The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-07

OnCe L kHcW ElenCn lhuN VINO huu
taken passage in an ocean steamer, and
who, on going aboard aud finding her as
signed state room to be "No. l3, insisted
upon it that she would not sail in the ship
at all she had rather forfeit her passage
money, though finally she was persuaded
to take another room. And great many
people, French, English. and American
will not undertake any important enter
prise Oh the thirteenth day Of the month,
nor sit at table with the full complement
Of thirteen persons. With regard to this
number to which SO many superstitions
cling, have some interesting experiences
and curious condolences, which are worth
relating az a part of my personal his
tory.
When | was first in England with Gen.
eral Tom Thumb, well remember dining
one Christmas day with my friends the
Brettells, in ST. James Palace, in London.
Just before the dinner was finished lit is
Il wonder il was not noticed belore,) it
was discovered that the number at the ta-
bic was exactly thirteen.
How very unfortunate" remarked one
Of the guest | would not have dined un-
der such circumstances for any considera-
ton, had | known it,
"Nor either" seriously remarked an
other guest
"Do you really suppose there is any
truth in the old superstition on that sub
erstition on that subject ?'' | asked.
Truth e. solemnly replied the old
lady Truth :" Why myself have
known Of three instances, and have heard
Of scores of others, were thirteen persons
have eaten at the same table, and in every
case one Of the number died before the
year was OUT
This assertion, made with so much earn
estness, evidently affected several of the
guests, whose nerves were easily excited.
can truthfully state however, that |
dined at the Palace again the following
Christmas, and although there were sew
enteen persons present, every one Of the
original thirteen who dined there the pre-
ceeding Christmas, was among this num-
Der, and all in good health, although, Of
course, it would have been nothing very
remarkable Is one had happened to have
died during the last twelve months
When was on my Western lccturing
tour in 1866, long before got out Of
Illinois, began to observe that at the
various hotels where stopped my room
frequently was No. l3. Indeed it SEEM
ed as if this number turned up to me as
, often as four times per week, and so be-
fore many days / almost expected TO have
that number set down to my name where
ever | signed it upon the register of the
hotel Still laughed to myself, at what
| was convinced was simply coincidence.
. On one occasion | was travelling from
, Clinton to Mount ' ermon Iowa, and was
to lecture in the college oftho latter place
that evening. Ordinarily, | should have
$ arrived at two o'clock P. Vi. but owing
G to an accident which had occurred to the
} train from the West, the conductor in
formed me that our arrival in Mount
E Vernon would probably ibe delayed un-
/; til after seven o'clock. telegraphed
that fact to the committee who were ex-
= pecting me and told them to be patient.
t When We had arrived within ten miles
of that town il was dark sat rather
, moodily in the ear, wishing the train
: would hurry up" and happening for
b some cause to look back over my left
shoulder, discovered the new moon
through the window This omen struck
me as concidcnt addition to my ill-luck,
r and with a pleasant chuckle muttered
= to myself, well, hope | won't get room
+ number thirteen tonight, for that would
q be adding insult to injury"
Y | reached Mount Vernon few min
r utes before eight, and was met at the de-
G pot by the committee, who took me in n
t carriage and hurried to the Ballard
o House The committee told me the hall
s in the college was already crowded, and
c they hoped | would defer taking tea un'
It til after the lecture | informed them
+ that | would gladly do so, but simply
d wished to run to my room n moment fol
t; a wash. While wiping my face | hap
It pened to think about the new moon, ant
= at once stepped outside of my bedroom
o door to look at the number II was mum
Der thirteen
IS After the lecture took tea, and con
a tess that | began to think "number thir-
teen" looked little ominous. There
d was, many hundreds Of miles from m,
e family | left my wife sick, and began
s. to ask myselfdoes number thirteen" por
tend anything in particular? Withou
h feeling willing even now TO acknowledg
le that felt much apprehension on the sub
W ject, | must say began to take seriOu
view of things in general.
mentioned the condolences ofmy luc
re in so often having number thirteen" as
signed to me to Mr.. Ballard, the proprie
ID tor of the hotel, giving him all the pai
ticulars to date.
II will give YOU another room if yo
Id prefer it," said Mr.. Ballard
"No thank you" replied with
ch semi-serious smile; "If it is a fate, wi
take it as it comes and if it means any
il thing shall probably find it out in time
e. That same night before retiring to rest
wrote letter to a clerical friend, the
he residing in Bridgeport, telling him all m
IN experiences in regard to "number thin
be teen" said to him in closing; "Don
u laugh at me for being superstitious, for
nd hardly feel so think il is simple a SCI
les of condolences which appear the nor
a strange because am sure to notice ever
p one that occurs" Three days atterward
gh | received an answer from my reveren
is friend, in which he cheerfully said: alt
ny all right go ahead and get 'numbe
#. thirteen as often as you can. 1t is
nv lucky number" and he added
he "Unbelieving and ungrateful man
I'd What is thirteen but the traditional bal
in er's dozen Indicating good measure
h, pressed down, shaken together, and rnr
er ming over, as illustrated in your triumph'
of lecturing tour' BY all means insist "