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THE ADVANCE, BURFORD, ONTARIO Burford Superstitions continued by Mel Robertson One of the most complicated superstitions attributed by the "Journal" to Burford Township was the belief that if you saw the new moon over your left should &, any wish you made would be granted provided that you swallowed a chicken heart as you made the wish and did not think of a fox's tail. If this superstition is to be taken seriously one is bound to remark that the carrying about of a bunch of chicken hearts in the odd chance of getting a wish, seems to be a very unsanitary and inconvenient thing to do. Birds are the subject of a number of local entries in the "Journal". One insists that it is lucky to have a bird fly into a room while another claims that it is a sure sign of imminent death to have a bird beat on a window trying to get in. In a lighter vein is the belief that it is unlucky to have a flock of birds fly over your head. The wisdom of this superstition is obvious since there were no dry cleaners in pioneer times. It may be said by some that superstitions are old-fashioned and that anyone placing credit in them is a fool. Others may say that superstition has no place in modern society. However, having said that one is bound to ask why are such TV shows as "Star Wars", "Starship Galactica", "The Bionic Man", etc., so popular with people of all ages. These are little more than "superstitions wrapped up in modern "hype", or as the dictionary defines "superstition" as "Credulity regarding the supernatural..". Have we come as far as we think have or are we really still searching- the cow-pasture for a cure for warts?