Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-10-29
CHARMS PROTECT
EUROPEAN RULERS
King George, Like His Father,
Possesses Same Strange
Superstitions.
ALL MoNARcHs WEAR TOKENS
Career Of Famous Spanish opal
Presented to Alfonso XII
10 Recalled.

Is excessively Superstitious, fB bit un-
certain about the exact Significance of
the number thirteen. When H. B. Dur
yeas horse, Durbar 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 rude shock to his con-
viction that nothing good could ever
come from number thirteen.
1t will perhaps be remembered that
it was King George who created an
embarrassing situation at a luncheon
at the home of the Hon. Mrs. John
Ward, daughter of the late Whitelaw
Reid, by refusing to sit down with a
dozen others. He was but following in
the footsteps of his father, who was
an even more suspicious man. The
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 little failiugs
He also regarded Tuesday as his fate
full day, and he was born, baptized.
married and succeeded to his thrown
on this day. The serious operation
which postponed his coronation also
was performed on Tuesday.
Perhaps the most superstitious of
monarchs is the Car Nicholas of Rus
sia. Among his many mascots ia
ring containing what is said to be
piece Of the cross of Jesus Christ. II
was presented to a former Russian
autocrat by the Vatican, and Nicholas
plans never to be without 1t. 1t is told
OF him that several years ago he start
ed on a trip from st. Petersburgh to
Moscow When he had gone a con-
siderable distance he discovered that
he had left this ring behind. He
Immediately had the train stopped. re-
turned to st. Petersburgh and once
more started on his journey with the
precious mascot in his possession.
To a unique collection OF Oriental
coins, the Gear also attaches marvel
Gus protective powers. Some years
ago one Bernard Tutnauer. Jew,
living in RadautZ, a town In the Bu-
kavina, entertained a wonder-worker
rabbi from the Orient. On his depart
ure the rabbi handed his host some
Ouu odS EtilhouSh ehNSS
may seem to you a poor gift. yet they
have the power to protect greater than
you from violent death"
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 Spanish
opal" 10 the influence of which are at
tributed by the superstitious inhabit-
ants of the country all the misfortunes
suffered by Spain in the last century.
II was given to Alfonso XII by the no
torious adventures, Comtesse de Cas-
tiglione, with whom the monarch was
friendly when he was an exile and
pretender to the Spanish throne. On
becoming King, Alfonso found wife
OF royal blood, and the tragic comtesse
became mad with jealousy. Conceal
ing her true feelings. however, she
sent to the King. few days after. his
marriage a package containing the
fateful ring, wishing him and his wife
happiness and prosperity. The opal
was a particularly beautiful one, and
Queen Mercedes, the Kings consort,
upon seeing it. Immediately claimed
1t for her own use.
From the time when she first wore
the ring the Spanish Queens health
declined, and in few months she died.
The ring then passed to the Kings
grandmother. Queen Christina, who
also died within short time. The
Kings sister. the Infanta Maria del
Pillar, then wore the ring and died,
leaving the fatal opal to the young
son Of the Due and Duchess Of Mont
pensier. He, too. succumbed to its In
huence.
King Alfonso. despite the protests
OF his family, then decided to wear the
ring himself to prove, II possible, that
Il had no connection with the deaths
of its owners. Within few months
he also was numbered among Its VIC
tins. This was too much for the royal
family Of Spain, and Queen Christina,
mother Of the present King, had the
ring strung on a gold chain and hung
above the neck of the statue OF the
Virgin of Almudena, the patron saint
of Madrid.
The present King of Spain wears on
his watch chain a gold sequin given to
him by a gypsy woman, and many
Spanish people of the poorer and more
romantic class will tell you that to 1t
he owes his marriage to Queen Ena.
According to the fanciful tale that is
told the King one day met an old gypsy
woman near Madrid and offered her
aims. The old woman Indignantly re-
fused, telling Alfonso that she was the
last of the Almoravides, who ruled in
Morocco and Southern Spain more
than 700 years before. The King lis
tened with interest to the woman's
story and when she had finished she
insisted upon giving him rare sequir
bearing the eftigy OF Ishag, the last
King OF the Almoravides
II is hardly necessary t'' say that this
story concludes by recounting the
n ~.