The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Fuller Mellish vs.. SuperStitions

Fuller MelllSh vs.. SupeTStiti0nS
Fuller Mellish, leading character ac-
tor with Odette Tyler. is an Englishmsn
with al the Englishman's fcrdness fo-
scof1ing at American superstition Those
who were acquainted with Mr. MeIlish
when he first came 10 this country de-
light in recalling his expressions OF dis
belief in hoodOos. good luck Onens, and
signs OF approaching evil DO you
know" Mr.. Mellish was wont 10 say,
You Americans are a most curious
people How absurd IL is TO put any
faith in the belief that an itching palm
means money is coming your way. or
that an irritated eye signifies you are
going 10 laugh or cry How ridiculous
Il IS TO imagine that because your right
car burns some one is speaking well OF
you. or that the left one means disagree
able gossip. Why this distinction be-
tween the right and left with everTs
thing in favor Of the right? Yong
stage superstitions are added 70 the
others. and altogether life is made rather
miserable by these silly ideas What Il
a fellow does whistle in his dressing
room or on the stage. how can such
a sound bring ii luck2 And the black
L-Ls anu dAA LLA4AL SDLL u ALAA-AE " ~
do your actors ard actresses carry about
foolish articles which are supposed "a
ward of evil and bring good fortune2
Really. it's most extraordinary L
makes me feel quite curious to be sur
rounded by persons. each OF whom
nurses some vaIueIess little article
assure you. I feel myself 70 be an Out
sider''
Mr. Menish had been here only Il fe-v
months when he began TO weaken II hts
opinions about superstition TEP ex-
plained himself IN this way 'Of course.
dear boy. I shall never be influenced
by such rot; but do you know. Il be-
comes beastly uncomfortable for a chap
10 be doing something and then 70 Ia
forever reminded: oh. Mr. AtelHsh.
don't do this. OF that II is rather an
nOyint-, and these silly ideas are -
Impressed upon my mind by constant.
uninviJed reminder that can never for
get them As for this fortune-teIling
business, in which so many OF YOU pro
fessionals delight. the man who listen,
and believes in such trickery Is an ass
and uothinE less.
When Mr. MeIlish was here a year
ago he became a disciple of superstition,
although he took good care not 20 in
cret was out a few days ago. at a re-
hearsal at the Relasco- Miss Odetts
Tyler Is a native of Savannah. Ga. and
as superstitious as might be expected
Of one reared by a black NANNY Miss
Tyler expressed a desire TO peer into
the future in order TO ascertain whether
she viii take a trip 70 Europe which
she contemplates at the conclusion OF
her present engagement. when Mr.. Mel
lish remarked that he could direct her
to ar excellent fortune teller. Mss
Tyler laughed and reminded him Of his
former views on the subject. Then Mr..
! MeIlish told the story of his CONVEX
sion.
It seems that when Charlotte Walker
and Jack Dean were playing here they
| persuaded EeIlish to accompany them
/ to a fortune teller. Mellish went. with
/ the determination TO ever after remind
! them Of the prophecies which would nov
/ come true Miss Walker is a Texas girl
! and firmly believes in signs and the
:.If YOU viii believe me. dear lady,
said NIelHsh TO Miss Tyler, 1t was 10th
ling short OF wonderful The woman
told Miss Walker that during the pres
ent season she would play severa. en-
gagements, all of which would benefit
her but prove disastrous for those
| around her. That has come true. for
/ I'D TO the present moment Miss Walker
has been leading woman for no less
than five plays. all Of which are failures
The Prodigal SON. AS Ye Sow The
Embassy Ball. The Triangle and The
Optimist.' In each play Miss Walker re-
ceived the greatest praise
The soothsayer informed Mr.. Dean
l. ~,lra
one of which would be a short one. and
the second unusually long. The last
one would be under pleasant circum-
stances. with agreeable persons The
most curious thing about this. how
ever. was that she foretold a disaster
which would occur just at the time he
was ready TO set sail Dean would es-
cape injury. she said. All Of this came
true. and the predicted disaster WAS the
San Francisco earthquake. which took
place Just as Dean and the rest of the
William Collier company. in on the
Quiet were putting out to sea on their
way TO Australia, where they are 10
play
Regarding myself. she said that !
Svould during the season which is lust
past. have the most important engage
uent I have had in recent years. that
! it would prove remarkably successful
; for me. although my association in the
1 company would be so disagreable that
? at times I would be strongly tempted 70
resign She advised me TO remain. since
! the benefit derived would be Of the
/ greatest value Everyone knows Of my
I engagement as leading man with
Richard Mansfield. and I must assure
T you that had II not been for the warn
$ ing words OF the fortune teller I would
have resigned early in the season. For