The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-05

the cat Is the most awesome OF OBJECTS.
For many years Queen Victoria has been
the victim OF this superstition. Inc PIN
cess OF Wales and several members Oh
the royal family have long possessed the
feminine affection for the sleek taDoy out
they never dared TO bring such an AMI
nal into any house In which the queen
was stopping.
A few months ago, however, a peautiiui
Persian kitten was personally presented
TO the queen by a little girl whom she
loved very dearly To the surprise Oh all
who witnessed the presentation the queen
went so far as to fondle the Kitten, pul'
IL the truth must be told, on returning
to the castle the innocent potent OF eVil
was relegated TO the apartment OF one
OF the princesses and has not since re-
ceived the oaress of the queen
OTHERS FEAR CATS.
The aged ruler Of Great Britain, how
ever. IL not alone in her fear OF the cat
as an I'll omen. Lord Roberts one OF
the brayest soldiers of the empire. finds
an uncomfortable enemy in the cat, and
II he can possibly avoid II, he VIII not
permit one OF the innoffensiye animals to
enter his presence. A black cat Is par
ticuarly awesome TO him and he Will
decline any invitation If he knows that
there IS a black cat in the house.
Many actors and actresses have this
superstition, but among few is ii as strong
as in the case OF Ellen Terry, for her
fear OF the cat is so strong that she will
not allow one in any theatre where she
is PLAYING and she insists that the only
pieces with which she was connected that
ever proved failures were those in which
! a black cat happened to find its way upon
the stage during rehearsal.
As Is probably we'll known those who
follow the theatrical profession are often
as supetstitious as the proverbal gam
bier. Otero never goes on the stage with
out first crossing herself to insure good
luck and some of the leading stars of the
theatrical world would be almost ready
to retire from the stage II they should
lose the horseshoe that is SO securely
nailed into the lid of their trunks.
Mary Anderson always considered II an
III omen to peep through the curtain
while the house was filling and Mrs. Les
lie Carter. practical woman as she IS. al
ways raps three times on the wings be-
fore walking on the stage in order 20
Danish evil influences. Mrs. Brown Pot
ter always carries with her the left hind
foot of a graveyard rabbit killed by the
light OF the MOON" and she IS confident
that her success IS at least partially due
to this potent charm.
The superstition against the number
lluittu ID lOO tDuhIDu " tdAot llOlt
than passing comment for this IS a fear
that has held the hearts Of men and wo-
men i'm every walk Of life for many gener-
ations. Emile lola. however regards
an inordinate dread of the number seven
teen. II may be said in passing that NJ.
lola Is one OF the most superstitious OF
mOrtals and his entire life is hedged
round by favorable signs and evil omens.
On certain days he would do no work UNI
der any circumstances and he always car
ries bit Of coral as a taisman against
the Derils of fire. flood and thunder, and
a bloodstone in the belief that il will
help him 10 be wise and courageous
POWER OF PRECIOUS STONES.
Such belief in the magic power OF
precious stones is of ancient organ and
IS still as widely held as any superstition.
The Princess Louise Of Lorne wears a
ring set with sparkling jet as n talisman
Of singular efficacy in the preservation OF
health. The Shah OF Persia is never with
out his cube OF amber which he believes
mas the power OF rendering him invulnera-
Die. Pearls are supposed to exercise a
good effect upon the fortunes OF the
kothschild family and the German EN-
peror believes that agate will insure him
long life. health and prosperity.
The Car of Russia would not think
OF stepping from his room without the
ring In which. as he firmly believes. Is
imbedded a bit of the true cross. Once
while travelling from st. Petersburg TO
Moscow he suddenly discovered that he
had forgotten his ring. The train was
instantly stopped and a messenger was
sent flying back on an engine for il. The
charm that is most priced by King
George Of Greece is a bullet with which
an assassin once attempted 10 take hts
life. The ball lodged in the side Of the
carriage. from which it was extracted by
the King. and IL Is now always worn as
a potent OF good fortune
Queen Christiana OF Spain. has a most
unique superstition. she believes that
the eye OF a raven. dried, pierced and
worn over the heart will drive away mis-
fortune and unhappiness. She never re-
moves the one she wears, which was
given her By her grandmother at the
Austrian court before she became queen.
AS people those OF royal blood are Just
as suDerstitious as more ordinary indt-
viduals The Emperor OF Austria will
give no decision I'm important family or
state affairs the day following the night
on which he dreamed Of dead delatives or
friends. and Queen Louise OF Denmark al
ways placed in the christening robes OF
her daughter three needles that had been
used in making them, which was suppos-
ed 10 have insured the drawing Of good
prizes In the matrimonial market.
Rudyard Kiplings only superstition IS
the desire 70 see the new moon over his
right shoulder. Rider Haggard never
writes q word for publication unless he
has his scarab to which he attaches great
value as charm. 1t is the original OF
the famous scarab in She" and was
picked up by the author in Africa. Since
then he has come 10 regard II with a
feeling that approaches veneration.
Miss Braddon is another author who
places euperStitiouS value upon mani
mate objects Her particular charm is
a gold mounted pen holder and she finds
IL absolutely impossible TO write with any
other pen. Not long ago she broke IL
and was obliged to suspend work upon
her new book. until It had been sent to
the ieWeler to be reraired