Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16

because you kept worrying your throat"
THE all-time American tennis ace, william t.
Tilden 2d-"Big Bill"-tells Of a four-Ieaf
clover that once belonged to Lincoln, which
was given him on the eve of his first big
victory:
most people have an idea that the terms
superstition and luck are synonymous 1t is
a great mistake. Superstition is belief in
myths, in lucky charms, in some occult cause
for desired effect. Luck is fate, chance-the
breaks of the game
Superstition is an element that strikes at the
root of successful competition in athletics, at
the confidence of the athlete. I know many
athletes, and almost all are superstitious in
some way. They all have their favorite racket
or club or bat according to the game they play.
They are likely to have certain sweater or a
particular cap that spells victory In their eyes.
Il personally am an exceedingly superStitiouS
person. The day before defeated Gerald Pat
terson at Wimbledon in the challenge round of
1920 and won my first major tournament, Mrs.
BENJAMIN Lathrop of London, sister-in-law of
Samuel Hardy, captain of the American Davis
Cup team, presented me with q four-leaf clover
that had once belonged to Abraham Lincoln.
1t had been given her by Lincoln's niece From
that day to August, 1926, carried that four
CHAMPIONSHIP
match and Davis Cup match that played and
over that period never met defeat. One week
before was defeated by LacoSte In the Davis
Cup round OF 1926 and q week later lost INV
American title to Cochet, my four-leaf clover
disappeared and did not show up until last
year, when won back my American champion
ship"
II strongly urge all tennis players not to be
influenced by superstition nor yet to count ON
luck nor FEAR its breaks. Emancipation from
luck and superstition alike is the ideal frame
OF mind for the athlete. Yet honesty demands
that admit to much superstition and also TO
the fact that 1 always welcome good luck and
am definitely depressed by bad. fear that in
this am proving myself very average speci-
men Of mankind
STAGE folk are generally superstitious, &C
cording to their own admission, but Sybil
Thorndike one of England's greatest actresses.
who achieved world face in plays of Shake.
speare and G. B. Shaws "St JOAN" states that
she daily breaks many of the pet superstitions
of her craft with impunity.
II am afraid I am fragrant offender against
all Of the general superstitions which infest the
stage. It is supposed to be unlucky to quote
Macbeth quote Macbeth with impunity on
or OF the stage. Whistlng in ones dressing
room, according TO the SuperSt1tiouS members
of my profession, is simply tempting Providence
Yet have done so for years and probably shall
continue to do so as long as retain my con-
nection with the theater. So far these breaches
OF the theaters traditional superstitious beliefs
have not brought dire catastrophe in their train.
Somehow or other, have managed to survive
Observance or Disregard of superstitions cannot
alter our destinies."
AN KUBELIK, whose mastery of the violin
has won him honors and popular acclaim
throughout the Continent, England and Amer.
lea, believes that even numbers are an indica.
ton OF good fortune for him.
Fate plays a great role in life, and although
it may sound superstitious, believe that even
numbers have peculiar significance. At
first started playing. At IL began studying at
the conservatoire under Prof. Sevick at Prague
At 10 left the conservatoire and started my
professional career. At "A I became father
for the first time. At SO I started as a com.
poser, and at AZ made an important change
in my domicie and bought a house at Abbazia
in Italy, where live in the Summer step
which undoubtedly has had a great influence
on my life"
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