The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-04
STORIES OF EMILE lola
Effect Of Superstitions on the
Famous French Novelist.
GREATLY DREADED SEVENTEEN.

Home Left Foot First When Start
ing Out on BusinesS--Eorrible Incl
dents of Has Youtli--Joke on a
Waiter.
Here are some interesting anecdotes
of the late Emile Zola, the famous
French novelist: At one time while
going down the Rue de la Chaussee
dAntln, at Paris, he was knocked
down by a hack, which passed over
his legs, without, fortunately, doing
any other damage than bruising him.
M. Zola had superstitious horror of
the number II, says La Vie Scien-
tiique. This number vas to him TN
lucky. After he arose he looked at
the number OF the hack, added up the
figures in a flash and found the total
to be II. The great writer had, for
long time. held the belief that the
number Il had a malign Influence up
on him, and that aggravated the case.
DR. Tolouse has devoted a volume to
a study Of II. lola, in which the char
acter, temperament and the very
sources Of the illustrious writer's tai
enIs are analgzed with all the re-
sources of psychology and physiology.
The author says: 'rhus certain figures
have a bad influence upon NJ. lola. If
the number Of 4 hack, when added up,
forms this figure. he win not engage
the Vehicle, 6r Il he is Obliged to 90 Sc
will fear that some mis- ortuha may
happen TO AiIn-for example that he
may not succeed in the business that
he has started out TO do. Such supersti-
tious idea may sUpp!yene apr0pos of
any Of his arithmomaniacal impulses.
For Z long time the multiples Of 3
appeared favorable 10 him. but now
it is the mL-fiples of Z that reassure
him. THUS, ia the night it often hap
pens that he viii open his eyes seven
times in order to prove to himself that
he is not going to die On the con-
trary. the number II, which recalls to
him sorrowful date. seems to him to
be unlucky. and chance has ordained
that he should recognize a coincidence
of certain unfortunate occurrences
with that date Similar superstitious,
ideas exhibit themselves outside of all
arithmomania. Thus he will perform
certain acts with the idea that if he
does not do so some annoyance win
happen to him, So he will touch the
gas burners that he meets with in the
streets, surmount an obstacle with the
right foot, walk upon the pavement in
certain way, etc. For long time he
feared that he would not succeed in
the proceeding that he was going to
undertake unless he started out of the
house with his left foot foremost
Up to the time when Emile Zola, the
French author, began the Rougon-
Macquart series his life had been T.
horrible one, says Paris correspond
ent of the Philadelphia Press His
father was an Italian, his mother a
Frenchwoman. lola pere was inter
ested in canal. 1t is to this day
called the Zola canal in Provence,
where the family lived at that time 1t
was during one Of their flying trips to
Paris on business connected with it
that the novelist was born The father
died, leaving his family with only
big lawsuit for a legacy. They re-
moved to Paris permanently in order
to be better able to fight this lawsuit
out. They lost. At twenty the great
writer was thrown absolutely on his
own resources. and his resources were
meager indeed. He had been a spoiled
child. Whatever his poverty oppressed
mother could humor him in she had
humored him in. No youth was ever
less fitted to battle with the world
He made hard fight of it.
often" be said to me- 81 went
hungry for so long that it seemed as if
/ must die. | put forth superhuman
efforts to secure meals of bread and
cheese. | scarcely tasted meat from
one months end to another's. | lived
two days on three apples"
! was told by man who knew him
well that he several times sustained
life only by sharing sparrows on the
WAAdOW Siil VI LIS SdllSL lOOiI dld
eating them.
"Oh, it was horrible" Zoa contin-
ued. Fire was undreamed of. even
on the coolest nights If could Sc
cure a candle by whose light ! could
study after nightfan | considered my
self the happiest man in Paris. Eut
rarely had cause for such JOY It
seemed to me that it would never emo
| remember distinctly some OF the
tasks which necessity forced me to per.
form in order that might escape star
vation
Zone New Years day publisher to
whom | had applied with letter OF
introduction for literary work said ne
could give me no writing to 90, but
that | might earn 4 francs by deliver
ing his New Years cards at the houses
of his friends. ] jumped at the chance.
and that night | feasted BY and by
the publisher gave me work as clerk.
Encouraged by this, submitted vol
ume OF poems to him. He rejected
them, but said there was some good