The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-11-11
suPERsTITIons OF AcToss.
Comedian Crane Does Not Like the
Number Thirteen. ~

Comedian Crane Does Not Like the
Number Thirteen. ~
There are possibly no more supersti-
tious people on this mundane sphere
than those in the theatrical profession
The actor or actress who is not super
stitious is as hard TO find as the pro-
verbal needle in the haystack. The
actress who would look at her refec-
ton i'm a cracked mirror would be an
object of sympathy among her friends.
as some dire calamity would be sure to-
befall her, and the actor who Valted
his life would never walk under iad-
der. TO cross a funeral would be
very injudici0us thing. and there rs
popular belief that should any one
whistle in a dressing-rOom the person
nearest the door at the time viii lose
his position before the end of the week.
To start rehearsals of Il new play on
a Friday means failure for the work,
and to begin q tour on Il Friday ~ an
unheard of thing. A rather good story
aprOpOs of the superstitiOns of tbeatri
cal people is told of William ii. Crane.
A little over two years ago the come
dian was booked to appear in Evans
vile, Ind, and his agent had reserved
for him at the st. George Hotel, the
principal caravansary in the town, the
best suite of rooms in the house Par
ticular instructions were left regarding
the making of the rooms as coInfOrta
bic as possible. Hardly had the actor
reached the hotel when he discovered
that the suite of rooms reserved for
him was number thirteen. He became
nervOuS.at once and there was fdSer-
ish pressing of the bell. which did not
cease until boy all out of breath put
in an appearance. Send the clerk
here at once" thunderPd Crane; TASK
him what he means by putting me in u
suite numbered thirteen. Doesn't he
know any better:" The boy made
hurried effort to get his breath and
then smiled in a proud way. why,
sir" he answered, 'all of the star
gem'men what come TO this town stop
in these rooms" Then as if to carry
home conviction to the actor that he
was in favored quarters, he said:
"Why, sir. John 7. Raymond died in
that bed"' Had any of the comedians
friends seen him during the next five
minutes he would certainly have lost
the reputation of being a mild-manner
ed and amiable gentleman. In half an
hour he was out of the hotel. bag and
baggage, and on his way to private
car at the depot, in which he slept that
night.
Another incident in regard to the
number thirteen is probably worth the
telling The morning after "Thc Gov
ernor of Kentucky was produced for
the first time in New York Crane arose
rather early in order to see what the
critics thought of the comedy. a set
of the morning papers had been placed
at his bedside, and on top the valet had
carelessly placed copy of the theater
program, the first, by the way, that
came from the press. While dressing
ing, the actor carelessly glanced at the
bill. His attention was arrested III
moment, and in order TO assure him
self that he was seeing straight he pHf-
ON his glasses. ELLA, Ellar' he called
y
are thirteen characters in the play
Thirteen there were sure enough, some
thing no one had noticed during all of
the time that the play was in rehear-
sal. Breakfast and the papers we're
quickly forgotten and the actor was OH
his way to see Mr.. Eyles, the author of
the comedy. To him he explained the
frnrIhln and .116 that unnthGr ..l.o
ter had TO be introduced at once This
the author did not find Il difficult mat
ter. All through the play IL Mr.. LeOnar
was spoken of. but never seen. and Mr.
Fyles found it easy to bring him ON in
the last act. The second night that the
play was presented it bOasted of four
teen characters and the comedian was
happy. Joseph Brooks, the actors
manager, would be indignant with the
man who said he was superstitiOus
and for that reason little story about
the first performance of "a Fool of
Fortune might not be amiSS. The play
had progressed up TO the last scene
when n cOal-black cat walked on the
stage and brushed up against the old
broker as he was about TO die The
curtain down Brooks rushed back to-
the actors dressing Will he
did you see that catT' II
should say So answered Mr.. Crane.
'.it came near running the scene.''
Nothing of the kind replied the man
ager: that cat has brought us the big
gest kind of good luck. Iou can 20
home and rest assured that we have
a big hit" and the man who is not SUI
perstitious went around to the front
Of the house in a contented frame of
mind
Food that Makes Brains
Accordinr IN a coIahr.+ad hooItt, -