Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/21

Rh which are, that he will lose something or be insulted. If both boots are wrong side up, it means nothing.

When lying down to sleep it is considered best to have the head directed toward the south. The head pointing toward the north is considered very bad. If the head is directed toward the south, it indicates longevity; to the east, happiness; to the west, success; to the north, short life. If one eats during lunar or solar eclipses sickness will follow. In Japan it is considered proper to remain indoors during eclipses. In Korea drums are vigorously beaten, to drive away the assailant of the sun or moon. This is a Chinese idea. An eclipse is observed by its reflection in a vessel of water. In Japan the same thing is done, because it is considered impolite to look directly at the eclipse. Shooting stars are supposed to be the excreta of stars. Farmers have an idea that the moon is trying to catch the sun, and if the moon ever overtakes the sun they will both fall to the earth, pressing the surface below the water, and thus the world will come to an end. A country philosopher told one of my informants that the sun was many hundred times larger than the earth, that the moon was three times larger than the earth, and that all the stars were much larger than the earth. Lightning is supposed to be the result of God looking angry, while thunder is supposed to be God scolding. It is considered rude to lie down when God is scolding. The lower classes believe that if insanity occurs three or four times in a year it is an indication of the devil's work. Gypsies are called in to drive the devil away by incantation. Intelligent doctors look upon insanity as the result of physical disease—namely, that the fire of the heart burns in excess. They also believe that some hearts are chilled, and that other hearts are empty. Cases of insanity are not common, and cases of idiocy had never been seen by my informant, though he had heard of instances. It is believed that when a certain river becomes filled with sand Korea will become powerful, and so it is a custom with many people in passing this river to throw in sand. The true-lover's knot is the same as ours. A ring around the moon is a sign that it will rain; the larger the ring the sooner the rain will come. The accidental breaking of a mirror is a sign that death will occur in the family. After the birth of a child persons can not enter the house for three days, nor can animals be killed for three days.

If a man's eyes have more white than black he will become foolish. Tapering or pointed fingers are looked upon as indicating dexterity. A long arm is considered an indication of wisdom, and its owner will occupy a high official position. In Japan the same peculiarity indicates a thief, which may be regarded as only another name for a Korean official. A large eye is a sign of short life. Physiognomists interpret many features of the face; thus a