Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-30
SONS STRANGE supgasTlTioNs.
Theatrical Folk, Gamblers and Crimi
nais and Their Luck"

Theatrical Folk, Gamblers and Crimi-
nais and Their Luck"
Especial Correspondence
NEW York, Dec. 20.-very few people are
free from superstition, even in these days of
enlightenment, % it is a curious fact that
many of the most advanced thinkers of the
day are among those who shape their actions
according to signs and oinens Of different
sorts.
Dramatic folk are almost always slaves of
superstition, and this is true of many of the
most eminent artists of the stage as well as
OF the lesser lights of tie stage.
Clara Morris believes that good fortune Is
sure to follow tho finding of an odd number
Of nails lying about the stage at rehearsal.
Sarah Bernhardt feels i'll at ease whenever
1t II necessary to use a yellow curtain in o
stage setting. Yellow is an unlucky color
with many other stage people.
Nat Goodwin was once put Ia an extremely
good humor by the rushing Of a black cat
across the stage during . performance In New
Orleans, though it naturally embarrassed the
people on tho stage, and he says the appear
sncs Of a cat, especially a black one, even at
rehearsal, Is always accounted q good omen
In o theater.
Augustin DAILY was almost frightened out
Of his wits by the cracking OF O mirror on
the occasion Of the opening Of the Fifth
Avenue theatre In New York, some fifteen
yeas ago. And his enterprise proved most
unlucky. The superstition that thirteen Is an
enlucky number Is 80 strong among theatre
cal people that when q Hazel Ki-ke company
started out with just that number Of actors q
faw years ago young Sidney Couldock was
engaged, though there was nothing for him
70 do, just to break the spell.
Unlucky actors and actresses are called
Jonahs by members of the "perfesh, and If q
performer Is so unfortunate as to receive that
title at the hands of his fellows every piece of
I'll luck that may strike the company is laid
at his door and his discharge Is sure to follow.
Hardly less superstitious than dramatic
people are the brokers, though we have not
ut hand any instances Of special superstitions
INDUCED in by prominent financial people.
There is hardly a broker in New York who
will not shudder il he meet a cross eyed per-
son, especially II it be a negro, and some Of
the more superstitious will refuse point blank
to do any business On the day they meet an
oblique eye.
Newspaper reporters are, as a class, quite
free from superstitions, though the writer has
In mino several bright reporters who firmly
believe in p~resentiments and declare that b
1850 NSSo NA1ibiy "aSh q I1Aulutt Ii
| going to happen.
But, barring sailors, whose superstitions
have been the theme of story ever since
stories were written almost, professional gam
blers are the most superstitious people in ex-
%istence. Gross eyed persons always terrify
gamblers, and coal black cats are eagerly
sought after. A Nashville gambler, a few
years ago, paid SIS for a black Kitten not more
than twelve hours old, in the firm belief that
its possession would bring him luck; and his
fellow gamblers shared his belief to such an
extent that he was barred" from all the
games" in the town. It is the custom of
certain gamblers, especially in New Orleans.
to forbear playing until some player who is
seedy and well known to be unlucky comes
in. Then the man who would be- lucky
studies the unlucky mans system" ana
plays directly against it, on the theory that
the poor fellows ill luck is sure to follow han
to the end.
Criminals generally are sdperstitieus.
"Fed' Leary, a notorious bank robber, would
follow every, funeral procession he could run
across. confident that this would bring bin.
/ luck in his next nefarious enterprise.
h. j.. Dexter.