Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-02-22
The Eccentricities of Luck.

NlIJuc III IIiS mysterious property
in which so many believe, and which
belief prompts some to spend Their
lives, Micawber-like, waiting fol
something to turn up? Much has
been written and more been said on
the fascinating subject, and many
and apparently conclusive the argu-
ments adduced by those who refuse
to believe in its existence. Luck,
say those people, does not exist, and
the incidents cited as examples OF
it are but the result of the working
of perfectly natural laws. What is
popularity known as luck is simply
this-the right thing has happened
at the right moment.
Take an example, wall, appar-
emily strong, is in reality totterine
on its foundation. 1t can stand nc
longer; some time OH a certain day
it must collapse. 1t is in busy
street, passers-by are many. A
man is coming along, he nears the
fatal spot. At that moment he
drops his umbrella and stops to pick
it up. The seconds delay Is his sal
vation; the wall falls, and he is
saved. There is nothing marvellous
about it, nothing but the happening
of the right thing at the right mo-
ment.
AS theory the argument cer-
tainly wears the garb of plausibility,
but when we come to inquire into
particular instances of what we call
luck, the contention appears less
conclusive. Let us detail one or
two interesting instances of luck
and leave the reader to decide for
himself whether, after all, the popu-
lar defination of the word is an er-
roneous one.
A gentleman living at South
Kensington was travelling with his
son from Gloucester Road to Mark
Lane on the Underground Railway
Arrived at his destination, the young
man in opening the carriage door
dropped from his finger valuable
ring, which fell between the carriage
and the platform. The station IN
spector, who happened to be stand
ing near, said: "All right. sir; | saw
it fall. Wait till the train is gone,
and I'll get it for you; and directly
the train moved out he duly jumped
down on to the line, but no ring
could be found. The gentleman
waited some time, and then went
| home. An hour or so afterwards
the son went again to the railway
station to enquire if the ring had
been found, and while standing
there the same train entered the
station, having been right round
the inner circle; and wonderful to
relate, ON the lower foot board Of
the carriage the ring was discovered
having travelled the whole distance
lying OH the open board.
Some two or three years ago a
hunchback, well known as 'Bosco.'
used to clean the boots and run er-
rands for the habitues Of the Maison
dor and Cafe Richie, in Paris, many
of whom, before making a bet ol
sitting down to play at cards, would
touch his hump ''for luck"
One evening a celebrated actress
coming out Of the Maison dor
sent friend for two lottery tickets
in drawing that was to take plac,
on the morrow. Many atime before
she had tried her luck, but always
without success, 50 tins time sh,
rubbed the two pieces of paper OF
Bosco's talismanic hump. Mex
day she found she had won two
thousand pounds.
i Another Partisan lottery inciden
gives us a good example of lucl
pure and simple. A master printer
at the time of the Exhibition lot
teries, sent his apprentice to pur
chase ticket. Here, sir, here
your lottery ticket! picked it on
myself. It's a good 'un. and II,
mistake"
"All right, my lad. If get TIN
big prize, remember there's 10,00'
; francs for you," So promised th
printer, and put tho ticket away til
the lucky numbers were declared
At the end of October, the appren
tice venturiDg too near the machin
cry, got his arm caught in the gear
ing, and before the machiner,
could be stopped the limb was terri
bly, mutilated. lie was taken home
and when he recovered conscious
ness, realized that hence forwar,
his occupation was gone; II life o
want and misery seemed to be be
fore him. On November 9th, tn
!, drawings in the lottery were declar