Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-16

Lady is said to roam about every time misfor-
tune is about to overtake the family. 1t was last
alleged to have been seen on the eve of Empress
Elizabeth S tragic assassination IN Switzerland.
At the imperial palace of Berlin gigantic
ghosty street sweeper carrying broom IS due
to appear week before the death of any mem
Der of the Hohenzollern race.
According to tradition. little man dressed
in scarlet haunted the Tuileres until the day
the Republic was proclaimed IN France and
the torches of the Commune reduced the grand
old pile to ruin and ashes.
The present Car of Russia is a firm believer
in the old superstition current among his peo-
pie that beautiful woman dressed in white and
carrying great wreath of white roses IS the
death messenger of his family. A curious story
is told how, on the morning of his ASSASSINATION,
Alexander H., grandfather OF the present Gar
found on his bed branch of white roses yelled
with Grape, which it asserted had been LETT
there by the apparition.
Superstitions in Italy
THERE is an Italian superstition that when
ever King belonging to the house OF
Savoy dies huge eagle IS to be seen crossing
the Alps over the valley of Aosta in the direc-
among the inhabitants of Aosta that this eagle
guides the soul of the dead sovereign to JON
those of his ancestors in Savoy. When King
Charles Albert died at Lisbon, King Victor
Emmanuel died at Rome, and King Humbert
was assassinated at Monza in 1900, the eagle
was seen winging its way across the Alps. All
other eagles crossing the Alps don't seem to
count for much.
The royal family of Italy has another re-
markable superstition 1t is believed that dire
misfortune will befal the reigning monarch if
the chamber of his predecessor be lntertered
with till at least two generations have passed.
Therefore. the room of the late King Humbcrt
at the Quirinal is shut, no one except members
of the royal family being permitted to enter 1t.
Thus it will remain. silent and unused, like the
apartment of King Victor Emmanuel, King
Humbert's father, which is just as it was at the
time of his death some thirty years ago.
lieve necessary to have always about him. In
its absence he will not move step from the
palace. The ring contains what is supposed to
be small piece of the Holy Cross. The fact
that when he was assassinated Nicholas grand
father had not the precious ring with HIM has
enormously strengthened his belief in its pro-
tectIve virtues
The present Ameer of Afghanistan is an
other potentate who puts faith in a ring he re-
ceived from his father. The latter great
believer in the efficacy of the ring, and invari
ably wore this charm against the plottlngs
of his enemies. Although he was more often
reported dead than any other monarch of his
| day, this ring according to his own belief en-
abled him to live great deal longer than he
| would have without it.
The Royal Spanish Ring
| A RING studded with diamonds and pearls
the neck of the statue of the Virgin of Almu-
dena of Madrid, which is located in one of the
most frequented parks of that city. 1t is safer
there than in the strong room of the Bank of
Spain. Thousands of people pass it every day
| and admire its beauty but the greatest thief
in Spain would rather die than touch it, as it is
believed to deal out death to whom it belongs.
This ring was presented by Alfonso XII. to his
consort, Queen Mercedes, who died within a
| month afterward. Ere the funeral had taken
place the King bestowed the ring on his sister
Maria, and she was dead in a few days.
The fatal circlet then coming again into his
possession, he presented it to his late Queens
grandmother, Queen Christina, who died three
months afterward. The King then placed it in
his own casket of precious relics, and he lived
less than year. The Queen Regent was not
disposed to run any risk, and refused to accept
such deadly possession, and had it hung on
the statue stated.
Many Spaniards believe this ring to be pos
sessed of mystic powers, by which unworthy
wearers of it slain. To worthy sovereign
they claim it will assure prosperity and long
life. and to its magic influence attribute the
young Kings escape from in jury in the bomb
explosion on his wedding day.
Emperor Williams Superstitions
EMPEROR WILLIAM has ring he wears at
= all times and regards as his own peculiar
talisrnan, though few are aware of this fact.
A curious history is related of it. 1t is to the