The Origin of Superstition 35-xx-xx (01) Three on a Match

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Origin of Superstition 35-xx-xx (01) Three on a Match"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harolds Old Time Radio
• Episode: The Origin of Superstition 35-xx-xx (01) Three on a Match
• Release Date: February 25, 2025
• Description: Delving into radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio, this episode explores the origins of common superstitions through dramatized stories based on thorough research.

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1. Introduction

The episode titled "Three on a Match" is the inaugural installment in a series aimed at uncovering the roots of various superstitions. The narrator sets the stage by explaining the purpose of these dramatizations: to provide listeners with the historical and cultural contexts from which these superstitions emerged. Emphasizing accuracy, the narrator assures the audience that the stories are true to the researched events, albeit with fictitious character names for discretion.

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2. Characters

• Lieutenant Shaw: A pragmatic British army officer stationed in South Africa during the Boer War.
• Captain Frank Mattox: Lieutenant Shaw’s fellow officer, known for his confidence and skepticism towards superstitions.
• Lieutenant Herrick: Another member of the trio, more open to superstitious beliefs.
• Grumbo: A native medicine man with the ability to read fortunes through fire.

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3. Plot Overview

The story unfolds in 1899, amidst the Boer War in the Natal province of South Africa. Three British officers—Lieutenant Shaw, Captain Frank Mattox, and Lieutenant Herrick—are unwinding after a hunting expedition. The camaraderie among them is evident, especially with Captain Mattox sharing his romantic exploits with Gretel, the daughter of a local farmer.

Superstition Introduction: The conversation takes a turn when Lieutenant Herrick mentions his aversion to lighting three cigars on one match, attributing it to a past incident. Intrigued and somewhat dismissive, Captain Mattox expresses his disbelief in superstitions. This skepticism sets the stage for the unfolding drama.

Encounter with Grumbo: Deciding to consult Grumbo, the medicine man, the officers seek to hear Mattox’s fortune. Grumbo's ominous prediction—"Danger in three. Great peril for bwana. Ashes say doom in three" [07:09]—casts a shadow over the evening. Despite Mattox’s continued skepticism, fate takes a tragic turn when he deliberately lights a third match, challenging the superstition. This act results in Mattox being fatally shot, fulfilling Grumbo’s prophecy.

Aftermath and Realization: In the wake of Mattox’s death, Lieutenant Shaw questions the validity of the superstition, while Lieutenant Herrick remains contemplative. The incident leads to the birth of the "Three on a Match" superstition, cautioning against lighting three matches simultaneously due to the associated peril.

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4. Key Themes and Insights

• Fate vs. Free Will: The episode delves into the tension between believing in destiny and asserting control over one’s fate. Mattox’s act of challenging the superstition symbolizes a defiance against predetermined destiny.

• Cultural Collisions: The interaction between British officers and the native medicine man highlights the cultural intersections during colonial times, showcasing differing belief systems.

• Irony of Skepticism: Captain Mattox’s downfall serves as a narrative irony, where his skepticism ironically leads to his demise, reinforcing the power of superstitions in human psychology.

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5. Notable Quotes

• Narrator [00:06]: "Superstitions we often laugh about until something, possibly a coincidence or possibly some twist or quirk of fate, sets us to wondering if, after all, there might be some hidden unseen hand that controls our destinies."

• Lieutenant Herrick [03:01]: "It was away, back in 1899. I was a lieutenant in the British army during the Boer War."

• Captain Frank Mattox [04:00]: "All of that stuff is rubbish. Every man is the captain of his own destiny. He's the architect of his own fate." [05:03]

• Grumbo [06:37]: "Wanamaqua, beware. Ashes tell. Great danger for English captain. Danger in three. Great peril for bwana. Ashes say doom in three." [06:37]

• Captain Frank Mattox [10:55]: "I, Captain Frank Mattox of the Royal Fusiliers, take a third light from one match and challenge the power of three."

• Lieutenant Shaw [11:33]: "So that's how the three on one match superstition started."

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6. Conclusion

"The Origin of Superstition 35-xx-xx (01) Three on a Match" masterfully intertwines historical context with dramatic storytelling to unveil the genesis of the "Three on a Match" superstition. Through the tragic fate of Captain Frank Mattox, the episode underscores the profound impact that beliefs and superstitions can have on human behavior and destiny. This dramatization not only entertains but also prompts listeners to reflect on the origins and influences of the superstitions that permeate modern culture.

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Next Episode Preview: The series promises to continue exploring other common superstitions, with the next episode delving into the origins of "Throwing Salt Over the Shoulder."

Transcript

[Narrator]

Superstition on the Air. Do you do? Ladies and gentlemen, this short short story brings to you one of a series designed to show the origin of many of the more popular superstitions. Superstitions we often laugh about until something, possibly a coincidence or possibly some twist or quirk of fate, sets us to wondering if, after all, there might be some hidden unseen hand that controls our destinies. So that you will know how your pet superstition originated, when, why and where. We have made accurate research and can assure you that the incidents portrayed in these sketches are merely the dramatization of the stories uncovered by that research. In every case, nothing has been added or subtracted, nor has anything been taken for granted. Though it has been deemed discreet to use fictitious names for our characters. Every other detail of our story is true and upon request, can be substantiated. Our research has taken us to many lands over a period of greatly varied dates and through these vivid playlets we have made it possible for you to accompany us. This one brings you the origin of the superstition. Three on one match. Are you ready.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Waiter? Coffee for three, please.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Yes, Mr. Calvert.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Have a cigar, Dean?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

No, thank you. I think I'll stick to my cigarettes.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

How about you, Herrick?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

I believe I'll have one of Dean's cigarettes, if you don't mind.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Times certainly are hard when I can't even give my cigars away. Can I interest you in a light?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

That I will take.

[Lieutenant]

Thanks.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Here you are, Harry.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Thanks.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Why did you blow out the match?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

I don't like three on a match.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Why?

[Lieutenant Shaw]

You're not superstitious?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Call it that if you wish.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Well, that's a new one to me.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Me too.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

It may seem silly, gentlemen, but something happened a few years ago that sort cured me of lighting three on one match. I've never done it since.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

What was it?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

It's rather a long story. It would probably bore you.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I'd like to hear it.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

So would I. Come on, Herrick, out with it.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

It was away, back in 1899. I was a lieutenant in the British army during the Boer War. Three of us, sir. Captain Frank Mattocks, Lieutenant Shaw and myself were stationed down in South Africa in a province of Natal. On this particular evening, we had just returned from a hunting trip. As you know, it's a great spot for game.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Yes, I've been there.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Then you know the layout. We were sitting in front of our tents, enjoying a smoke. A short distance away were our native carriers, a fine lot of Kaffirs and Zulus. They were grouped about Another fire quite similar to what they had built for us. The three of us were in high spirits, especially Captain Mattocks. He was in love with a beautiful creature, a boa girl named Gretel. Her father had favored her marrying a young farmer, a chap named John Kruger. But Mattox had succeeded in capturing the lady's love. And.

[Lieutenant]

Nice, eh? What, Herrick?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Great. Don't you think so, Maddox?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Top hole. I say, but those Tom Toms get on my nerves.

[Lieutenant]

I've been all over the world, but I've never found anything to quite equal these African knights. They're so different. The sky, the air and the sounds from the veld.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

If I had your hunting luck today, Shaw, I'd feel the same way.

[Lieutenant]

Luck? It was nothing more. You fellows shoot as well as I do. In fact, better. But still you bagged only two panthers, a lion and a few assorted small fellows only.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

And we landed one puny little wild beast between us.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

You can't shoot game if you don't see them. Tomorrow's another day, eh? Sure.

[Lieutenant]

Oh yes, surely.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

What were you dreaming about? Bagging a couple of elephants tomorrow?

[Lieutenant]

No, I was just thinking about that old medicine man over there. He predicted that I would bring in the biggest bag today.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Don't tell me that you believe in that old fraud Grumbo.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Well, he called it right today. What he predicted about Shaw happened.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

That was a mere coincidence. Don't tell me you believe.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

I hardly know what to believe. Sometimes I believe the Arabs are right when they contend that our futures are engraved on our foreheads.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

All of that stuff is rubbish. Every man is the captain of his own destiny. He's the architect of his own fate.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Which one is Grumble? Shaw.

[Lieutenant]

The old black fellow with the fire. The one with the white rag tied around his head.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Let's get him to tell our fortunes. How about it, Mattocks?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I know my fortune.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

That's right. As soon as we whip the boys, you're going to marry Gretel and settle down in that little cottage in Sussex. How about it, Mattox?

[Lieutenant]

That' well, let's get Grumble over here anyhow just to see what he has to say.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Oh, why fool around with such ridiculous rot?

[Lieutenant]

It'll kill a few minutes time anyhow.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Go ahead then. But remember, I don't believe in a bit of the silly stuff.

[Lieutenant]

Say you, Grumble. Come here.

[Grumbo]

Wanna call?

[Lieutenant]

Yes, Grumble. I've told the captain of your skill in fire reading. He wants you to tell his fortune.

[Grumbo]

If Captain wish me to tell future, I do. What I see, I Tell. If it good, I happy. If it evil, Grumbo not to blame.

[Lieutenant]

We understand, Grumbo.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Go ahead.

[Grumbo]

Good. I make ready.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

What's he doing?

[Lieutenant]

That's how he always starts. Making a circle in the sand with that spear.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

What's all the mumbling about?

[Lieutenant]

I don't know. Those three little fires he's making in the circle are supposed to represent us.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Three? I suppose those drums are to invoke the spirits.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Look at him, picking up that fire in his bare hands. How does he do it?

[Lieutenant]

That's his magic. That particular fire he's picked up represents you, Maddox. Why does he drop it on the ground after it has gone out? He reads the ashes.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

I say, old man.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Shh.

[Lieutenant]

He's starting to speak.

[Grumbo]

Wanamaqua, beware. Ashes tell. Great danger for English captain. Danger in three. Great peril for bwana. Ashes say doom in three.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Have him stop that silly rot.

[Grumbo]

Let him finish.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

It's too ridiculous.

[Grumbo]

Doom in three. The ashes tell. I am done.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Thank goodness for that.

[Lieutenant]

You may go now, Grumbo. Many thanks. I'm sorry, Maddox, old man. If I had known.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Quite all right. I don't believe a word of it anyhow. I've quite forgotten it already.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

What do you say we turn in?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

You boys go ahead. I'll take a little walk and join you later.

[Lieutenant]

You're not going over to the farm to see Gradle?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Certainly he is. Why do you suppose we camped here tonight? It's only a mile or so, isn't it?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

That's about all.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Well, I'm going to turn in. Be careful, Maddox. You know the war is still on.

[Lieutenant]

And don't forget that Grumble thing might mean something.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Oh, forget that nonsense. I say, what's that?

[Lieutenant]

Where?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Over there, behind that tree.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

It's a woman.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Why, it's Grayl.

[Lieutenant]

Well, hell, that saves him a trip. And besides.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Oh, cut the indelicacies. Sure. Let's leave them alone. We'll be inside the other tent, Captain. Cheerio.

[Gretel]

Oh, Frank. Frank. Dear Frank.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Grateful. Darling, what's wrong? You're as white as a ghost.

[Gretel]

Oh, darling, I'm all out of breath. I hurried so.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I was just coming over to see you.

[Gretel]

Oh, that would have been terrible.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Why, dear?

[Gretel]

Jeanne is in the neighborhood.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

What has that to do with me?

[Gretel]

Everything.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Can I help it because your father promised him your hand in marriage?

[Gretel]

Oh, he's furious.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Oh, well, let him be. All's fair in love and war, and we're in the thick of both. I've captured you, and I shall not give you up.

[Gretel]

No, that's why I'm here. He came to our place after supper tonight and.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

And what, dear?

[Gretel]

He proposed to me again and I tried to stop him. I was so afraid for your sake that he might find out that you were here, so near to me. And before I realized what I was saying, I told him about us.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

What did he say?

[Gretel]

Oh, he swore he would kill you. Frank, I'm so afraid. You will be careful, won't you, darling?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Certainly, my dear.

[Gretel]

Oh, if anything happened to you, I'd die. If you love me, sweetheart. Promise.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

You know I love you, darling. More than anything else in the world. As soon as this silly war is over, we'll be married. And then it's double quick for you and me to England. We'll never be apart again.

[Gretel]

I'm worried so about Jean. He keeps insisting that my father keep his promise.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Don't worry about that, sweetheart. Nothing in this world matters except that I love you and you love me.

[Gretel]

I love you.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I love you.

[Gretel]

Say it again.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I'll say it a thousand times more. Then I'll keep saying it until the farthest star will hear me clear and distinct.

[Gretel]

From now until the end of time and beyond. And every day I shall pray for you. Every day until.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Until I come back and take you away with me forever and ever.

[Gretel]

Darling.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Yes?

[Gretel]

I'd better go now before Father misses me.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I'll take you home.

[Gretel]

Oh, no. Oh, no, don't do that. I have a Kaffir boy with me and no one will bother me.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

You mean, someone might bother me.

[Gretel]

I mean Jeanne. Oh, please, sweetheart, be careful. Promise me you'll not expose yourself to unnecessary danger.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I promise you anything, my love.

[Gretel]

Stay in the shadow. Don't go near the fire. I just know something will happen if you do. Oh, promise me. Promise me you won't.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

I promise it if it will make you happy.

[Gretel]

Oh, goodbye, darling.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Goodbye. For the last time. Next time, no more goodbyes.

[Lieutenant]

Is it all right for us to come out?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Why, certainly.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Did you tell her anything about what Grimble said?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Of course not.

[Lieutenant]

No use alarming her.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Listen. Sounds like someone in the brush.

[Lieutenant]

Imagination, Harrick, that's all.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Don't you hear someone, Frank?

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Not a thing. Come on, let's turn in.

[Lieutenant]

Oh, look. Shooting stars. One, two, three. If you please. Three.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Three. I say, Eric, isn't that.

[Lieutenant]

Yes, Dick. You're thinking of Grumble, the medicine man.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Now, see here, both of you. I'm sick and tired of being ragged because a miserable old capper raves over some silly ashes. Oh, forgive me, boys. We're all under a bit of a tension sitting here in this darkness.

[Lieutenant]

But it was odd, Maddox, about those three stars. If I were you, I'd keep away from anything connected with three.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Oh, forget it, Shaw.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

It's getting late.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Let's have one smoke and then we'll go to bed. Here's the light, Herrick.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Thanks.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Got it now. You sure?

[Lieutenant]

Thanks.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

And now, to show you fellows what I think of your old grumbo's warning. I, Captain Frank Mattox of the Royal Fusiliers, take a third light from one match and challenge the power of three.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Oh, what's that?

[Lieutenant]

For God's sake, Herrick, look.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Maddox is shot through the head. Good God, he's dead. Why didn't he listen to Grumbo?

[Lieutenant]

Yes, he warned him to beware of three.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

So that's how the three on one match superstition started.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Yes, with that terrible tragedy.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

But if Maddox had been the first on that match, he would have been killed just the same, wouldn't he? All John was waiting for was enough light to see which was the man he was after.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

I guess so.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

You mean you know so?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Yes.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Well, then there's really nothing to that superstition.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Maybe you're right.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Oh, you know I'm right, don't you? Come on, don't you?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Yes, you are right. It is silly.

[Captain Frank Mattox]

Give me a light, will you, old man?

[Lieutenant Shaw]

There you are. Hand me a cigarette. Want one, Herrick?

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Thanks.

[Lieutenant Shaw]

Have a light.

[Lieutenant Herrick]

Oh, wait a minute. Not three on a match.

[Narrator]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just heard the first of a series of playlets on the origin of superstition. We again wish to remind you that these sketches are based upon absolute truth uncovered by our research. All that we have done is to dramatize them. You have just listened to the popular superstition three on one match. Our next playlet will tell you the story of the origin of the superstition. Throwing salt over the shoulder. Until then, au revoir.