UNLUCKY THIRTEEN

Shannon News, 11 September 1925, Page 1

UNLUCKY THIRTEEN

The superstitious signification of the number 13 is,, of course, religious* in its orgin, the principal event which gave rise to it being the Last Supper, at which thirteen were present. The fact spread through Europe when the minds of the people were peculiarly receptive of superstitions. By many odd numbers are believed to bring luck, but they make an exception of thirteen. This appears incomsistent.

The number 13 played a curious part in the lif e of Richard Wagner! He was born in 1313. The numerals of the year of his birth added together make thirteen, and he was given a name (Richard) the letters bf which, added to those jf bis fam ily name (Wagner), also make thirteen. The famous composer finished “The Flying Dutchman” on September 13, 1341, and completed y “Tannhauser” on April 13, 1544 The scoring of “Das Rheingold” was concluded on May 13, 1851, and that of “Parsifal” on January 13, ISB2. Wagner was exiled from Germany for thirteen years, and realised his fondest ambition of giving his own operras in Parris with a production of “Tannhauser” on March 13, 1876, while the first performance of “The Ring” complete, at Bayreuth, was given on August 13, 1876. Thirteen was the number of complete operas composed by Wagner, whose death—to complete a remarkable numercial sequence—occurred on February 13, 1883.