Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-02
STORIES OF THE STAGE.


The superstitions of the stage are quite
incomprehensible to the majority who live
before the footlights, but to those whose
existence is passed in the full glare of the
limehght they are wonderfully real. Elita
Proctor Otis is as superstitious as the 9TH
er membersfof her profession. She would
not be caught whistling on the stage for
anything on earth, she would rather die
than repeat the tag of play at rehearsal
and, as to quoting Macbeth she could not
be induced to do so under any circum-
stances One superstition which she shares
In common with others relates to cats. She
is now the proud possessor of a unique
black kitten, which came to her under cir
cumstances which to her are indicative of
continued good fortune and prosperity so
long as the cat remains in her possession
One night recently she was returning to
her hotel after supper with party of the
atrical people. AS she entered her hotel
she found that the train of her dress was
unusually heavy. She turned, and, safely
- ped in Its folds, holding on like grim
death, its sharp little claws imbedded in
the material, was a bright looking black
kitten with a curious white marking over
its eyes. When she picked the cat up it
nestled up against her and purred as
though begging for protection. Her friends
advised her to turn the little beast out into
the street, whence it came, but she would
not hear of it and carried the harbinger of
good fortune to her room, where she fed it
on sardines and whipped cream. The diet
does not seem to have injured the kitten S
vitality, for it is as lively and frolicsome
as any kitten ever was. 1t has grown to
know Miss Otis and her habits. and when
she returns from the theatre she finds it
lying expectantly near her door, and as
soon as she crosses into the room it climbs
up into her arms for its daily allowance
of petting and caressing.
Miss Otil would not take $1,000 in cash
for "the kid" as she calls it, Since its ar
rival she has had half a dozen lucky
things happen to her, including the finding
of ring she. mad long considered lost and
--the arrival Of the manuscript of a play
which exactly suits her purposes. Miss
Otis is going to star next season under the
management of Jacob Litt, and she thinks
that if her mascot does mot abandon her
nothing can prevent the success of her ven
ture.
little niece of Sol Smith Russell, who
has great faith in him, while walking with
him one day on slippery pavement,
asked him to run home, so he could that
much sooner open the box of candy he
carried under his arm. He was averse to
breaking his bones and declined most en-
phaticaly. whereupon her craving for the
sweets in the box made her cry out.
Please. bod, Oh, please, make Uncle Sol
rum"
1T was not the Lord alone who heard
that innocent prayer Mr. Russell SUISSE
quently narrated. What was / to do?
But one thing. and that was to preserve
that innocent child's faith as best / could
The Lord answered that prayer instantly.
He put 1t into my heart to run. And run
! did-donst remember having run faster
! in my life. Taking the child by the hand,
Tstarted off like the wind. People looked
at us in wonderment as we whirled over
the slippery pavement toward home. But
/ was helping to answer a prayer ana
lidn'. care
"You couldn't help yourself, could you,
Uncle Sol?" inquired her ladyship when
we reached the parlor and sat down by the
fire to eat our candy. bod made you
wun, didn't he, Uncle Sol?"
An interesting story, of the hardships
TO which actor folk are frequently subject
ed came out during police court trial in