The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-09-18

Chicago News Letter.

Theatrical people, L think, are 8
triiie more SO than sailors. and
many are the odd things which have
come before me in evidence of the
fact.
John 4. Hamlin, of the Grand
opera house in Chicago, for instance
would not for untold money be in
duccd to whistle while in his build
ing. With all his good sense he
thinks it will certainly bring him
i'll luck.
Dr. Hamilton Griffin never passes
a white horse on the street without
lifting his hat. / asked his eXpla-
nation of this strange freak one day
and he told me that when he was a
little child his nurse put the idea
into his head that it would bring
him good luck. The habit grew on
him to such an extent that he is a
firm believer in it now, and he as
sured me with all the solemnity
possible that he has not encoun-
tered one white horse during the last
fifty years without raising his hat.
For forty years r. NJ. Hooley has
gone to bed with one sock on. l
was once present at a little social
gathering where the superstitions
of theatrical people were discussed,
and Uncle Dick told of his own
weakness. about the time of the
Chicago fire, | very nearly lost faith
in my talisman," he said, laughing,
"and / came precious near not hav-
ing sock to sleep in, but / stuck
to my superstition and | have come
out all right after ALL" Nothing
in the world could probably shake
Mr.. Hooley's faith in the good luck
which this habit brings him.
William Horace Lingard believes
rs implicitly in Jonahs as he does
in his own existence. No agent or
actor who is reproached with being
one ever keeps his place more than
twenty-four hours after he finds it
out. He also thinks that "Annie
Laurie" one of the sweetest of old
English songs, brings i'll luck, and
he will never allow the orchestra or
any theatre in which he has an en-
gagement to play it. l remember
well some seven years ago, during
a weeks engagement in Toronto at
the old Theater Royal, the orchestra
struck up "Annie Laurie" for an
overture. Lingard heard it, moved
out of his dressing room, and, to
the amazement of the leader, rang
up the curtain before half a dozen
bars had been played. The busi
ness was very quiet that week, and
on earth could have per-
suaded Lingard that it was not
owing to his pet superstition.
Will Carleton, one of the most
sensible men in the profession, will
never appear on the stage in the
evening if he happens to run across
a piebald horse in the daytime. He
has followed this rule ever since he |
first adopted the footlights and no
of persuasion can alter his |
determination. He pleads illness,
or sore throat, or any excuse he
can frame, but appear before the |
public he will not. During last |
season to my knowledge, he missed |
half a dozen nights on this account.
Nothing in the world could per-
suade Lotta to make her first APP
pearance on the stage from the
prompt side. She has stuck to
his popularity all her life, and
whether the situation Of the piece
demands it or not, change in the
action of the play has to be made
% suit herpeculiarity. She thinks
{ unlucky.
Fred Stinson will never drink
With a one-eyed man. In fact he
lvoids, if possible, holding any
whatever with per-
'on afflicted this way, but as for
thinking with him, that he possi-
lively will not do. He thinks it is
and he sticks to his idea
With all the tenacity of his disposi-
ion.
Nine. Modjeska is superstitious
bout cats. She has never given a
in her life without
having a cat on the stage hidden
way somewhere. In large cities
ler property plot always calls for
! cat at every performance, and be-
ore the curtain is rung up she
assures herself that the animal is
here. When she is playing on one
md two mis- Int stands she carries
at with her. She firmly believes I
hat she owes all her success in life
o her adherence to this rule.
J. II. McVicker has worn a night |
ap since he was 20. 1t made him
,rematurely bald, but summer and
winter he has stuck religiously to !
lis hobby. He believes that the
yorld is pcopled with evil spirits, ;
nd when quite young man some |
harlatan told him that a scarlet
light-cap would ward them of, l
he is old enough to know
'etter now, but the habit has grown
nto a superstition, and probably