The National tribune., 1909-08-12

Is mas no teTTOTS IoT henry -. rIlCk
Mr. Frick, who has made many mill
lions in iron, coal and coke. is invest
ing his surplus earnings by erecting
skyscrapers In the heart Of Pittsburg.
His architect brought to him the plans
for an 1s-story building that he is
about to erect, and unceremoniously
he had him clip OF five stories Of the
building, making II IL stories high. The
story is that Mr.. Frick got in a poker
at 13 minutes past the hour, he had
won exactly $4,000. The game is said
to have been played on the 18th of
last month. Accordingly Mr.. Frick
came to the conclusion that Is was an
extremely lucky number for him, hence
the reduction Of his future building to
13 stories. Mr.. Frick is not the only
prominent citizen who believes in luck
and superstitfons. Even President Taft
may be said to have his superstitions.
but In a negative and contrary way.
He believes, for instance, that 1t is un-
lucky to heed superstitious impulses.
Where an ordinary individual, with the
"Iuck-bug" in his blood, would hesi-
tate to walk under ladder Mr.. Taft
does the act with impunity. and II he
forgets anything after leaving his Office
he won't sit on q chair when he goes
back to counteract the bad luck which
might result from such rash action.
carried for luck ring that was Worn
by Abraham Lincoln. when he was In
augurated in 1905. The ring was pre-
sented to him by Col. John Hay. Mr..
Blaine was thoToly superstitious. he
would never return to his house OF
office If ne had forgotten anything, and
Gen. Grant is said to have had the
same superstition. Any amount Of
promtr ent people, including President
Mckinley, who carried buckeye In
his pocket to ward of rheumatism,
carry potatoes or some other article
which they think will prevent that ana
other ills John D. Rockefeller has an
eagle stone" which is a Dit OF ore
with a hole thru 1t and suspend
ed on a ribbon. He has great
faith in the good luck of this
piece of metal. Senator Hansborough,
of North Dakota, determines his con-
duct frequently by dreams. 1t was ne
who objected to the nomination OF
Blaine on a Friday in 1892. and Blaine
himself was very much disturbed over
the occurrence. King Alfonso used to
ridicule anything pertaining to luck and
superstition, and on his wedding day
he wore a certain Moorish ring which
he had been told would bring disaster,
as it had to his father and others OF his
forebears who had worn the ring. On
his wedding day there was an attempt
to assassinate him, and he Immediately
sent the ring to a museum, and has
never attempted to wear 1t since. An
other ruler the Car of Russia, is ex-
tremely superstitious. 1t is said that
he consults fortune tellers before decid-
ing important matters. He carries
with him always three small coins,
which he thinks saves him from as
sassination They are ancient Asiatic
coins.
OF the many queer beliefs some
of our prominent men indulge in here
are a few: Russell Sage never would
conduct any business, no matter how
important, with man who entered his
Office and allowed a buzZing fly to en-
ter at the same time. Santos Dumont,
the balloonist. carries lucky amulets
with him each time he asceDds, and he
will not go up in the air unless he acci-
dentally meets red-headed girl John
L. Sullivan would not go into fight
If there was a cross-eyed man near his
corner of the ring. John w. Gates ex-
pectorates over his left shoulder for
luck when he is making a big deal in
Wall Street or when he has made big
bet at cards or on a race horse. w. K.
Vanderbilt after he has made bet
avoids his friends, and, if possible,
speaks to no one until the race is run,
believing that it will bring bad luck.
Former Senator William E. Chandler
is said to have 2 little weakness for
up to 80 and then begins again, and is
very much disturbed if he misses one.
Friday is a lucky day for Louis P. Nor
ton. He always takes possession of a
building on Friday. and always tries to
sign official papers of importance on
that day. Yachtsmen, as a rule, name
their yachts with names containing
eight letters. The Republic. the Vigi-
liant, the Defender, the Columbia, the
Valkyrie, Shamrock, etc, proves this.
Marse Henry Watterson. the great Lou
isvilie editor, will allow no one to
straighten UP his q ssk. It is said that
he cleans it himself once in about 10
years, and that the next event is sched-
uled for 1911.
The Rev. John P. Chadwick, who
came to national fame by his good and
brave work as Chaplain of the Maine,
has been for five years Rector of the
Church of st. Ambrose in New York,
but has recently been promoted to
President of st. Joseph's Seminary at
Dunwoodie. II. Y. where young men
are educated for the Roman Catholic
priesthood; Father Chadwick is now
46 years old, and was appointed Chap
lain in the Navy in 1895. Capt. Sigsbee
said about him in his dispatch that the
courage of Either Chadwick was be-
yond all praise.
Representative James T. Hefin, OF
Alabama has gotten into trouble again
1t will be remembered that a year ago
last March he hae an alteration on a
street car in Washington in which he
attempted to eject colored man be-
cause of insulting remarks to a young
white woman. At that time Mr.. Heffin
whipped out his revolver and shot the
negro in the head and also a bystander,
who was laid up in the hospital for
many months at the point of death, but
who finally recovered. The rumpus
on Wednesday of last week, happened
on F street when he and Representa-
tive Ollie James, of Kentucky, were
crossing at 18th street. An automobile
owned by John NJ. Dickson. who was
running the machine, and occupied by
Richard johnson, an employe of the
Government Printing Office, came
around the corner so close to the two
Congressman that they had to jumI
back on the sidewalk to avoid being
struck by the machine, which they
claimed was going at a rapid rate o.
speed. The Congressman walked VI
F street, and when they came to the
machine, which had halted in front oi
cafe, they proceeded to take the num-
ber in order that they could report tho
autoists for fast driving. Just theI
Dickson and Johnson came out an6
wanted to know what they were try
ing to do. Mr.. James told them, and
war of words ensued, which they al
said made the air rather blue for tn,
time being. The scene of the thirs
chapter of the story is laid at the caf,