The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-03-23

parties when 1t is discovered that
there are likely to be only thirteen
guests present, England has left
thirteen off its license plates for auto
mobiles and the Italians never use
the number in lotteries. The Turks
dislike the number so much that they
have dropped it from their vocabu-
laries. Negroes in every land fear
the number and it is also taboo among
the Indians of Mexico and Central
America.
And Americans are just as super
stitious about it as any other peo-
pie. Only recently a great railroad
system announced that it had paid
Difference to the superstition by
eliminating the number thirteen from
its passenger trains. 1t was stated at
the time that many people refused to
ride on those trains if they knew the
number because they feared bad luck
would befall them. Several New York
hotels have no room Is nor 18th floor,
the number being purposely omitted.
The same is true of some office build
ings. In order to avoid using the num-
Der, rooms and floors in hotels and
office buildings and cabins in pas
Senger ships are numbered 12-A.
Railroads and steamship lines report
that travel is lightest on the 18th of
the month and if it happens to be
Friday, the 18th, then the number of
travellers is almost negligible.
What is the unluckiest piece of
money to own? No, 1t isn't the 50 bill.
It's the quarter, say some folks, and
here is why: There are 13 letters in
the words quarter dollar" the eagle
has 10 feathers in his tail, Is long
feathers in each wing, 13 arrows in
one foot, holds a branch with Is
leaves in the other foot, bears q rib
bon in its mouth with 13 letters on it,
the shield over the birds head con-
tains 13 stars and-there are Is stars
on the other side of the coin!
But for all the superstition about
this number, it must be admitted that
there is much to be said on both sides
of the question. For instance, here
are two different views on the sub
ject. The following news item from
the Washington Star presents one!
Philadelphia.-E W. Tallman, newly
elected manager director of the Auto
mobile club of Philadelphia, has no fear
of the No. 10. AS president of the XII
wants club, Mr.. Tallman recently re-
marked to his fellow members: "I have
been in Philadelphia 10 years, been
married the same number of years, my
birthday falls on the 18th of the month
l have motor license No. 1913 and
everything in my life has been associ-
ated with No. IS.
In taking charge of the motor club
on the 18th, Mr.. Tallman enters upon
the task of adding four new floors to
the clubhouse and garage at No. %
South Twenty-third street, which will
provide additional facilities for hun
dreds of new members.
And from the New York Herald
teeniana":
Chicago-Life is made up of a num-
Der of things, the accent in the case of
Irwin S. Berling of Winnetka being on
the word number"
Mr.. Berling applied for motor car
license and got it. 1t was No. 49, OF
all the numbers in the box, this was
the last one he wanted, so he sent it
back. Another license arrived. 1t was
No. So, and Mr.. Berling observed with
hardly any tax on his arithmetic that
five and eight total thirteen. So he
sent that back.
In due course there arrived the third
license. 1t happened to be No. e.,
which also totals thirteen,
He returned it and now awaits the
fourth hoping that it will not arrive
next Friday, which he has noted falls
on the thirteenth of January.
The number of letters in Mr.. Ber-
Iing's full name add thirteen, and his
street address. 9SS Lake avenue, does,
too.