Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-31
CURloSITIES OF NUMBERS.
sour uATgEYATfcAL ODDITIES.
Peeuiiarnie. or Three, Seven, and Nins-A
Tradition About tho Royal Line OF Eng

ICincinnsu Erquircr.l
In alchemy. astrology. astronomy, his
I tory. legend, and superstition there has a.
WAYS been a sort Of witchcry about certain
| numbers and combinations that has been
as astonishing 10 the ignorant ms II was in-
txplicable TO the learned. They obey GER
tain laws. Pythagoras taught that each
number had It's own peculiar character
virtue, and properties. Number one, or
| the monsd. was the principle ana end OF
all, the sublime knot which binds together
The chain OF causes. the symbol OF Identity,
Of equality. OF existence, OF Conservatism,
and general harmony. II represented d.
viniiy. Aristotle said every tragedy should
| have one catastrophe, be limited TO one
scene. and he circumscnbed to the action
OF n single day. There are the Aristolian
| or dramatic writers. The French add
| fourth uniformity-in tragedy, all charac-
| tiers tragic In comedy. all comic.
NUMBER TWO
| Is the drvad. the origin Of contrasts. the
| symbol Of diversity, Of inequality, CT diyi-
| sion, Of separation. Two was an evil prin-
| ciplc, bad sign, characerzing disorder,
! confusion. and change. Hence the second
| day OF tie second month was sacred TO
! Pluto the god Of hell. Glance ut the his
tory Of England and the msfortunes that
| have attached 10 monarchs with the fatal
/ number 10 their names. 'Ethelred H.,
| called "the Unready," was forced 10 abdi-
| aate; Harold III. was slain az Hastings;
William II. shot by Tyrcll in New
Forest; Henry III. had TO fight for
his crown; Edward II. murdered
at Berkeley Castle; Richard III. de-
/
whipped at Fonteuoy and Lowield; civil
wars occurring in his reign and General
BraddOck In America, and Admiral Byng
disgraced him. Crossing the English chan
mel the same ill-luck attends empcr0rs and
kings who are second. Charles III. o.
France died Of poison. Charles RI. OF Ma
yarre was called "The Bad" Charles II.
OF spain ended bis dynasty and wrecked
his kingdom. Charles III. Of hnjou spent
bis life captive. Charles III. Of S,yoy
reigned but nine months, and died
az eight years OF age. Francis
II. OF France died after reigning
only two years. Napoleon II. never
rcigncd. Franz II. OF Germany
lost all his Rhine possessions. and in 1876
resigned his tile. Frederick II. vas cursed,
eXcommunicated, dctirOued. and poi
soned. Jean II. Of France was captured
by the Black Prince. Joan H., OF ArragOn,
fought for bis crown with Carlos, his own
son. Philip II. OF Spain sent against
England the Invinciblc Amanda. which
was wrecked. Garihal1i drove Francesca
II. from the throne Of the Two Settles. In
Romulus II. ended the Empire Of the West,
Peter II. Of Russia died at the age
Of fifteen. Pietro H.. dc Medicis. was
shipwrcckcd after abdicati0n. James ii.
Of Scotland was shot. James II. OF Mlgo-
roa was murdered. Alexander H. Of Scot
land had his kingdom laid under m inter-
diet. Pope Alexander II. had 4 war with
HOuorius H.. the Anti-Popc. Alexander
II. was stranded. Andronicus OF Greece
was dcthroncd. Henry III. OF France, killed
in tournament. John II. of England, for
four years q captive. Certainly a record OF
fatality imposing enough 20 brighten any
one who assumed the title OF Second.
TIE NUMBER THREE.
This Is the triad, or first OF the unoGuals,
containing the most sublime mysteries, for
everything Is composed OF three substances.
II represents God, the soul Of the world,
the spirit Of man. II pays an important
Jart in Asialic traditions, classical history,
and PlatOnic philosophy. PythIgoraS called
il the perfect number, because IL expressed
the beginning, middle, and the end; hence
he makes it a symbol OF deity. Among the
Greeks and Romans Jupiter was represent
cd holding three-prOngcd lightning. Nep-
tune. god OF the sea, had 4 trident. and
Pluto was followed by three-hcaded dog.
IIecale Lad 4 threefOld power. Three
Fatcs controlled the birth, events,
and death Of every person, being Cloiho,
Lachcsis, and AifUcOs. Three lIOre
opened the gates OF dlr. Three Fur'cs
avenged wickedne,s. Three GractS were
painted naked or in transparent and loose
garments, and joined hands. la France
were the three estates. Epiphany was
called Three Kings DAY, to commemo7ltee
the three use men who visited the infant
Jesus. Among the Turks the three-tailed
PaSbaW i Prince OF Princes, Outrlnking
all others. The eighth religious war OF
France was called War o. the Three Hen
rvs. There is a Norman
NoNKIsH TRADITION.
about thenumber three relative 70 the royal
lire of England that is historical curlo'-
itv. II i, th-t there shall not be more than
three princes in succession without rev.
olution. Here is the proof:
William l., William H.. Henry l., then
followed the revolution Of stephen.
Henry H., Richard l.. John. when Loui-
invaded England and the Dauphin claimed
the throne.
Henry Ill, Edward l., Edward H., was
dcthrOncd and put to death.
Edward ILL.,, Richard H., who was do
throncd.
Henry w., Henry V, Henry VI. the
crown passed TO the House OF York.
the crown claimed and worn by Henry
Tudor.
IIcnly VII, Henry Will, Edward VIZ
uSurpation Of Lady Jane Grey.
Mary l., Elizabeth, crown passed 10
House Of Stuart.
James l., Charles l.. then a revolution.
Charles H., James H., invasion Of VIII
liam 81 Orange.
William Of Orange, Mary H.. Anne, ar
rival Of the House OF Brunswick.
George l., George H., George H., crisis
in reign OF George ".
There is another queer circums.mce
Oliver Cromwell was born September ..
1889: won the battle o. n"n.taf September
&. tGs3. that oi Worcester September 3,
1861. aud died September 5. 1GjS.
RabtlaiS speaks Of three cur-doG-, Rag.
Tag, and Bohtlil, whence the expires ion,
&" Rat-tac and bObtail,'
Three men were cast into the fiery fur
mace. and Canning, the orator, says the
three tsiOrs Of 1oOlcy street addressed a
petition to the House Of Commons begin
ming. We, the people Of England
The ChaldesnS respected the number rs
Illustrative Of figure, Tart, and notion
the Egyptians, OF matter, form. ani No.
ton the PersisnS, Of iiJe, liant, and IRIS
dom the Greeks. q the God OF HcdCcn,
Earth. and SEQ; tie CretanS. OF iJe, cIVS'.
and en.rGV; tie Hirdoos, o; POCcr, under
s.dnding, and lore. Triple emblems are
found in the relics OF Guatemala. Chispa-,
and Mexico. TIE peruyians tasted three
GAYS before the sacrifciai Festival OF tie
sun. The Brarnins baye three gods
Brahma, Nishna, and SheTa.
THE HUMBER FOUR.
Four is the first mathematical power
represents the generating virtue whence
come all combinations. The most pertec,
number, it is the root OF all things. Is Is
called holy by nature, recalling Ills unity,
His power, His goodness, and His Wis
dom. IL IL sworn BY, aud gives the soul
is eternal nature. In playinc-card' there
were four kings-C harlemagbe, DAVID,
Alexander. and Cesar - representative
| OF the Franco-G ermau. Jewish, Mace
/ DOMAIN and Roman monarcIicS. In the
! French Revolution the four kings meant
the four philosophers, Moliere, Ia Fon'
| tame, NoltSirc, and Rousseau, and the