The weekly intelligencer., 1901-03-02
THEATRICAL SUPERSTITION.
French Actors Rival Gamblers Tor
FeoIish Pears-Live Faieons and
Painted Peacocks Ominous.

Theatrical managers are said, by
those who know them, 10 resemble
gamblers in the matter OF being supei-
stitiouS. However this may be in a
general way, an example OF such su-
perstition lately occurred at the Am
bigu theater. which is the Adelphi OF
Paris, says the London Pail Mall Ga
zette. The Ambigu was playing new
piece, "L'Autre France" Of which the
fate is somewhat uncertain. Among
the spectators one night was NJ. Ro-
chard, the manager Of the Chatelet
theater, who had looked in to see how
his friend and brother manager, M.
Grisier, was prospsring. At the close
of the fifth tableau NJ. Rochsrd left
his stall in evident perturbation, and
went behind the scenes TO seek out
VI. Grisier and inform him that he was
cour1ng disaster. NJ. Rochard called
the stseHseR q eSs # ssHfn RfRAGsF r2bRS
Just over, the scene Of which was il
Algeria, some Of the "supers' carried
falcons, which, 1t seems, are regarded
In the theatrical word as birds OF i'll
omen. NJ. Rochard was Mortified TO
Rnd that his friend had paid no heed
to this well-accredited superstition,
and would not rest until NJ. Grisier
promised to return the birds TO the
Jardin d'Acclimatation, from which
thev had been borrowed.
Another bird that is regarded In the
atrical circles as harbinger Of evil
Is the peacock. In this connection a
rather amusing story is told on the
boulevard. There is a manager on the
left bank Of the Seine--his theater is
not the Odeon-who is noted for his
strict attention to economy. Some two
years ago he found himself under the
disagreeable, because costly, obligation
Of redecorating his thsater. The oper-
alton completed and the scsffolding
removed, he surveyed his rejuyenated
house with such satisfaction az the
thought of the bill would permit OF,
The improvement In the appearances
Of his theater was undeniable, and he
was almost content, when his attention
was drawn 10 the ceiling, which he
perceived, 10 his horror, had been
adorned by the artist with a friezs Of
peacocks' tails. He was well aware oi
the unlucky Specification which is sup
posed to attach TO peacocks, and bis
first impulse was to order the inmedi'
at. obliteration OF the offending motif
He promptly reflected, however, that to
effect the alteration the scafoldng
would have 10 be put up again, and
he bitterly grudged spending money
out OF Difference 10 what, after all, was
mere superstition. On the Other
hand. he had no slight lurking faith
in the superstition himself, and it wa'
not without many quslms Of con-
science that he decided TO avoid the
outlay and let the peacocks' tails be-
His hesitation and uneafineks have con-
tinued ever since. His theater has not
been smiled on by fortune Of late, but,
though he confesseS 10 4 belief in the
evil influence OF the pescocks' tails, he
has not yet been able to make up his
mind to incur what he tries TO per-
suads himself is ridiculous expense.
His fSllow-mansRsrs ar. well aware Of
his predicsment, and lose no oppor-
tunity Of chatting him on his struggle
between the calls Of superstition and
economy.