Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-11-28
CATS BROUGHT I'LL LUCK.
Way But Taere Must Have Geen
One Cat TOO Muny.

"We are more or less suspicious
when it comes to black cats" said a
wcll-known young man about town
to Washington Star reporter, "and
J. was one of the frmest believers in
the black cat good-luck superstition
in Washington until a few days ago.
! 81 had gotten tired of doing the
same thing in my department over
and over every day in the year, and,
being "a member of one of the learned
professions, | decided to attempt to
secure a transfer to another depart
ment, where my training could be put
to advantage to myself and incidental
ly to the government.
Il am from a state where the senior
senator is a power in state and ma
tional politics; man almost unap-
proachable by reason of his prom
incnce, but who is personally one Of
the stanchest of friends to his friends,
and whose recommendation usually
carries, as it is seldom given. l hap
pen to be one of his friends.
Next to myself, the person most
interested in my ambition was my
sweetheart. One night about a month
ago, on our return from the theater,
on her doorstep sat a jet black cat
with white star on its breast. The
cat followed us in the house in the
most friendly manner, refused to go
out until it was time for my de-
parture, and then followed me to the
sidewalk. My best girl, in rhapsody
of delight, declared that it was or
dained by the stars that I was to get
my appointment.
1.-TWO or three days later, on the
eve of my departure for the great and
wicked city which is my home, I
stepped into a restaurant on Eleventh
street for lunch. A cat as black as
ink, with white star on its breast,
came in the door, walked right up to
my table, and remained there until I
finished my meal When I told nv
sweetheart about the cats visit when
l saw her that evening, she had an
other spasm of delight. saying that
defeat for me was impossible.
Il left for home about two weeks
ago, and on the very first night Of
my arrival, as I was leaving the hotel.
a big black cat with a white star on
its breast came out of the cafe and
rubbed its arched back against nv
shins. / returned at once to the writ
ing-room and wrote my girl about it,
L received by return mail letter of
Is closely written pages, explaining
that with the third black cat thus
thrust in my pathway my appoint
ment was inevitable, and that she
could hardly contain her joy.
"On the day before was to see the
senator l stopped at Shanley's. on
Broadway. for lunch. was paralyzed
with delight when the fourth blacl,
cat suddenly came up to my table and
purred about my feet in the most
friendly manner.
Need I tell you that the senator
was kindness and graciousness itself,
and lauded my ambition to get up in
the line of my chosen profession? {?
Need I say that the Endorsements of
my district leader and congressional
candidates and those of my profess
sional friends were literally thrown
at my head? Need I say that my
sweetheart wrote me an 1s-page.
double-lined letter every day, telling
me that | couldn't lose? Need [ add
that everything in the big city I
wanted came my way? Is it not idle
to tell you that one of the great men
who directs the councils of his party.
and who is power therein, united
with the senator in an Endorsement
which, had it been at the beginning of
the administration, ought to have
given me an assistant secretaryship.
and perhaps wished me luck?
"AndneedI tell you that the cabinet
officer to whom 1 presented my pa
pers frankly told me that having no
places vacant he could not give me
one? That l had my trouble for my
pains, and that the four black cats
threw me down hard? That my sweet
hearts nose and eyes were so red
from weeping that she could not go to
the theater. and that I have for dis
posal the strongest set of indorse-
ments which can be picked up on
Pennsylvania avenue in an hours
walk?"