The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

Within the past few days a party of gen.
tlemen were enjoying themselves at a mod
est feast in a well-known suburban resort
near Washington. They were smoking good
scent cigars and indulging in whatever
beverages the fancies OF those present re-
spectively suggested. Public affairs was
the principal topic of discussion until one
of the little cOterie casting his eyes around
said: Gentlemen, 1 think we had better
adjourn than sit here longer There is an
even dozen Of us here. Some fellow might
come in and make it a bakers dozen
thirteen-and that will bring US all bad
luck. Thirteen is an awfuly unlucky
number You all know that Do you not?"
This little remark changed the entire
tenor of the conversation, and while every
man in the party hooted the idea of being
superstitious it was very evident that there
was not one among those present who felt
that the addition of another man to the
little congregation would be heartily well
coined. Incidents of how other men be-
come scared when only thirteen were gath
cred together became subjects of general
discussion that somehow did not seem so
enhancing as it was before the suggestion
to break away and go home was advanced.
One Of the party remembered that he
was the guest at a dinner given not long
ago to a gentleman who was about to de-
part on a business mission to Europe The
list Of invitations to the banquet numbered
fifteen, but when the dinner was served
and well under way some representative
individual discovered that two of those in
vted to the feast were not present and
called attention to two vacant seats. leay-
ing only thirteen at the table With a pale
face and trembling voice this bette noir of
the hfpuar apnnnnpHA he ,bg
like that OF a London fog overcome the
party. The gentleman in whose honor the
dinner was given and who was to sail on
the morrow for England seemed nearly
ready to faint until a wise man arose in
the midst of the assembly and cordially in
vited one of the walters at the table to join
the feasters. This said the narrator.
settled things all right. Our guest sailed
as he had intended TO do, made a success
Of his mission, and returned without hav- |
ing experienced a single discomfort and !
Inconvenience"
Il know Of something in the same line |
said another Of the company Il know Of |
a man who proposed marriage to a beauti- !
Lul woman on the thirteenth of the month |
He was married on the thirteenth day of d |
succeeding MONTH and is as happy today /
which is just thirteen years after that |
event. as any man in Washing on, or any |
where else. l am the individual he said |
looking around 10 see that the magic cir |
lie Of twelve was not intruded upon by |
mother arrival.
Il have some knowledge Of the effects
Of the number thirteen myself. said an
)ther member of the party His hearers
bought they detected a deviation from the
symmetry Of the record in his manner. but
let's have it," they said, and he told this
story:
MY father" he said. was a lover of
lorse flesh He liked 10 play the races,
,ut he never owned but one horse. That
lorse was thirteen hands high if he was
IN inch. Ny old dad paid 81, 300 fo7 him.
nd be bought him on the 18th day of a
February several years ago. He entered
lin for race that was to take place on
he thirteenth day OF some month"; don't
now what mOnth--and l bet every dollar
could rake and scrape upon him Then
his gentleman stopped to think about
ONE things and his auditors became i'm
atient. We'll, go one with your yarn"
aid one Of the number. How much money
id you win 20
THAT horse came in last in the race"
'as the reply. Then a motion to adjourn |
as put and unanimously adopted.