The chronicle=news., 1914-09-05

LOntOn, Sept; 6.-AkinE George,
who, In common with most European
monarchs. is excessively supersti-
tious, "a bit unceftaih ab0ut the
exAct Significance Of the number .13.
When II. u. duryea's horse Dunbar
II. bearing the supposed unlucky
number, raced home an easy winner
in the Derby, hopelessly beating the
kings horse. second favorite in the
betting. King George had a rude
shock to his conviction that nothing
good could ever come from number
13. 60 ,...I.-,. b. ,--, 80
II will perhaps be remembered that
II was King George who created an
embarrassing situation at q iunch-
con at the home OF Mrs. John Ward.
daughter OF the late Whitelaw Reid.
By refusing to sit down with dozen
othcrs. He was but following In
The footsteps of his father; who was
ah even more superstitious man.
Tho late King Edward would not
allow two knives to lie on the table
before him, and his hostesses had to
acquaint themselves, with all his lit
day as a fateful day. as-he was born.
baptised. married and succeeded to
tho throne on that day, The serious
operation which postponed his coro-
nation was also performed on Tues
day. sasi-, s,rrt .t' -a1.
King Edward was fond Of jewclry
of every kind. but one Of his most
(priEed possessions. albeit Of little
value. was a bangle or bracelet which
he wore on his left wrist and to
which he attached extraordinary
powers for FOOD. The present queen
always carries with her a bangle to
which is attached a little ivory dog
given to hef when a child.
Among continental royalty there
are many superstitions connected
WITH the history Of their respective
families. some of them stretching
back into the middle ages. The kai-
ser, on state occasions, always wears
what is known as his "toadstone
ring With this magic ring is as
sociated the wonderful prosperity OF
the house Of IIohenzol1ern. Accord
ling to the legend implicitly believed
in by all connected with the ruling
German house. the stone OF this ring
was dropped by toad upon the bed
Iof Eector John OF Brandenburg.
father of Frederick the Great. The
tstone was Immediately set and has
been worn by succeedfns heads OF
the HohenSolierns. On his death bed
the kaiser will hand the ring, en-
closed In a sealed casket, to his son,
the crown prince.
Perhaps the most superstitious Of
(monarchs is Car Nicholas of Russia
Among his many mascots Is a ring
lcontaihink wlhat IL said to be piece
OF the cross OF Jesus Christ. II wat
lrresehted to q former Rnssfan auto
crat by a vatican and Nicholas plan.
lnever to be without 1t. 1t Is told Of
ihim that several years ago he start
cd on trip from st. Petersburg tt
i86oscow. When he had gone con
siderable distance he discovered that
| he had left tAis ring behind. He i'm.
3mediAteiy stopped, returned to 81
Petersburg and once more started or
Ibis Journey with the precious mas
cot in his bossessfon.
To a unique collection OF oriental
lcoins the exar -Also attaches marvel.
ons protective powers. Some year,
ago one Bernhard Tithauer, a Jew
living In R1dautz, a town In 'Baka.
ivina, entertained wonder-wotkine
rabbit from the orient. ON hib de-
farture the ribbi handed his Most
some odd coins, saying: "Alth6dEh
these may seem to you poor gin, YET
they have the power to protect great.
Ter than you from violent death.
That night T1thauer hsd- dream
I'm which Alexander iii. father ol
lNicholas. appeared to him and told
] him that the coins he had fecefv9t
would bf6feA Any one who wore q
3rfown from harm. On the two fol
flowing nights he had the same
ldream Without further delay the
fJew sent the coins to the car, tell.
ling lin how they came into his pos
session ana giving an account Of M
three dreams. The czar accepted thu
GIT and sent n return a cordial let.
ter of thanks. =
In no other country has charm
played SO large part as in Spain
One Of the most famous rings IN his
tory Is what is known as the span
isf OPAL, to the Influenza of whicf
is attributed. by the superstftfous In
fhabitants OF the country. s4ll the mis-
fortunes suffered by Spain In tn,
last century II was given to Al
ifonso XII by the notorious adven
|turess. comtesse dc castie1ione. WITT
iwhom the monarch was friendly
when he was an exile And a pre-
Itender to the Spanish throne. OF
becoming King. Alfonso found wifi
fof royal blood and the tragic com
resse became mad With jealousy. Con
ceiling her true feelings. however
she sent TO the king few days aftel
Ibis marriage package cofltafnfnt