The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-18
Thirteen Mt Table TOge ther.

ABOUT year ago thirteen men OF this city
banded themselves together for the heroic
purpose of exploding an old superstition.
From time immemorial 1t has been re-
gardcd as unlucky to see the new moon for
the first time over the left shoulder. Even
wise men who have thus obtained their first
glimpse Of the moon, have been unable to
conquer their annoyance at the mishap.
They would have been happier II the cres-
cent had appeared to them over tho right
shoulder. Many man has joyfully discov-
cred that he WIS putting his shoes or stock
ings on wrong end foremost or wrong side
out In the morning, for he know that that
was called good omen for the day People
not specially supersttious have been greatly
depressed when they broke looking glass,
for that accident foretold the death OF a near
friend, according to the believers Ia omens.
In some countries 1t is considered lucky to
touch the hump OF hunchback without his
knowledge. and people who have tried it tell
how marvellously well the omen has worked
with them. We all know that the splitting OF
salt at table is apt to cause gloom; that when
the cheeks or ears burn, the inference Is that
someone Is talking OF the person 30 affected:
II the burning Is on tho left side, i'll, II on tho
right side, good.
But OF all omens, perhaps the one most
generally feared is that OF thirteen at table
II thirteen people dine together, the super
sttion is, one Of the number will surely die
within a year. Everybody has heard how
often the omen has been fulfilled. and even
very cool-headed and sensible men are pretty
sure to feel uncomfortable IL 1t Is discovered
that the ominous thirteen are gathered about
thetable. A gloom is cast over the feast, and
thereafter tho mirth is forced. To avoid such
a catastrophe, hosts have searched for an nd
ditional guest In great haste, a child has
been brought In, stranger even admitted,
or one OF the thirteen has prudently been
called away. There are, indeed, few men
and women who like to sit down to board at
which there are thirteen.
1t was to combat this almost univer sal
superstition In Europe and America that
thirteen brave and iconoclastic men sat down
to dinner at the KnickerbOcker Cottage In
this city 'on the 18th OF January, 1882 Ex-
actly what were the feelings OF the thirteen
iconoclasts when they marched into the
dining room no one knows. Doubtless, how
ever. some at least OF them wished at the
moment that they were not there They
Nouu inNc piCiCiiCu u Ctuu uiuhCi ~ hoAuC
to the elegant spread they were awaiting.
OF course they felt So 1t is not agreeable to
think about the possibility or probability OF
your dying within year when you are about
to indulge In even the most royal OF feasts.
At least every mans thoughts were upon
the omen, whether he believed in 1t or not,
and 1t did not form a good appetizer.
Yet doubtless all the thirteen assumed
great glee They would have boon ashamed
to do anything else, for were they not icono-
clasts! Nor is 1t probable that during the
twelvemonth after, when they were re-
minded OF the omen they were all free from
misgivings. In word. those brave thirteen
men sacrificed their peace, or some OF It, for
a whole year to shatter one Of the letters OF
superstition which still bind the most en-
lightened of the human race
We congratulate them that the year has
now passed. and that they are all alive and
well, as we are informed Is the case in the
first annual report OF the Thirteen Club.
made at their thirteenth regular meeting, on
the 18th OF January last It seems that tho
club has been Increased until 1t now numbers
thirteen times thirteen members, or 169.
There are also forty-six honorary members,
among whom are included President ARTHUR
and many other public men OF prominence,
besides four clergymen. During the past
year eighty-four different members have sat
down thirteen at table at the twelve month
ly dinners of tho club on the thirteenth OF
each month, and yet we are told In the re-
port Of the Scribe that "out OF the entire roll
of membership, original, life, active, and
honorary, whether they have participated or
not at the banquet table, not single men,
Der is dead or has even had a serious i'll
ness On the contrary, so far as can BIO
learned. the members during the past twelve
months have been exceptionally healthy and
fortunate"
We observe, however. that at the anniver-
sary dinner at the Knickerbocker Cottage on
the 18th OF February, 1885, not all the thir-
teen who sat down to the original dinner
were present, though all were reported alive
and well. Perhaps the absentees did not care
to tempt fortune another year. Three only
Of the original thirteen had attended every
one OF the thirteen banquots, and they are
the Scribe, the Marshal. and the Archivist.
| To carry still further their contempt for
superstition, the Thirteen Club have searched
for haunted house to dine In, but have been
unable to find 1t. They have also passed
resolutions. which they have sent to Gov
ernors and Judges. urging that the super
stition about Fridays being an unhlcky day
BIO no longer encouraged by fixing upon Fri
day for hangings. From 'conquering to
conquer" says the Archivist In his report,
"our club Is sure to go on until the super
stitions OF an extinct ago are obliterated from
this and all succeeding ages"
But did 1t need any practical demonstra-
tion to show that there Is nothing unlucky
about putting thirteen ut table? OF course
thirteen is no more unlucky than any other
number. The averages Of life and death are
preserved. no matter whether thirteen, three
or thirty dine together. No sensible mar
would deny that Life insurance companies
do not prohibit those they assure from dining
thirteen together.
Yet people have always preferred to make