Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-13
FRIDAY THE 18TH!
WHO'S AFRAID?
This Day the King of Supersti-
tions From Ancient
Times
By H. T. CRAVEN

wIIENCE where superstitons persist
i L declares n learned writer they may
be regarded as surviyals, as vestlgial relics
from a past when they were in full bloom"
Perhaps he's right. but there is cold
comfort even in so grand a word as
"vestigal" when the immediate presence OF
Friday, the thirteenth, confronts one To-
days the day, and we defy the most skept-
cal person not to give It some consideration.
II he says he doesn't give a rap for TINS
dark date in the calendar the least little
swagger OF self-satisfaction will betray an
attitude Of challenging fate. The minute
n man does that he Is just as eupersttous
as the other chap in whom Friday, the
thirteenth, inspires dismal forebodings
For, after ALL there isn't a great deal OF
difference between the pcssimstic fellow
who expects bad luck from a marked day
and the bold optlmist who sets ont TO
spurn the ugly ducklings Of Father Time
Tho element Of recognizing something uh-
usual is present in both cases. And wheh
the alleged unbeliever actually oNerdoes
things by proclaiming the figure thirteen
the day of Friday. or both of them IN
conjunction, TO be omens of positive good,
superstition may be turned topsy-turVy' put
superstition 1t remains.
our modern astrologers and augury ex-
perts with n bent for looking on the bright
side of thirteen have been exceedingly busy
with Woodrow Wilson He stepped the
nrst time into the presidential office IN
1913. His second election was won by the
thirteen votes Of California. He has thlr-
teen letters in his name. Industrious dl-
vners have dug up still more OF these
enchanted" statistics. There is, indeed
such n profusion Of them that certain crit
ics were so unkind as to hint that when
Mr.. Hughes cast the thirteenth ballot IN
his division last November he was seeking
10 acquire some of his rivals dope.
That the answer was defeat strongly forti-
fed the position Of the "glooms' in TINS
matter of interpreting thirteens.
When It comes to linking up thirteen
with Friday you have a combination OF
omens that has been regarded for centuries
as uncommonly fateful. Every portion or
the world has its special unlucky day. In
Christian lands the selection of Friday is
said TO be due to the fact that the crucihNon
took place on that day. There were thlr-
teen participants at the Last supper, ana
to this may probably be traced the bellet
that thirteen at the table will bring death
to at least one Of the number within a
year. or all current supersttions this
shows perhaps the most vitality. Some OF
the most practical. hard-headed folks IN
the world shy at being part Of dinner
party of a dozen and one guests
Fridays Revenges
Men that go down to the sea in ships
have their own reasons for being fearful
Of Fridays Among English sailors tales
is one of ship whose keel was laid on a
Friday The ship was launched on Fri
day her masts were taken from the sheer
hulk on Friday, the cargo was shlppeu
on a Friday. These ominous days were
chosen by the merchantman's owner with
the express purpose of destroying the Fri
day superstition. He even went to the
extent Of unearthlng a Captain Friday TO
command the boat. She sailed on FRIDAY
and never returned. So much for scofiing
at the sisters three!
Folk poetry. with one notable exception
Is full Of unfavorable references to Friday.
Good words are spoken in the familiar
rhyme:
Sundays child ne'er lacks in place;
Mondays child is fair Of face
Tuesdays child is fun Of grace;
Wednesdays child is sour end sad
Thursdays child Is loving and glad
fridays child Ia loving and givng
And Saturdays child must work for a living
We get however, the reverse side Of the
medal in the following:
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
-. 49,. - A ~ n