This is the effusion:—
" GOOD LUCK.
Copy this out and send it to 9 people to whom you wish good luck. The chain was started by an American officer, `Buddie,' and should not be broken. It should go three times round the world, and whoever breaks it will have bad luck. Do it within 24 hours and count 9 days, and you will have great good luck."
Periods of waning faith are generally characterized by reversion to superstitions. Belief in mascots and in other lucky or unlucky omens is one mark of the intellectual degeneracy of the time. I write in the hope of shaming the senders of these cards into the exercise of a little better sense. although Mr. Kellaway would no doubt rejoice at three-half- penny postcards being sold in ever increasing geometrical progression of numbers.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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