pic – Page 7 – Fibromyangela

“Valeska Suratt is Not Superstitious, and here’s proof.”

~ Los Angeles Herald, Number 17, 21 November 1916. retrieved from the California Digital Newspaper Collection.

Miss Suratt throws a “Lucky Party” to prove she isn’t superstitious. It includes a black cat, spilled salt and other temptations of fate.

Text:

Accused of being superstitious, Valeska Suratt recently celebrated the filming of William Fox’s “Jealousy,” which is now drawing crowds to Miller’s theater, by giving a dinner party to several fellow workers at the studio.

The fete was unique. She called it a “Lucky Party” and she arranged it in such a manner that everyone who had nerve enough to attend must quake with fear for the rest of his life. She told her guests that they were expected and that they would be punished for having said she was superstitious. Then she awaited results.

When the day’s work was done the invited persons donned their evening clothes and proceeded to the dining room of the studio, where the dinner had been arranged. In the passage leading to the room was a ladder. It was extended across the hall, too high for anyone to reach. The actors had to pass under it.

That was the first evil omen of the event. The guests did not dream that the affair had been arranged by Miss Suratt as the first gun in her war against superstition. But when they entered the dining room they realized that something was wrong.

A large black cat played about the floor, and managed to get directly in the way of each guest at some time or other. Every salt-cellar on the table was overturned, the prongs of all the forks were pointing the wrong way, and the forks themselves were crossed by the knives. Above each place was suspended a large umbrella—open!

There was a slight movement of objection among the guests.

“Think I’ve got a date with a friend,” remarked Joseph Granby, quietly. “I’ll have to go. Sorry.”

“I forgot I was already invited to dinner,” George Adams began, “It’s very unfortunate—”

“Not one of you moves,” Miss Suratt said. “If you leave this room I’ll know it is because you’re superstitious. What difference does this little business make to you? You see I’m standing it myself and I’m the one you’ve accused of being superstitious. You’ll hold yourself up to ridicule if you don’t stay.”

Therefore they stayed.