The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
SUPERSTITION ONTIIE STAGE
SOME OF TIE SIGNS AND OWENS brFORE
AND BEHIND THE CURTIN
Horseshoes, the witches Music. Cross-eyed
mud Mussp.backed Persons, Umbrellas.
Cats, Barrels. and Yellow Included In the
Iist-Some Peculiar Beliefs OF Actors.

| Ii.t-some Peculiar Belief. OF Actors.
Superstition among actors Yes. Plenty
Of it," an old actor said in social chat the other
| evening; more than they are generally willing
| to admit: but IL you should live among them
and Just lilo in wait for their queer notions to
crop out. you would probably DO surprised. 1
wish j. Ii. Studley were here. He could tell
you moro about them than can. for he is
shrcwd cynical observer. The only express.
sions have ever heard from him dcnoting any
tendency toward supcrstition on his part
however, were that no man will ever have
luck who doesn't bet his hand for all 1t is
worth. and the man who trumps his part
ner's ace will surely como to some bad end
But perhaps those were animated more by the
impulse OF the moment and convictions Of
correct theories in play than BY actual super
stiton. should say that actors superstitions
may be divided into two classes. tho gene
raj ones. shared by many and the individual
ones. concerning good or evil omens sent from
the mysterious unknown for personal cheer
or blight. 1t isn't strange that there should I've
good deal OF superstition among us. for
we see 80 much that seems beyond rational cx-
PLANTATION in the vicissitudes OF our business.
that we might well be pardoned for sometimes
regarding ourselves a. the playthings of the
fates One company will start out on the road
with bad play. poor cast. bad paper. and
yet. against ali. do WE'LL while another, with a
line. strong piece. taking title good people
able management and liberal advertising in
every way. will meet with nothing but disaster.
Or. the luck of IA company will suddenly change
from good to bad. or vice versa. in the most in
explicable way. Well when such things occur
the real reasons for which no fellow can find
| out, people are apt to find some explanation or
excuse in superstition. And. by the way do
you know that vast number of actors and
actresses are earnest believers In spirtualism?
Some of thom find authority for their faith in
the supposed example OF the master poet Of
their profession. Shakespeare. who. they as
sumo. was believer in apparitons. But 9TH
pinning their faith 70 anybody are stanch sup
porters OF the reality of spiritunlistic mani
Edwards. for instance, is n bright and shining
light among the spiritualists, and, as l have
heard. Is capable of doing very neat medium
"A. Aside from that, which | suppose they
stion peop,r have o as Of oi sns
that arc about the same that great many
other people have. 1t isn't lucky to sit down
new thing on Friday or to kill eat or break
mirror, or to see the new moon, over, your
left shoulder. and don't know what all else.
And Il Is lucky To find Il horseshoe or n four
icavcd clover. or to receive money early n
side, out accidentally, and lots of such things.
At the beginning Of last season Bertha Weby
was fun of fear in her anticipations of tho
piece and not very bright prospects. One day
frightened at once Then Celia Logan founi
and sent to her II four -leaved clover with some
as 80 HAPPY tSs shs cried sl she ne
with the horseshoe and the four-leavcd clover
to be hoped that Fay Templeton and the other
actresses who have appropriated the lines and
the q the two NJ
pretty faces, have found them equally lucky to
SCR N ny rpnilN IN A I
luck it should be from the lett hind foot ' Of a
mare. The only time was ever positive about
named Cranston couple OF years ago. He was
up Horseshoe with three nails stick ing in it:
avenue. put his last dollar on 3 first" and got
$50 that afternoon for i, Better than that. he
he's carrying that horseshoe in his trunk yet.
" Then there are II lot of general superstition
curtain roller tho rsi tine a You haSnsn
to be- on stag. where the curtain is down and
good place to sit when the stage is empty. but
the first carpenter who sees you will be- liable
it won't make much d difference to him who YOU
are; either. The idea among tho carpenters is
going to be paid. Some say that it brings bad
luck to look out mt the house from the left side
from the right side. SO: to avoid both. a peep
/
course you have heard OF tho general belief that
the playing or singing OF the rin wit enc music
know Of Nv? trnrcdians who have !, horror OF
playing N0cbefi and feel that when they do so
they are simply counting d,aster 9ncnnss Of
And in fact there i? hardly one in ten Of the old
actors those who have any knowledge Of tie
traditions of the stage, who will listen to that
music with any complacrncy. Whistle it near
them a softly, rs you please and il will have
pretty near the same effect that the Boyne
Water would upon Catholic Irishman. Mem
tionng, that music reminds me Of curious
thing that learned jew once told me. He
affirmed that Sha kcspeare must have had
very considerable knowledge, OF Hebrew tradi-
he quoted in proof Of it was from Hernte'.
lines in the NTH scene Of the third act OF Mac
beth whore she says:
Upon the corner Of the moon
iS GS i,n i ere 's come. ld sr5a r%5I
He said that there is Jewish superstition
nous rio' drop. caei BY them Takiefa. which fails
! To- the earth. and If il nlight- upon any greasy
or fatty sustance it breeds pestiIcnce: SO, in
strictly orthodox Jewish communities. even
ton to go around monthly to all the houses Of
the members Of the congregation and give
when that drop is to fall. that they may coun:
teract its potency for i'll by laying PIECES OF
that may nb be an in tEcr Kitchens. have never
seen that explanation OF the passage. but no
Tie Jews. 1 may, casualty, remark that many
Jewish actors VIII not Willingly leave theatre
/ by the same door lheS enter AT.
| Reycrtng for moment to those common
siipcrstitions there is one. as you're doubtless
! aware that il Is unlucky to hoist an umbrella
/ under a roof. Well. actors have that pretty
strongly and don't like TO 80" ono opened in
! theatre. even if the business Of q ricce requires
/ il. In 1868 there was II leader of the orchestra
| In Sacramento, named Williams. very fine
! fellow. beloved by the whole company. He was
J going down in the boat to san Francisco. and.
| lust before starting came on the stage Mt re-
hearsal, gayiy opened, and shook his umbrella
oyer his head and said Good;by, boys They
, shudlered when they saw him do il. II was
good-by' for him. poor fellow! The boat blew
up. and ho was killed. And I'm sure that II
, majority vote in that company would have he
. clar2d that II wouldn't hav" happened to him
/ ii h" had not raised that umbrella.
Opera singers. especially ltai!HnS, Will not
sing where there il crOss-Cyed conductor
I and | don't know what counter charms they
/ have to avert the inilucnc" of the cvl eye If
I they chance 90 meet anywhere 0erson who
| has his eyes 'roNe foul. as n sailor would say
/ That prejudice H. Il very widespread one
| though, A traveller has told me that If II Per-
I sian meets q cruss-cyed person he viii prompt
ly but dryoutly calculate. Thanks be 10 the
| Prophet for creating all mankind to his will,
| and having SO said, will feel himself safe
Akin 10 that superstition about cross-eycd PEG
| pie Is tho ona regarding humpbnckcd folks.
Augustin Dnly will shuddcr at sight of IL hump