The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-10
sUPERsTIrIoNs OF THE STAGE
How Mach sth Music and Yellow Clari-
onets Affect Foolish lhespians.
Il IL


NEW York. Feb 81 was waiting the
other night in the rather spacious green
room attached to the Fifth Aveaue theater
numbered W as it i with the odd looking
furniture. quantity painted shields and fero-
cious spears. which form part Of the mount
ing Of 'MacbeJh,' when one # the com
pany, VITA shaggy wig and shining arnOr
passed me on his way TO the winding st iir
which leads to TIE dressing room above. He
whistled as he went, a bar o. Two Of sOnhar
melody, wheu to my surprise an Old and
well-knOwl actor, VINO is also in the cast
seized him by the arm and exclaimed:
For G0d's sake stop tina ilie nal air
Do YOU want the theaJer to be burnt"
The young ter did not seem to take the
outburst amiss bu5 stopped his whistling,
laughingly apologized and continued on his
waV.
why did you stop him" I asked of the
veteran who was striding about in his
kingly robes and growing to him elf
Didn't you hearp said he, "he was
whlstling the Macbeth music, Locke's
music, you know"
well, what of itT' innocently asked
What of it, sirl Don't you know that
one OF the prlmest 70 ted Of stage super
stitions attaches itself to the Macbeth
music"
Ipeaded my ignorance and the old gen
OleIllhU having btu ullhul6S walt, alu WIN
evident satifacuon at having found an
auditor told me much that was news o me
about his and OF er stage superstltions.
II need hardly tell you said he, THAT
we actors are a supertIuous race. Why
this should BE so we need not inquire, but it
is assuredly the case. In this partic lar in
stance, YOU are doubtless aware the iuciien-
tai music which for generations mas been
used by the producers IF Macbeth was
l. l.,I-. 4
side ed to be very fac aud appropriate.
All the legitimate actors of the old school
are thoroughly familiar with it and yet YOU
can never prevail upon one of them to
whistle or hum to you a single bar of it,
They firmly believe that he or she Who
sings the 'Macte eth music Of the stage or
when not actually engaged 10 the pc form
ance OF the play, Will meet with tragical
fate. 50 deep rooted is this aversiol tuat
Of late years Locke's music has passed into
innocuous deSuetude among many stars
| Mrs. Laugtry, for instance, whether from
til, cause or some other has relied On Mr.
Pnerner to furnish the incidental orc estra-
ton for this revival Of The ira. ely. / am
bound to say that Mrs Laugry it as little
Influenced by any superstitlols nonsens5 as
any woman know. She has, believe, an
objection to beginning any enterprise or
signing q contract on a Friday, but hat is
a comparatively harm Jess form OF the queer
me tai disease which afllicts tle profession
at large.
Have you ever heard Of the yellow clar-
ioneti Well. that IS the queerest as 1t is
one of the most WILDLY spread supersttions
Of all. | remember in my younger days |
was travelling through the country gaining
maximum OF experience aud Il minimum
OF dollars as the stage manager Of So
called comedy company. One night in a
little Peunsy lvauia town we actually had
house more than half full, and | was con-
graduating myself on being able for once
to pay our board bills withOu- having b call
at tue sign ~ tue Three Balls, when the
youth VIII acted Is csltboy, propert v man
aud baggage man, besides doing song and
dance turn, came T. me VITO u lyrg face.
De cump'nys struck says he, 'dey won't
20 on no how Why, what's the mA,t3rp
] asked, do they want their salaries in ed
vancsP 'Wurs nor that. be said, 'deres
yellow clariOnet in the Orcle ira and tie
Dutch leader he won't turn hin out, and
this ! found was the real cDlse OF the strike
The clarionet player Of the local orchestra
was tooting away on yellow instrument
when one II Of the company who was siz-
ing up the house through a hole in the cur
tain spied him aud bore the ghastly
tiding, ~ therest OF the actors a
messenger was sent 10 the leader
hut 10 did not understand the
neauigg Of IL and fatty refused 10 weaken
his band Of five BY dism s5ing the carionet
player for no apparent cause. Eventually
! managed TO effect a compromss and a
black ribbon was twisted around tAe offend.
ing ms umeat in suchw!ss as not 70 inter
fere with its being played on. and then
my company c0hsa te 20 allow he curtain
g. be rung up. You sec the yellow clar!Onet
il a sure precursor OF bad luck ard ia this
case | am afraid that the black ribbon c.d
more harm than good, f1r a week later We
were all walking oms But / must not
chatter here any longer for th r. is my call,
though could 60 on for an hour detailing
the queer supsrstitions which are the prop
erty of tue theatrical profession" and he
disappeared on 70 the stage.
HORACE TOWNSEND.
HOROSCOPES ACID PHOSPHATE