THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



cisely those events take place. Sometimes a coinci- 

 dence is utterly trivial, yet attracts attention by the 

 singular improbability of the observed events. We 

 are thinking of some circumstance, let us say, in which 

 two or three persons are concerned, and the first book 

 or paper we turn to, shows, in the very first line we 

 look at, the names of those very persons, though really 

 relating to others in no way connected with them ; and 

 so on, with many other kinds of coincidence, equally 

 trivial and equally singular. Yet again, there are 

 other coincidences which are rendered striking by their 

 frequent recurrence. It is to such recurring coinci- 

 dences that common superstitions owe their origin, 

 while the special superstitions thus arising (that is, 

 superstitions entertained by individuals) are innumer- 

 able. It is lucky to do this, unlucky to do that, say 

 those who believe in common superstitions ; and they 

 can always cite many coincidences in favour of their 

 opinion. But it is amazing how common are the 

 private superstitions entertained by many who smile at 

 the superstitions of the ignorant: we must suppose 

 that all such superstitions have been based upon 

 observed coincidences. Again, there are tricks or 

 habits which have obviously had their origin in private 

 superstitions. Dr. Johnson may not have believed 

 that some misfortune would happen to him if he failed 

 to place his hand on every post which he passed along 

 a certain **oute ; he would certainly not have main- 

 tained such an opinion publicly : yet in the first 

 instance that habit of his must have had its origin in 



