ST201906

STORIES BEHIND

SUPERSTITIONS

Why are four-leafed clovers lucky? Hunting for them can

keep us occupied for hours... and has done for centuries

They’re lucky simply for being so rare. The odds of

finding one are between one in 5,000 and one in 10,000.

A longer answer links the superstition to druids in

Ireland, said to have used them to ward off evil spirits.

By 1620, they were linked to good fortune. Merchant and

writer John Melton noted: “If any man walking in the

fields find any foure-leaved grasse, he shall in a small

while after find some good thing.” The belief is found all

over the world, perhaps as white clover – the type most

associated with a fourth leaf – is native to three

continents. The cause of the fourth leaf could be a

genetic mutation, or something to do with how it’s

developed, due to environmental factors. But it is known

that if you spot one, it’s more probable you’ll find more

in the same patch. Advanced clover hunters can seek

rare five, six or seven-leafed varieties. The most found,

however, is 56 leaves on a single stem in Japan in 2009.

Didn’tcatchyourname...Mine?It’sBobbins.

“That’s utter bobbins,” some people say. But

seriously. It’s Bobbins. Not Bob, Bobby or

Bobkins. I do not understand this compulsion

to play with my name. No, I will not answer to

Bobbins Marley, and don’t get me started on

Bobbins Davro. And do you want to push

your luck and try Raskins-Bobbins? My

advice to you is not to wind this Bobbins up.

Tweet us a pic of your #dogsinblankets or

#catsonmats @simplethingsmag

TIPPLE OF

THE MONTH

In 1874 a hoaxswepttheStates,involving

unsuspectingstrangersbeingtoldsomeone

called Tom Collins was saying bad things

about them, often resulting in a wild goose

chase. Two years later, mixologist Jerry

Thomas included the Tom Collins in his

book. Thankfully this Tom is much easier to

track down today.

SERVING NOTES: Two measures of dry

gin, one of lemon juice and half of sugar

syrup; in an ice-packed highball, topped

with soda. Add a lemon slice and a cherry.

Raisea glasstoWorldGinDayon

TOMCOLLINS

DOGS IN BLANKETS

The secret thoughts of readers’ pets:

Bobbins, 10 months, pug

Pop paintbrushes

in an old plastic

bag in the fridge

between coats,

and the paint

won’t dry –

saving a messy

wash job.

HOUSEHOLD