The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-13
SUPERSTITIOCS ABOUT FRIDAY BY BERYL MILLER.
 (NEA Service Writcr)

Superstitious? No!
 Then you'll not watch your step to-day because 1t is Friday the 18th.
 Now, honest. will you not feel a wee bit nervous if you are the 18th guest at dinner to-day of all days. Or cross your fingers if black cat crosses your path. Or cringe when you pass beneath lad der?
 No 13 is the monarch of hoodoos. The superstition. some people be- lieve. originated at the Last Sup per-" attended by 13 persons. of which Judas, the traitor. was the 18th. However, 1t is pointed out that ancient Babylon astro,ogers held 13 to be unlucky. Others seek to derive the belief from old Morse mythology. accord ing to which Baldur, the sun god. had to die because there were 13 gods in the circle in Valhalla.
 Tradition says that Adam and Eve were expelled on Friday; it was on Friday morning that Cain killed Abel. and the beheading of John the Baptist as well as the cru cifixion took place on Friday.
 And so Friday the 18th has be- come a particularly ominous date 1T: the minds of the superstitious.
 Today will be shivery one for superstitiouH notables, and there are many of them. 7. Al Jolson, of stage and screen. has mortal fear of walking under a ladder. Win ston Churchill, the British states man. and Aristide Briand, of France will take care not to have 13 per- sons at their tables to-day. . And, If Churchill makes a prophecy about trade prospects, you can rest a-s- sured he will touch wood. Pola Negri would rather face Q holdup man than a black cat. And Jane Cowl always touches a doll given her by David Belasco before leaving her dressing room.
 In Paris there are many streets where no house bears No IS. Some folks think it is unlucky to alone on Friday the 18th. And whistling aboard ship will be espe- cially taboo among sailors to-day.
 Captain Frank Hawks. the aerial speed demon, rather likes old No 13.- He cruises in plane No 13. his federal license is N. R. 1913 and he is completing his 18th year of fly ing.
 Bobby Jones. the golf wizard, also thinks 13 is a luck number, having made some of his best shots on hole No 13 with caddy No 13 standing nearby.
 Not so ith another Georgian, a Macon business man, who on four consecutive Fridays the 18th broke an arm, lost an eye, broke his leg and smashed his foot
 Alton K. Marsters, one of the greatest halfbacks ever developed at Dartmouth, always played without stockings, never shaved until after o game, wore a charm and had an ace of clubs sewn on the back of his jersey. Just superstitious." he said.
 A noted English producer believes plays with Rome" in their titles are doomed to failure. and famous author in Boston insists upon re- ceiving Q penny every time he meets a new friend so that ther friend ship will not be broken.
 Breaking of mirrors is one of the most common superstitions which have come dwn from centuries past. Napoleon Bonaparte. 'tis said. be- lieved the story that breaking of mirror means that ones best friend will die.
 A mirror at his headquarters was broken when Napoleon was con. ducting his campaign in Italy. He immediately dispatched a mounted courier to France and held up his entire campaign until the messenger returned with the information that Napoleon's consort, Josephine, was In perfect health.
 Charles Dickens refused to lie in bed unless 1t was placed due north and south. Ignace Paderewski thinks certain days unlucky and re- fuses to start a new venture on them.
 Friday the 18th may De a day of i'll omen fer some people, but Amer