Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-13
Friday, the 18th"
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Friday is a bad day. Thirteen 10 IN
unlucky number. There il no worse COM
bination for mortal to face than Friday.
the 18th Besides the appalling tragedy
Of such a day, the EVIL eye" spells,
charms and Ill omens fade into meaning
less twilight of impotence. Crossed fingers
ward off "eyII eye" muttered words
frighten ghosts and break charms. ANU
lets guard against spells and sprites Bits
Of bright verse muttered rapidly back
ward rob Ill omens Of their power. But
nothing sufiices to break the black magic
Of Friday. the 18th.
There are three such days in the pres
ent year. This can happen only when
the first days Of February. March and
November fall on Sunday. These are said
to be President Wilson's lucky days, but
think of the innumerable multitude that
must somehow shudder through 1914. de-
spite its triple king-sign Of bad luck. Al
most all the world. is agreed that Friday
is enough without its coincidence with
10. This combination thrills the steadiest
heart with apprehension, drear and
dreadful
Mariners will not sail from port on Fri
day. Many a golden tide has slipped
away and favorable breeze dled down
while urgent ships laid by waiting LOT
Saturday to dawn. Fridays bad reputa-
ton upon the land, If anything, IS sur
passed upon the sea. To sail upon Fri
day is to violate the awful. mysterious
character Of this day. To sail on Fri
day, the 18TH is wanton suicide
Lord Byron feared Friday. Yet he
sailed against his better Judgment upon
this day for Greece.
BYRON the Poet where he fell, in his
thirty-sixth year,
Dreaded Friday. one Of the nrst vic
Tins to Grecian independence. There are
things, signs. occurrences. however. which
have led thoughtful Americans to feel
that Friday Is the lucky day OF this
country. Columbus sailed OH his quest
Of the Indies on Friday and first sighted
land upon that day. The pilgrims landed
on Friday. and. further, Friday was the
birthday of George Washington.
1t is clear why Friday. named as the
should be regarded with shuddering sus-
pcion. Why thirteen should be unlucky
Is less clear. Odd numbers are generally
considered lucky. Toasts are drunk in
odd numbers. royal salute consists or
thrice seven, twenty-one guns. Three.
five seven and nine are numbers to con-
iIlre with. and philosophers have valued
them highly. Thirteen, on the other hand.
is the black sheep of the whole mineral
family. 1. is SO bad that when thirteen
people meet in a room, 1t Is generally
expected that one of the number Will
die before the year is out Thirteen IL
number upon which it is not wise to take
any risks.
Shamed, inundated and made untruth- |
full witnesses by Difference to science
the leading superstition Of the present |
ase-we strive to give no outward sign of |
our trepidation when black cats cross |
our paths. All of US admit that super |
stition exists no more as far as our par
ticular cases of enlightenment are con- |
cerned. Notwithstanding these admis- !
sions, a newcomer would not have to !
look around long in the world before |
venturing to doubt little the modern !
boast OF conquered superstition.
Latent belief in the supernatural. black |
magic, mysticism and mystical insanity |
Is az forcefui in this twentieth century /
as 1t was during the middle ages. Its |
than was the case with the joyful super
stitions of the Greeks. The palmst and |
astrologer, now, live just across the street |
from the chemist and the sanitary en- |
gineer. Before the world. we are nonists. |
scientists who firmly defend the belief |
that there is an ascereainabie answer to |
all things. Still. each one of is does |
descence of the barbarian.
Talking with the dead. foretelling by |
cards, straws, crystals and frances. slip |
ping in and out OF
Numerous Forms bodies, ecstatic |