The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-21

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against this day of the week. Equally
curious was its Information aoout the
number 10. 1t seems that this super
stition, according to the best authorities,
comes down from the last supper,
when there were just IL at the table.
Yet this, it was pointed out by the club,
could not have been an unlucky mum.
Der, as the original republic was COM
posed of 13 states, with q banner of Is
stripes and Is stars; E pluribus unum
contains just 10 letters, ss does the
motto, Annuit coeptus, upon the great
seal OF the United States. The first
word to pass over the Atlantic cable
was sent on the thirteenth of the month,
which was alec Friday.
THEY LIKE CoFFINs.
1t would almost seem. from a perusal
of the literature published by the 1hir-
teen club and from the speeches de-
livered by members at its numerous
banquets, that IL is a lucky Der,
and Friday a lucky day. and whenever
during the post 13 years Friday has
fallen on the thirteenth of the month
this peculiar organization has never
failed TO hold a special meeting for re-
j,icng. 1t was always on the watch for
condolences which would add to the
oddly OF tho occasion. Thus its sum-
mer banquets were held at Brighton
Beach, because there were Ii letters in
the name, just as last night the dinner
was at the Knickerbocker for the same
reason.
The members of the club have been
called iconoclasts and they have been
charged with being stepped in super
stition because they recognized old
superstitions to the extent of organizing
and working for their overthrow. 1t 10
a fact that not being content with DEFY
ing the superstition about Friday and
the numbe. Is, they have also attacked
lot of other deeply rooted notions that
are somewhat absurd but which every.
body recognizes more or less. Thus
they not only sit down with Is at the
table, but often the menu is printed in
the form OF a coffin.
The coat OF arms OF the club takes the
form OF man in dress suit drinking
a glass of wine with skeleton, and
skull and croas bones are literally dis
played.
At the dinners OF the club it has been
q regular custom to spill salt, to CROSS
| forks and to break looking glasses.
FRIDAY MARRIAGES.
The speakers also never failed to point
out the inconsistencies of superstitions.
There was joy when Theodore W. Davis,
the historian OF the club, discovered
that in ConstantiDopls and in Spain
Tuesday and not Friday is the I'M
lucky day in popular estimation, while
in Holland, he said, the opinion pre-
walls that If you cut your nails on q
Friday it will cure g toothache.
In England, however, SO strong ie the
/ Friday superstition that not per cent
of the marriages occur on that day, and
few hotels are to be found which have
a room numbered IS. Nine tenths OF
the marriages in Glasgow, however.
took place, it was found, on Friday, and
all over Scotland this is regarded az the
lucky day on which to be welded.
| The Thirteen club is the result of the
efforts of man who had been for sev-
eral years seeking to get IL friends to sit
down with him at table in order to com.
bat the old superstition. lie is Capt.
William Fowler, who was present at the
banquet last night. Marvin r. Clark.
who is largely responsible for the noto-
riety which the organization has at
tanned, says that 13 days before the club
was born ne met Captain Fowler, who
told him OF his unsuccessful elfJrts to
get up such dinner in past years. aud
invited him to be present.
TIE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN.
Mr.. Clark accepted the invitation, all
though he GAYS;
II was compelled to admit to myself
that | certainly had been superstitious
in the past, for | had al ways n ade it
rnle, in conformity with the instructions
ct my mother. never to go under q
ladder and | recalled many an instance
when | soiIed shoes and clothing by
carefully going out into the muddy
street rather than pass under ladder"
The original dinner was held on Fri
day, January 18th. the guests sitting
DOM at7:l3. and the original Is were:
Daniel Wolf. Leh man Israels. William
Fowler, Henry A. Heiser, Charles Soth-
eran, James A. Reed. Samuel Jones.
julius Witakowski, Richard Fitzgerald,