Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/213

LEFT SUPERIOR, LAKE 171 SUPERSTITION Huron up the river St. Mary, the outlet of Lake Superior, through the center of the lower half of this lake, to the mouth of Pigeon river on the N. shore, between Isle Royal and the Canadian coast. The S. coast of the lake from the outlet to Montreal river belongs to the upper pen- insula of Michigan. From this river to the St. Louis river at Fond du Lac the coast belongs to Wisconsin, and thence around to Pigeon river to Min- nesota. Toward each extremity the lake contracts in width, and at the lower end terminates in a bay which falls into the outlet, the St. Mary's river, at the two opposite headlands of Gros Cape on the N. and Point Iroquois on the S. Thence to the mouth of the St. Mary's at Lake Huron is about 60 miles. The navigation of this river is interrupted 20 miles be- low its source at the Falls of St. Mary, or, as the place is commonly called, Sault Ste. Marie. Here the river descends in a succession of rapids extending % of a mile, from 18 to 21 feet, the fall vary- ing with the stage of the water in Lake Superior. A ship canal has been constructed past the falls by the United States Govern- ment, so that now the lake is accessible to vessels from the Atlantic Ocean. The rocks around the lake are very ancient, belonging principally to the Laurentian and Huronian systems of the Azoic series, overlaid in some places, especially on the S. side, with patches of the Lower Silurian. The prevalent Laurentian rock is orthoclase gneiss. Among the Huron- ian rocks are greenstones, slates, con- glomerates, quartzites, and limestones. The Lower Silurian rocks are soft sand- stones. There is everywhere much evidence of glacial action. The Huronian rocks are well stored with useful miner- als. The copper and iron mines of the S. side are celebrated for their extent and richness. The richest copper m.ines are situated near Kee-wee-naw Point. The metal occurs principally native, and sometimes in single masses of great size. Native silver is found associated with the native copper, and sometimes intimately mixed with it. Gold has been found in small specks at Namainse on the British side. Lead ore occurs in some places. The beds of haematite, or red iron ore, at Marquette, on the American side, are of wonderful extent. The water of Lake Superior, remarkable for its coldness, purity, and transparency, is inhabited by many" kinds of fish, among which are the delicious white fish and the gray trout. SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME, P.O, fHO)4Ca02; a compound of phosphoric acid and lime in which only one-third of its acid equivalents is saturated with lime. Technically, it is used to describe an important kind of manure, made by treating ground bones with from one- third to two-thirds of their equivalent of sulphuric acid, whereby acid phosphate of lime is formed, together v/ith a quan- tity of sulphate of linie corresponding to the sulphuric acid used. By substitut- ing coprolites for bones, a manure of nearly identical composition is obtained. This kind of manure is of the highest value, from its stimulating eflFects. SUPERSTITION, credulity regarding the supernatural, or matters beyond human powers; belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain events; as a belief in witchcraft, appari- tions, magic, omens, charms and the like, a belief that the fortunes of individuals are or can be affected by things deemed lucky or unlucky, or that diseases can be cured by charms, incantations or the like. Superstitions concerning vax'ious articles of food, animals, days of the week, and even the most ordinary events of life are common, not only among the ignorant and lower classes of mankind, but among the highly educated and cul- tured. The origin and influence of these superstitions is an interesting study. Salt for instance is probably the only article of food which has been used by every nation and in every age since the beginning of civilization. In ancient times it was very scarce, and very costly. From this grew the Eastern custom that whoever should eat salt together — the most precious possession — must be friends for life. An Oriental will not kill or harm a man with whom he has eaten salt. The belief that it is unlucky to spill salt at the table originated in the legend that at the "Last Supper" Judas Iscariot who went thence to betray his Lord and Master, upset the salt cellar while reaching out his hand. Many ancient superstitions were con- nected with the Sabbath, and especially with the punishment meted out to those who desecrated the holy day. At one place in England a carpenter who made a peg and a weaver who remained at his loom after 12 o'clock on Saturday night, were each smitten vith palsy. In France there is a sashing that "if you meet a funeral while driving you -will have an accident before your drive is over, unless you turn back." Many gamblers will not play on a day in which they meet a funeral and others will bet only on the black in rouge et noir. Among common superstitions are those which regard as unlucky the seeing of the new moon over the left shoulder ; the