The morning news., 1888-08-14
CLOVER LORE.
The Charming Fancies That Have
Sprung From the Trefoil.

Sprung From the Trefoil.
From the 81. James Gazette.
1t is generally known that the three
leayed clover is an emblem of the Trinity,
the legend being that st. Patrick first nsed
such as its leaves could yet form one. But
according to j. B. Fredreich, it was a very
ancient symbol, expressing religion among
the ancient Germans as setting forth the
three grades OF Druids, Barbs, and Neo-
phytes. And as one legend or myth or
superstition begets many, 50 there grew
from this a number; which, however, all
refer to the clover with four leaves, the
rarity of which gave rise to the belief that
it would bring good luck to the one who
carried it.
When sitting in the grass we see
little four-leaved clover
'Tis luck for thee and luck for me,
Or luck for any lover.
1t is believed in the Tyrol that if any one
has "a turn" for magic he can acquire the
art of working wonders easily enough if he
only searches for and finds the four-leaved
clover on st. Johns Eve In the Passier-
thai the peasants believe that If traveller
should at this time fall asleep lying on his
back, by certain brook, there will come
flying a white dove bearing a four-leaved
clover, which it lets fall on the sleeper's
breast. Should he awake before it fades
and at once put it into his mouth, he will
acquire the power of becoming invisible at
will
A. stranger superstition related in VOLTS
'Zeitschrift fur Deutsche Mythologie" Is to
the effect that if. while priest is reading
the service, any one can, unknown to him,
lay four. leaved clover on his mass book,
the unfortunate clergyman will not be able
to utter a word; he will stand stock still and
bewildered until the person who has played
the trick pulls his robe. Then he can pro-
coed. When all is over the man who re-
gains his ''four-leaf" will always have luck
at all kinds of gambling. If he has a
tendency to tenpins in America or to nine
pins, if it be in Germany, he makes a ten
strike" or ale neune every time he rolls
ball.
1t would seem by this that though the
trtfOliWn is religious symbol, the four
leaf smacks of a darker influence If the
bearer or wearer of a four-leaved clover
should come across witch work or any un-
canny performance, he can detect and spoil
it all uuharmed.
If a man loves a woman Tor vice versa),
and can obtain two four-leaved covers,
and induce her to eat one while he himself
swallows the other, mutual love is sure to
result Nay, according to very good gypsy
authority, even trin-patrini has, or three
leaved clover, will have this effect. More
over, it is advisable on all occasions when
you make a gift to anybody, no
matter what it is, to conceal in it a clover,
since it will render the gift doubly accept
able
Also, take four or three leaved clover,
and, making hollow in the end or top of
your alpenstock or cane, put the leaf
therein, taking care not to injure it, and
close the opening carefully. Then, so long
as you walk with it, you will be less weary
than if it were wanting, and will enjoy luck
in many ways.
A German proverb says of lucky man,
''Er hat Elm vierblattriges Kleeblatt gefun-
den"-"He has found a four leaved
clover" On this test DIR. Wilhelm Korte,
in his "Sprichworter der Deutschen,"
breaches the following hOmily:
This is, you say. a stupid superstition
Did you ever know a man who was ganz
and gar, utterly and entirely, devoid of
superstitions For if you did, be sure there
was nothing in him."