LUCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1928, Page 7 (Supplement)

LUCK.

PULLS SOME STRANGE

STRINGS.

RICHES AND ITS FAVOURITES

STORIES OF LUCKY BREAKS.

The God of Luck pulls some strange 'strings. But for luck dozens of men and women whose names are now famous might never have found a hole in the blanket of security. They worked hard, perhaps; they made desperate bids for success, but they had no luck and the world knew them not. And then, one day, came the unexpected turn of fortune that set them on the high road to fame. They had made their "lucky break." Luck has played strange sport with . human destinies. The trail that leads to Parliament, the squared ring where men batter each other for world championships, the stage, the field of battle —all have their stories of "lucky breaks" (says a writer in the London Chronicle"). Just as a singular trick of fortune las proved the turning point in many careers, so it has saved many a man's life when others, not 60 lucky, have perished. No one ever had a greater "lucky break" than the late G. H. Chirgwin, the music-hall artist, known as "The WhitcKyed lvaflir." "'Jill lie made it he was an unknown "busker" with a seaside troupe, performing at various resorts in the season. Nobody had ever heard of him. It looked as though he were destined to he a seaside minstrel all his life. And then came the trick of fortune that was to put him on the pinnacle of his profession. It was in the Bummer of 1876, and •with his brother he was performing at a fete and gala in a little village near Gloucester, a raised platform having j been set up for them in the middle of a field. Just as Chirgwin, in his role I of nigger minstrel, was all blacked up J and ready to go on he got a piece of, dust in his eye. He commenced to rub j it with his knuckles. I A second later he bounded on the etage, to find himself greeted with roars of laughter such as had never met him before in all his experience. Wondering what was the matter, he bowed his thanks. It was the signal for redoubled roars. Then his brother looked at him, and he, tpo, burst out laughing. Chirgwin ; was the only one who didn't know the ioke. The White Patch. When the performance was over Chirgwin said to his brother, "Well, Tom, we went over in great style this time." "That was a great idea of yours," congratulated Tom. "However did you think of it?" "What are you talking about?" demanded the mystified Chirgwin. For answer his brother pointed to Chirgwin's right eye. 'Go and look at yourself in the glass," he said. In rubbing the piece of dust from his eye Chirgwin had made a ludicrouslooking white patch. After that he deliberately left the eye unblacked and emphasised the grotesque effect with grease paint. That white patch later became famous ]the world over. Anotner amazing tale of luck relates that • a photograph -.of Ivor Novello, noticed by chance by a film director in a music publisher's window, resulted in the actor getting his big chance on the films. It happened that Mr. Louis Mercatiton, the film director, was searching for eomebody to play the part of Maurice Delarey in the film version of Robert Hichens' famous novel, "The Call of the Blood."

He wanted somebody who was British, yet who had a suggestion of something Italian about him. In despair he was walking down the street one day when he happened to notice the photograph of Mr. Novello in a shop window. "The very man I want!" he exclaimed (excitedly.

"But he is a composer," objected the friend who was with him.

i *'I don't care what he iB," replied Mr. Mercanton.

And ao Ivor Novello came to the ifilms.

His First Fight. But for a fortunate chance Mike ; McTigue, the light heavy-weight champion of the world, might still be working in a packing house in New York. A trick of fate changed his destiny and started liim on his winning career. McTigue had no thought of becoming •! boxer until one day a truck driver assaulted his employer and knocked him down. McTigue was standing near. "Mike," he said to himself, "youll get fired if you don't do something, and you'll get a beating if you do." , firing seemed worse than the beating, -so McTigue sailed in and mixed things with his powerful opponent. There Tvas a desperate tussle, but in the end Jhe boxer knocked his opponent cold. When the fight was over his employer pated hi in on the back. "You're too good for a packing house," he said. "You ought to be in the ring. I'll back you and be your manager." He was as good as his word. Luck had set McTigue on the path to fame and fortune. £30,000 in One Afternoon. The God of Luck has dealt some fat hands to his favourites. Few, however, ever received so many aces as ? T r. Arthur Coursy Bowei-, known as "The Man >Vho Broke the Bauk of Monte Carlo." Three times in one day he "broke the bank." Three times play was stopped >vhile the resplendent officials stalked in carrying a great silver tray piled gold and notes. 0 The first afternoon he won £30,000. Then he settled down with the deliberate intention of "breaking" the bank. At first he lost, then, with uncanny luck, he began to win steadily. Soon a hugh pile of money lay heaped at his elbow. . Suddenly the chief croupier rose to his feet. He looked flushed. Play at the table suddenly stopped. . . . Bower had broken" the bank.

More money was brought, and again Bower tempted fortune. But the luck jvas all on his side. Again the money at Jus elbow swelled to an immense pile. There came the same dramatic interruption of play. He had "broken" the bank ft second time.

The atmosphere in the Casino was «lectric. The centre of a tense crowd, Bower once more put his amazing luck to the test. He rose from the tables having "broken" the bank three times' *Jid having won over £200,000. So the roulette wheel of luck spins found, stopping every now and then opposite its fortunate favour^<>.