The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-06
THE MODEST CLOVER.
Quaint and Interesting Legends
Of the LoWIy Little Plant.
CALVARY CLOVER ODDITIES.

EAONtT ~ AilHL WHICH ueTlVeB u IEOfu
the Latin clava--clubs--as the clover
leaf slightly resembles the three prong
cd club OF Hercules. II is said, too,
that the clubs Of our playing cards are
In Imitation of the same leaf. There
are many varieties Of this common but
fayorite plant, and, Notwithstanding It's
practical uses In agriculture, about 1t
superstition has woven many quaint
and interesting legends.
The common red clover was once re.
puted to be baneful to witches, and
people Of high and low degree wore
the leaf. considering 1t powerful
cnarm against their spells. II Is sup
posed to have been introduced into
England from the Netherlands during
tie reign of Queen Elizabeth.
The thorny clover (Medlcago eclumis)
IA called Calvary clover on account OF
some OF It's pecullarities. In the first
place, 1t must be sowed in the spring.
and some say ON Good Friday. As the
leaves appear above ground they have
a deep red spot, resembling fresh spilled
blood, on each OF their three divisions,
which win remain for some time before
dying away. The three leaflets stand
erect during the day with arms ex-
tended, but at sunset the arms are
brought together, and the upper leafIet
Is bowed over them as II in prayer
After a time a small yellow flower
appears and later q spiral pod covered
with sharp thorns. These thorns inter
lace with one another as they rIpon
and form globular head, which when
fully matured may be removed from
Its spiral coils, and the striking re-
sembiance TO crown Of thorns is
plainly seen. Thus Its blood stained
leaves, Its extended arms and bowed
head and the day when the seed was
first planted TO await It's resurrection
have caused II to be christened Cal
vary clover. II is fitting, too, that
Palestine should be claimed as its ma
tive land.
Legend says that the three leaved
clover, generally regarded as an en-
blem OF the Trinity, was FIRST used by
St Patrick TO illustrate how three sep
nrate objects, such as leaves, could yet
form one, Those deeply versed In leg
endary lore, however, claim that St.
Patrick borrowed rather than origl-
mated the sanctity OF the shamrock
(Medicago lupullnal, held in the hand
Of Hope among the Greeks, when he
thus illustrated the Trinity In It's three
or found the cross in Its four leaves.
In the east also the trefoll Is sacred,
as the holy books Of Persia and Arabia
tell. and the legend Of 81 Patrick drly-
Ing the snakes out OF Ireland has
more ancient root. for the Latins be-
heved that snakes were never seen
near the trefoll So II st. Patrick wore
Il he was invested with additional
power to Danish these invaders. DR.
Prior says that this plant Is regarded
In ireland as the true shamrock. II has
been asserted that II was a still more
ancient religious symbol and expressed
among the ancient Teutonie race the
three grades OF druids. bards and neo-
phytes. The drulds held the clover In
great honor as charm. Hope was de-
picted by the anclents as child stand
ing on tlptoe and holding clover
bloom In its hand.
But II Is In connection with the four
leaved clover that manifold myths
have been developed Owing to its
scarcity, II has generally been believed
that II would bring luck to the finder.
This superstition Is referred to in this
old stanza:
When sitting In the grass we see
little four leaved clover.
It's luck for thee and luck for me
And luck for any lover.
II a lover can find two four leaved
cloyers and induce the object of his
love to eat one while he swallows the
other mutual love Is sure to result.
The four leaved clover brings mys-
terious powers with Il II II Is found on
st. Johns eve. they say In the Tyrol.
Like fern seed. II can render the wear
or invisible at viii and gives especial
good fortune In gambling. II clover
Is concealed in gift It viii enhance
its value. A German proyerb says of
a lucky man. "Er hat elm vierblaet-
triges Kleeblatt getunden'' CHE has
found four leaved clover'O.
The fact that its four leaves are ar.
ranged In the form OF cross gives II
It's significance. One who wears bit
OF II can detect the presence OF evil
spirits.
While the four leaved clover Is said
by tradition to possess a weird magic
Influence. the three leaved Is looked
upon more In the light OF a religious
symbol ShakespeSre's ROSalind asks.
''Can one desire too much OF a good
thing?" and may be answered. Eyes, In
respect to clover leaves" for. nOtwith-
standing the wonderful virtues every
where ascribed to the four leaved clio
yer. the finder Of the Ave ieaved will
have bad luck.
Even the two leaved clover Is not
unregarded. but has Its legend, and
the lucky maid who secures one Is by
It's Influence enabled 10 see her future
lawar