10. Salt falling toward a person was considered formerly as a very unlucky omen. Something had either already happened to one of the family, or was shortly to befall the persons spilling it. It denotes also the quarreling of friends. It is thought, however, that the evil consequences arising from spilling salt may be averted by throwing a little of the salt over the left shoulder, or immediately eating a _pinch_ of it. In the “British Apollo,” published in London, 1708, we find the following in relation to the superstition: “We’ll tell you the reason Why spilling of salt Is esteemed such a fault; Because it doth everything season. The antiques did opine, ’Twas of friendship a sign, So served it to guests in decorum; And thought love decayed, When the negligent maid Let the saltcellar tumble before them.” 11. The casual putting the left shoe on the right foot, or the right on the left, was thought in old times to be the forerunner of some unlucky accident. Scott, in his “Discovery of Witchcraft,” tells us: “He that receiveth a mischance will consider whether he put not on his shirt wrong side outwards, or his left shoe on his right foot.” Thus Butler in his “Hudibras”: “Augustus, having b’ oversight, Put on his left shoe ’fore his right, Had like to have been slain that day. By soldiers mutiny’ng for pay.” Similar to this is putting on one stocking with the wrong side outward, without design; though changing it alters the luck; and if you accidentally put on any garment wrong side out, and make a wish before changing it, the wish will come true. 12. To arise on the _right_ side is accounted lucky. In the old play of the “Dumb Knight,” published 1633, Act iv., Scene 1, Alphonso says: “Sure I said my prayers, _rose on my right side_, Washed my hands and eyes, put on my girdle last; Sure I met no splay-footed baker, No hare did cross me, nor no bearded witch, Nor other ominous sign.” (See 27.) 13. When the nose itches, it is a sign that you will have company visit you the same day. In Melton’s “Astrologaster,” No. 27, it is observed “that when a _man’s nose itcheth_ it is a sign he shall drink wine;” and in No. 28, that, “if _your lips itch_, it is a sign you shall kisse somebody.” 14. The nose falling a-bleeding appears, by the following passage from an old play, to have been an omen of bad luck: “How superstitiously we mind our evils! The throwing down of salt, or crossing of a hare, _Bleeding at nose_, the stumbling of a horse, Or singing of a cricket, are of power To daunt whole man in us.” (See 27 and 40.) 15. Washing the hands, says Grose, in the same basin, or with the same water, that another person has washed in, is extremely unlucky, as the parties will infallibly quarrel.