Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/115

 10* 8. IIL FEB. 4, 1903.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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or horns of the altar, implies that it should be hung heel upward ; while if we consider it as the horns of Eblis it takes the same position, but is then "black magic," an in- vocation of a Prince of Evil.

One might pursue the subject much fur- ther, and show that the omega is a feminine sign in the deeper mysteries ; and one might wander into some of the modern guesses, such as that which connects the sign of the horseshoe with the rainbow and the covenant made with Noah ; but one must consider the space of ' N. & Q., J and perhaps enough has been given to show that either way of hanging the shoe may be correct.

H. SNOWDEN WARD.

Hadlow, Kent.

A horseshoe should always be hung with the ends pointing upwards, in order to represent a pair of horns horns being the universally recognized counter-charm to the evil eye, and therefore to witchcraft in general. A less scientific reason is that if the ends hang downwards all the good luck will run out from them, as fluid from an inverted cup. R. E. FRANCILLON.

Though one usually sees them nailed on doors, &c., in country places, with calks up- wards, this seems to be wrong. Mr. "Worth- ington Smith, in his ' Dunstable '(1904), says : "In old times tha horseshoe, when used for good luck, was invariably represented with ends upwards, like a cup."

I. CHALKLEY GOULD.

I have often heard my mother, a native of Shropshire, say that the correct way to hang up a horseshoe is with the front downwards, so that the luck may not run out.

I have also heard her say that when a horseshoe is picked up in the road with the front nearest the finder luck is on its way, and vice versd. E. SMITH.

Blundellsands.

Horseshoes should be affixed with the open part downwards to keep the luck in.

REGINALD HAIXES. Uppingham.

These should be put heels upward, tnough it is easier to hang them the other way, and I cannot doubt that they are .then equally effective. In John Aubrey's 'Remains of Gentilisme'it is noted (Folk-Lore Society's edition, p. 123): "At Mr. Ashmole's thres- hold the hollow of the horseshoe pointeth into the house." ST. SWITHIN.

I have understood that they should be suspended or nailed back upwards, "so as to keep the luck from dropping out."

But what says MR. HEMS 1 After a visit I paid "Ye Luckie Horseshoe" Studio in 1883 I heard an interesting explanation of the sign that would make me, at any rate, accept that worthy contributor's ideas on the subject as pretty conclusive. W. CURZON YEO.

Richmond, Surrey.

In a volume I possess, containing some 200 pages, closely filled with manuscript and chance cuttings upon hippology, there are a few but not many illustrations of old horseshoes turned the wrong way up ; also the following, although I cannot say from where the information originally came :

"Of course, lucky as it is to have a horseshoe nailed over one's door, it is just as unlucky to fix it upside down, i.e., with the points upward. A cer- tain farmer who found a rusty shoe in the road, and unwittingly did this, fell into dire adversity : His hens declined to lay their eggs, His bacon tumbled from the pegs, And rats devoured the fallen legs : His corn, that never failed before, Mildewed and rotted on the floor. His grass refused to end in hay, His cattle died, or went astray In short, all moved the crooked way. At length, when the unfortunate man was almost ready to end his misery by suicide, a chance stranger, who happened to call, espied the cause of his ill luck, and cried :

' No wonder skies upon you frown You 've nailed the horseshoe upside down ! Just turn it round, and you will see How you and Fortune will agree.'

The farmer turned the horseshoe round, And showers began to swell the ground : The sunshine laughed amongst his grain, And heaps on heaps piled up the wain.

The loft his hay could hardly hold, The cattle did as they were told ; His fruit-trees needed sturdy props To hold the gathering apple crops.

His turnip and potato fields Astonished all men by their yields. Folks never saw such ears of corn As on his smiling hills were born. His barns were full of bursting bins, His wife presented him with twins ; His neighbours marvelled more and more To see the increase of his store. And now the merry farmer sings, ' There are two ways of doing things : And when for good luck you would prajr Nail up your horseshoe the right way.' " My own old horseshoe many times noticed in print I found on the morning I first entered Exeter (4 December, 1866). It has been nailed of course the right way up ! successively in front of the three residences I have had since, and may still be seen in situ. Further, I have admittedly been a very lucky man. HARRY HEMS.

Fair Park, Exeter.