nce is, that the curative power of the mineral is persistent,
and happens constantly; whereas, on an average of trials, the proximity
of a hare or pigeon is found to have no effect, and cures take place as
often in cases where it is not tried as in cases where it is. The
nature of minds which are deeply engaged in watching events of which
they do not know the reason, is to single out some fabulous
accompaniment or some wonderful series of good luck or bad luck, and to
dread ever after that accompaniment if it brings evil, and to love it
and long for it if it brings good. All savages are in this position,
and the fascinating effect of striking accompaniments (in some single
case) of singular good fortune and singular calamity, is one great
source of savage religions.

[7] Readers of Scott's life will remember that an admirer of his in
humble life proposed to cure him of inflammation of the bowels by
making him sleep a whole night on twelve smooth stones, painfully
collected by the admirer from twelve brooks, which was, it appeared, a
recipe of sovereign traditional power. Scott gravely told the proposer
that he had mistaken the charm, and that the stones were of no virtue
unless wrapped up in the petticoat of a widow who never wished to marry
again, and as no such widow seems to have been forthcoming, he escaped
the remedy.

Gamblers to this day are, with respect to the chance part of their
game, in much the same plight as savages with respect to the main
events of their whole lives. And we well know how superstitious they
all are. To this day very sensible whist-players have a certain
belief--not, of course, a fixed conviction, but still a certain
impression--that there is 'luck under a black deuce,' and will half
mutter some not very gentle maledictions if they turn up as a trump the
four of clubs, because it brings ill-luck, and is 'the devil's
bed-post.' Of course grown-up gamblers have too much general knowledge,
too much organised common sense to prolong or cherish such ideas; they
are ashamed of entertaining them, though, nevertheless, they cannot
entirely drive them out of their minds. But child gamblers--a number of
little boys set to play loo-are just in the position of savages, for
their fancy is still impressible, and they have not as yet been
thoroughly subjected to the confuting experience of the real world and
child gamblers have idolatries--at least I know that years ago a set of
boy loo-players