Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30

| Rubbt1Q for Luck.
agree with actors. Many an actor has refused
| to play because he has seen hunchback in the
audience and he believes It sure sign of iii
luck. Turfmen think differently. They say
il you are in search of good luck never let a
hunchback pass without touching the hump
no matter how lightly-rhe tips of the fingers
| will do. Thenno matter how much you may
have lost on previous races you will win it al
back again and much more besides. Some say
| that you must wish for luck at the same time
that you touch the hunchback and in order to
| work the charm, the hunchback must be aware
| of your action.
Cross-eyed persons bring good and bad luck
| with them. Ii man sees a cross-eyed woman
he will have good luck, but this cross eyed
woman will bring bad luck to another woman
/ In the same way cross-eyed man will bring
| good luck to a woman and back luck to man.
| Some persons claim that they carry mascots
| that will protect them from the i'll luck caused
| in meeting cross-eyed person of their own
| sex.
All patrons of the race course are firm be-
levers in the old superstition about seeing the
| new moon first. IL is good luck to see it first
over the right shoulder, bad luck to look at it
over the left shoulder but best luck of all to
look at it full In the face with money in your
pocket. The money must be turned over while
looking at the moon, and it will double itself
during the next "a hours.
There are even more unlucky numbers in the
doubling Thomas calendar than there are days.
Everyone, of course, is familiar with the fatal
ity said to surround the number ID If there
are l3 horses starting in race the one num-
bered 13 has to be an extraordinary good one
before they will back it. and then they claim
that nine times out of ten something will hap
pen that will prevent his winning the race and
the money. Many believe that luck surrounds
certain numbers. Some will favor the num-
bert.
A DREAM THAT PROVED TRUE.
Talking of this number turtle recently
said: II believe in No. Z. I discovered it some
years ago by dreaming of it. On the following
morning spoke of 1t to friend, and he told
me to go to the races and try my luck by play
ing the horses numbered on the programme.
went and No. z won the first race. won Sc,
as it was the favorite. The horses numbered
seven in the next two races did not start, but
they did in all the other events and I went
home with S475 in my pockets. Now don't
contend that because dreamt of No. 7 that
won, but do contend that had not dreamt
of the same should never have won. No. is
lucky with me in everything. If board car
No. 2 in the morning luck sticks to me all that
day. In fact every time / see No.7 l am
lucky"
Others play No. or any number that they
think brings luck. Some persons who play the
races never like to win the first race. They
will make a small bet on some horse and expect
to lose. After that they will play heavily and
are most confident of winning. If they should
not bet any more as they are certain they will
lose.
Bettors on horse races are always on the look
out for some sign that will point to certain
horse in the race Going down to the Mon
mouth Park races on the Sandy Hook boat
they are always on the lookout for pilot boat
and then when they see the big number on the
sail they regard IL as a good omen and plan ac-
cordiDg to what the number points to on the
programme. Others watch signs and listen for
names If they see sign that bears the name
of horse or hear anyone mention the name of
a horse in some odd way they take it as a sure
tip that the horse will win the next time he
starts
Some men have so little faith in their own
Judgment of the merits of the horses engaged
TO run, and believe so firmly that winning on a
horse race is all game of chance, that they
will place the names of the horses written on
separate pieces of paper in hat and play the
first one they draw out Others will throw an
open knife at the card-of course lucky knife
and the name in which the blade sticks is the
are some signs which if followed accurately are
sure to bring wealth to any one who tries TO
win at the races. They are given by an old
race goer:
HOW TO BET AND WIN.
It is unlucky to whistle or sing before break
fast. If YOU should happen to do so, don't
touch the races that day or you will lose.
1t is unlucky to sneeze before breakfast or
when looking at the new moon. If you should
SDeeZe on the new moon DON'T LOucl q morse
race until you see the next new moon.
1t is bad luck to pass under a ladder. and on
the day that you do you won't back a winner.
If you break looking glass bad luck will
stick to you for month, and If you sing or
whistle at any meal table bad luck will stick to
you for nine days.
At the race course recently one man said If
the first horse he saw on the track should hap
good luck that day.
Some Immediately after making bet 60 and
drink glass Of beer. They say it puts cinch
on, but how they do not explain. Others al
ways put their tickets in certain pocket.
They claim that if they allowed anyone else to
touch them that something would happen to
the horse to prevent its winning, no matter
how good it might be. Others always secure
certain lucky seats on the grand stand, and if
by any accident their favorite seats should be
occupied they are sure that they will not win.
A good story is told of Lawyer William F.
Howe's superstition. He frequently visits the
race course and bets good deal on the horses
He does not take the tips from anybody, but
employs little colored boy as tout. A short
time ago the two men were caught standing in
a secluded corner of the paddock. The great
lawyer had wad of money in his hand rub
bing 1t vigorously on the wool of the darkey
who stood before him,
Rub, Massa Howe, rub: dat's good luck.
You's got cinch shuah. Use got it straight.
Now just rub once noah. and den git the big |
gest odds"
Mr.. Howe didn't make the bet. He tried to
laugh at it as joke. He won't even say if the |
Fred Walbaum is about the most superstitious |
bookmaker in the ring. Some time ago he |
made book in race in which Firenzi and |
Kingston started. Everyone else in the ring |
made Firenzi favorite. Walbaum held out |
and laid good odds against Firenzi |
All in the ring laughed at him. Kingston won |
and then Walbaum laughed. He said: II was |
going home on the elevated train last night |
and by some chance in the illuminated sign |
over the Kingston House the word Kingston |
alone was Illuminated. thought that a tip |
and it was" A. F. ALDRIDGE.