The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-12
A DAILY MESSAGE
BY DR.. WILLIAM e. BARTON

I was in Paris, and had to cross the
English Channel. It was Thursday,
the twelfth day Of the month, and /
planned to go next day. In the hotel
lobby there were a good many people
who also wanted to get to London as
early as possible, but few Of them
were going next day. It was Friday,
the thirteenth, and they would not
risk it.
So we, who sailed, had plenty of
room.- have crossed the English
Channel a number of times, and seen
that body of water in all of it's moods,
including those that give it it's bad
reputation, but never have / seen 1t so
gentle a mill pond as on that Friday
the thirteenth. Never have made
the trip to comfortably as on that
day.
The fine weather did not last. The
people who feared to risk the boat on
Friday encountered storm on Satur-
day, and had the discomfort of an
overloaded boat, with most of the pas
very angry sea.
The Last Supper was eaten with
thirteen at the table, counting Judas,
and because of that fact innumerable
foolish people are afraid of the number
thirteen. And Lokis banquet with the
gods in valhalla, as told in the Morse
legend, ended unhappily for .Baldur, the
thirteenth. And as for Friday, that
was the day of Jesus crucifiXfon.
Thirteen is good and very lucky
number in America. Many interesting
events have occurred on the thirteenth
of the month. A London newspaper
of the. year 1776. commenting on 10 as
the number of the American colonies,
said that 10 was a peculiarly Yankee
number. It affirmed that George
Washington had 10 toes on each foot,
the extra ones having grown since the
Declaration Of Independence; that it
took Is paper dollars to be worth one
in gold; that Mrs. Washington had a
tom cat with 13 rings around his TAIL
and that every Yankee family had Is
children, each one of whom expected
to become general in the colonial
army or member of congress.
But Great Britain in her early days
had Thirteen Precious Things. These
glorified- the romantic period of Eng
lands history. They were:
1. Dyrnwyn, the sword Of Hazel,
which became a flame in the hand of
any other man.
2. The basket of Gwyddno Garanhir,
in which food was multiplied a thou
sandfold.
8. The Horn of Bran Called. which
yield in abundance whatever drink a
thirsty man preferred, in days before
the eighteenth amendment.
4. The platter of Rhegyndd Ysgo1-
haig, which contained any kind of food
the eater desired.
5. The chariot of Morgan Mwyn-
vawr. which instantly transported the
occupant to any place where he de-
sired to be-
s.. The, halter of Clydno Eiddyn.
which hung at the foot of the bed. and
when needed always was found to have
in it the fleet horse of the owners se-
lection
Z. The knife of Llayfrodded Farch-
wag, which at any meal would cut and
serve food for "a men.
s. The milestone of Tudwa1 Tud- |
clud. which would sharpen the sword
of brave man, but not of a coward, |
so as to produce certain death.
9. The caldron of Tyrnog. which |
would cook instantly meat for a brave |
man, but never boil it for a coward
no matter how long he sat hungry or
how fast he fed the fire.
10. The robe of Padarn Beisrudd, I
which fitted perfectly any man OF gem
tie birth, but could not be worn by
a churl. (
II. The mantle of Tegau Eurvron.
which fitted perfectly any lady Of cor