The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-06
5.Bya Lyman 3. Glover.
Dramatic critic; for Two Years General 't'' al

Dramatic Critic; for Two Years General ' q
Manager for Richard Mansfcld)
(copyrlght, 1904, by y oseph p I3owles 2 s8
81, IL il a moot question which is the more
SUI erstitious, the actor or the gampE l te
The association OF classes in this case Is
not complimentary to people VINO fsW'h In
the stage, but superst ton; IKE poHe !l
makes strange bedfellUws, md or some som
singular reason which has ne VI .D.t
3exn r these two occupations have sin-''
gled themselves out more tHan any o "Il';
as believers in luck. E.F48
II OF course we do not take account -
this connection, Of savage hordeS 8Wnose
every act in life is governed by lpllna
sslinersti tion since the savage mas such
a versatile Il imagination, reinforced 3 py.
SO many kinds Of ignorance, that no o 'S
can hope to keep pace with him. me ne SUI
Ion to which reference is now being
made made "a, that OF the Intelligent classes.
and certainly no one will deny the gilt
~ 7,ntelligence to the real actor or the
genuine gambler. GS.
$The alter is an absolute devotee q
,nces He f,rtiyely rubs the hump o. O.
gdeformed dwarf In the firm belief that
| this @senseless act will bring him good
fortune and the various inca ntatlolhs
which belong to his repcrtory would form form
tine subject Of quite an extended story.
,rhe actor is not quite so frank in his
adherence to \ the doctrine OF lucky
chances, Some Of his beliefs are never
expressed save in a hesitating shame
lIfnced way. yet when pressed ne WI ny ny
| deny that a Diverse signs make him unconl-
|ffortable. Should he chance to y walk IN ;
der a ladder which the careless stage car
penter has left whore 1t does not belong
l5that day and perhaps many other DAYS
would be rendered miserable by the 5lncl-I
lent. NOT that he really believes ladders
nossess any special potency for imposing
! Ills but through some bconsc!ous mem
tal process not to Ebe explained ne mas
subscribed to the anyient superstition and
without Knowing why. the under side OF
nFladd der has become the omen q eYil
which he Invariably regards win VI q teel-
Ing akin to terror, pal ticnlaFly y s ne g 4
counters 1t on the stage, s5
! rha thirteen superstition is SO l'nlver-
sally current that It cannot pc. ascr'pea
i neculiarly to 8 people Of the stage, YET
1 they are actively alive to the omnous
Significance Of the symbol ana q pp!y y u
1 their own way to- the details @ thelr
work. Should there chance 70 pc tRlrteen
Hines in any ones part Nc Stress 9 y, r. =,
cessitH would induce him to go q nead Wlta
4 Ithe engagement until there Is q change
4 in the writing to either reduce or aug
ment the number Of lines. Should the
manager mana and the stage mana ger overlook
The distressing Circumstance that there hap
pe a to be thirteen names N the cast y
i there would certainly be something worse
iran :. bread riot should this fact come
to the notice Of the company. i would
be necessary to manufacture an ago.,
tIonal character at once, In default q
which the distressed artists would resume re- ~
/ their nara de or, Broadway and LOOK our
i fore an0t her e1ga gem en- {, s3sj III
That a, dressing room bearing the "a ta q
number would occasion something more
than cold shlYers ls SO well known g
1llocal managers that they aoage aAe sssne
either by jumping those dreaded ngur %
Or ,'' BY applying letters Of the alpha bet.
most Of which are not supposed 6. rep ~
resent any adverse fate or unkind infln-
ence. When the thirteenth Of the mon q
] falls on Friday the spirit Of superstltlon,
4 becomes more active than ever and should
4 business be good and no disaster befai!
there "a an active dread Of some eYsl