The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-08-13
THE TIKI RTE e N II EF.
A Tale of Doom.

TWAS on a sultry July evening that a joy
Gus party of young men were assembled Ill the
principal room of a wine-house outside the
Potsdam gate of Berlin. One of their num-
Der, Saxon Painter, by name Carl Selling,
was about to take his departure for Italy,
His place was taken in the Halle mail, his
luggage sent to the office and the coach was
to call for him at midnight at the tavern,
whittier number of his most intimate friends
had accompanied him, to drink parting
glass of Rhenish wine to his prosperous jour
ney.
Supper was over, and some magnificent
melons, and peaches, and plates of caviare,
and other incentives to drinking, placed up
Oh the table; a row of empty bottles already
graced the sideboard, while full ones of that
venerable cob-web mantle appearance so dear
to the topper, were forthcoming as rapidly as
the thirstiest threats could desire.
The conviviality was at its height, and nu-
merous toasts had been given, among which
was the health af the traveller, the prosperity
of the art which he cultivated, and of the land
of poetry and song to which he was proceed
ing. had not been forgotten. Indeed it was
becoming difficult to find anything to toast
but the thirst of the party was still unquench-
ed, and apparently unquenchable
| Suddenly young man started up, IN dress
and appearancethe very model of German
student-in a short frock-coat and loose sack
like trowsers, long curling hair hanging over
his shoulders, pointed beard and mustache,
and the scars of one or two sabre cuts on his
handsome, animated countenance.
''You want toast, my friends! !" cried he
can excuse to drink, as though drinking
needed an excuse when the wine is good.
will give you one, and a right worthy one too
Our noble selves here assembled; all! somany
as we are ~
And he glanced round the table, counting
the number Of the guests.
Gone, two, three, four-thirteen We are
Thirteen. Is Lebe de dreizehn p
He raised his glass, in which the golden
liquor flashed and sparkled and set it down.
drained to the last drop.
''IbiTteen % exclaimed a pale faced, dark
eyed youth, named Raphael, starting from
his seat, and in his turn counting the com
pany. ''Tis true, My friends, i'll luck vii
attend u.s. We are Thirteen, seated at a round
table,"
There was evidently an unpleasant impress
sion made upon the guests by this announce
ment. The toast-giver threw scornfu
glance around him
F'What!" cried he, 'tare we believers in
such nursery tales and old wives supersti
tions Pshaw! The charm shall soon be
broken! Halls Franz! Winebut! Thieving
innkeeper! Rascally cork-drawer Where
are you hidden? Come FORTH Appear ~
Thus invoked, there toddled into the room
the master of the tavern-a round-bellied
short-legged individual, whose rosy gills, and
Bacchus-like appearance proved his devotion
to the jolly god whose high priest he
was.
''Sit down here!" cried the mad student
forcing him into chair; ''and now, Rapha-
ell and gentlemen all, be pleased to shorter
your faces again, and drink your wine as il
one with three after it, was an unknown
combination of numerals"
The conversation now took direction nat
urally given to it by what had just occurred,
and the origin and causes Of the popular
prejudice against the number Thirteen, were
discussed.
cit cannot be denied there is something
mysterious in the connection and combination
of numbers" observed a student in philoso-
ply; and Pythagoras was right enough when
he sought the foundation of all human knowl-
edge in the even and the uneven All over
the world the idea of something complete anC
perfect is associa ted with even numbers, and
of something imperfect and defective with
uneven ones. The ancients too, considered
even numbers as a good omen, and uneven
ones as unpropitious,"
'It is really pity" cried the mad student
that you philosophers should not be allowed
to invent and re-arrange history in the man
ner you deem fitting. You would soon torture
the crooked stream of time into a straight
line | should like to know from what au-
thors you derive your very original ideas il
favor of even numbers? AS far as my read
ing goes, | find that number three was sa-
cred and fortunate number by nearly all the
sects Of antiquity, not excepting the Pytha
goreans. And the early Romans had such 8
respect for the uneven numbers, that they
never allowed flock of sheep to be of any
number divisible by two"
The philosopher did not seem immedi-
ately prepared with a reply to this at
tack.
''1ou are all Of you looking too far back fol
the origin of the curse that attends the num-
Der Thirteen" interposed Raphael. ''Thins
only of the Lords Supper which is rather
nearer to our time than Pythagoras and the
Roman shepherds. 1t is since then that Thir-
teen has been stigmatized and fatal num-
Der Judas Iscariot was the Thirteenth at
that sacred table, and, believe me, it is nc
childish superstition that makes men shun sc
unblest a number"
''Here is Solling who has not given his
opinion yet" cried another Of the party, and
yet | am sure he has something to say on the
subject. How now, Carl, what ais thee, man
Why so sad and silent?'
The painter, who, at the commencement Of
the evening, had entered frankly and willing
| ly into the joyous humor of his friends, had
become totally changed since the commence
ment of this discussion on the number OF
Thirteen. He sat silent and thoughtful in
his chair, and left his glass untasted before
him, while his thoughts were evidently occu-
pied by some unpleasant subject,
His companions pressed him for the cause
of this change; and after some time evading
their question, he at last confessed that the
turn the conversation had taken had brought
painful recollections to his mind.
at is a matter love not to speak about, y
said he, ''but il is no secret, and least of all,
could have any wish to conceal it from you,
my good and kind friends. We have yet an
hour before the arrival of the mail, and, if
you are disposed to listen, | will relate to
you the story therecollection of which has
saddened me"
The Painters offer was eagerly accepted !;
the young men drew their chairs around the
table, and Selling commenced his story as
| follows =
Il am native of the small town of Gey-
er, in Saxony, of the tin mines, of which
place my father was inspector. l was the
twelfth child of my parents; and half an hour
after l saw the light, my mother gave birth
to Thirteenth, also boy. Death, howev-
er, was busy in this numerous family. Sew
eral had died while yet infants, and there now
survive only three besides myself, and per-
haps my twin brother.
THE latter, who was christened Bernard,
gave indications at very early age, OF an