Show many superstitions are i kept alive by old salts As superstitious as a sailor is an old saying and a true one asserts a writer in london tit bits magazine there seems to be something about the sea that in these days of common sense and sophistication keeps alive the belief in old superstitions ions an old salt will whistle for a wind but not too shrilly lest he be summon a hurricane if he sneezes on the port side when going aboard the voyage is likely to prove unlucky but should he sneeze to starboard favorable winds are to be expected different parts and ports have their own pet superstitions and their laws are rigidly obeyed in cornwall no one must mention a hare before setting sail in scotland it is unlucky to look at a flat footed woman if her feet are bare in all ports it is considered courting disaster to change the name of a vessel the landsmann lands mans dislike ot of doing anything important upon a friday that falls on the thirteenth of any month is echoed by the seamen for many vessels even ocean going liners have postponed their sailing until five minutes after the close of that fateful date |