The representative., 1900-11-15
Reverence for the Unoanny.@
Chicago Times-Herald.)

prefer al 0V0u uumOoT. UAC0 hay IL !:
only the result Of habit, but we are all
creatures of habit, and IL there Is any
occult control over. that number I, fol
one, do not care to encounter it"
Owners of large hotels found the num-
Der 10 such a hoodoo that they omitted
it, substituting "parlor" A or B for the
unlucky figures, but even so guests
would discover that 1t was the 18th
room and would move out as II it had
been infected.
theatrical people dread to begin a
season on the 18th of the month, and 1t
the bad luck does not get into the play
and make 1t failure, 1t Is a severe
strain on the nerves Of the actors.
The Jewish people are exempt from
any taint of this superstition. They be-
lieve with the Orientals that it has
something divine in its juxtaposition Of
figures, and they derive their knowledge
from their men Of biblical =. culture.
Thirteen cities were dedicated to their
ancient priesthood; 13 high priests de-
scended from Aaron; 13 kings sat in the
council of the ancients; on the 18th day
of the month Nissan, the sacred and i'm
posing rites of Passover began. To car
ry out still further the divine influence
the incense they used consisted of 13
distinct odors
If blessing instead of bane had been
laid upon the two figures, which apart
are innocent and useful, but together
form such dread combination, 13 would
have been a lucky number for every
body, as it now is for few. Our coun-
| try's flag, with it's 13 stripes. holds its
own in the way of luck, and the original
13 states stand for a nations prosperity.
There is also quarter of dollar in our
| modern silver money which ought to
hoodoo every man who carries one in his
| pocket, for it has no less than ten repeti-
tions of the number 13 on one side Of
the coin. Each emblem has 13 parts.
Science is no match for superstition.
We love mystery, the occult, the indefin-
able. So likewise did the great Caesar
and the first Napoleon. .,l.~.v
Among animals the most uncanny
thing is the cat-and the most uncanny
| of the feline race is the black cat-which
| certainly has a presence calculated to
call up familiar demon. In the first
place, cats are supposed. to be possessed
of nine lives. How or why this peculiar
plurality of lives should belong to the
creature is not explainable, but Its
electrical qualities alone give an un-
canny interest. Then witches are al
ways supposed to be attended by black
cats, and we find this native supersti-
ton. Salem town, in goodly Massa-
chusetts, have SOME rare old folk, lore
stories to tell in the twilight about an
cestral witches and righteous judges
who doomed them to death. No Salem
family will tolerate black cat Salem
mothers watch their sleeping infants
to protect them from a sly visit from
the animal of nine lives, which they say
Is fond of lying on the sleeping infant
to inhale It's breath. When told that
it was the probable weight Of the cat
that proved fatal they shake their heads
in ominous silence. Poe's horrible
tragic story Of the black cat made the
species more unpopular than ever Haw-
thorne has the most agruesome descrip-
tion of stealthy grimalkin crossing the
streets and looking up at the window
of the parlor in the House of the Seven
Cables" twisting it's 1.-THE tail and lick
ing It's chops, as if~it scented the dead
! man sitting in upright state in the par
lor. How this sly small tiger ever won
it's way into the stronghold of the do
| nestle circle and the human heart, when
1t has neither affection nor gratitude,
can only be explained on the basis Of
|. .hypnotism. All cats are hypnotic.
Their eyes alone are studies in occult
ism. their splitting sputtering fur is
charged with electric force enough to
| shock the human system, and they are
| so hedged about. with unWritten ethics
of superstition that no one dare kill
them or abuse them for fear of judge
ment. And they are not even edible.
And then there's@ca said the cap
tain, II don't believe in cats. But I've
seen whole crew going round with
faces as long as a capstan bar because
a cat had fallen overheard and been
drowned. Hardly -bYfe of them that
didn't think something would happen
before getting fntp port1,'1 .r~~ -
Chicago has firm Of charm dealers,
and they do big business. 1t has been
estimated that not fewer than 5000, 900
are worn, including religious ones or
sacred symbols. Really this phase of
! superstition appeals to the mental. con-
dition and acts like faith cure. It is
a satisfaction to feel that you are wear
Ing charm-if only bit of amber
that will keep off fever and contagious
sickness, or one that will insure your
life against drowning. Nearly every
man carries lucky piece. You can buy
charms for winning back the affection If
an absentee or love philters that will
compel return of admiration from the
unsuspecting. There are 1000 profess
sional dealers in the United States.
Where are those charms worn? Every
where. They are hidden In shoes, as
| old c0hhlorc will <on ,,a,,,