THE WHY AND WHEREFORE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1920, Page XI

THE WHY AND WHEREFORE.

OP SOME FAMILIAR PHRASES. When some illustrious person dies flags are lowered to half-mast. If the average man in the street was interro-' gated for an explanation he would probably say it was just the usual custom, pays -a writer in the Weekly Scotsman. However, there is a distinct meaning ill this, for the space above is left for the flag of the Angel of Death. Again, a ship is in variably r-.poken of -as of the feminine gender; this is traced to the ancient Greeks, who called all ships female names out of respect to Athene, Goddess of the Sea.

When a judge pronounces a death sentence he assumes the Black or Judgment Cap. The origin of this is found m scriptural writ, for "ffaman hastened to his house mourning, and having his head covered." Mention is also made of David covering his head as a sign of mourning.

Friday is believed to be an unlucky day by those who are superstitious. It is derived from the fact it was tjie day of Our Lord's Crucifixion, as well as" the one on which Adam and Eve ate.the forbidden fruit.

Few perhaps are aware why a wea-ther-cock is usually attached to a church steeple. This is believed to remind people of Peter's denial of Our Saviour. Journalists are spoken of as "members of the Fourth Estate." Bourke is generally credited as being the originator of the phrase, for while addressing Parliament one day he said there were three branches of government, the Kin;-', the House of Lords, and the House of Commons, the Three Estates ;'but, turning round to the reporters' gallery, lie added, "There sits the Fourth Estate, for more important than the others."

The barber's pole has also a curious history. In other times barbers were' also surgeons, and practised the art of phlebotomy, and a pole was given to tlie patient to hold in his hand in order to let the blood run more freely. The pole should have a line of blue paint, one of red, and one of white, winding round its length, blue representing the blood in the veins, red the blood in the arteries, and white the bandages; therefore—"His pnle will! pewter basins lump, Black, rotten teeth In > order strum:, llang'd cups that in the window stood. Lined with red r.iss to look llko hloodDid well his threefold trade explain. Who shared, drew teeth, and breathed a vein. "Uncle" adopts his familiar sign of three balls over his shop because tlie balls form part of the old Arms of Lorabardy, the people there being the first pawnbrokers in existence. It is a common belief that peacock's feathers are unlucky. This is due to the tradition that the oird opened the Gate of Paradise to the Serpent. The law agents of Aberdeen have the unique distinction of being styled "advocates." It originated some two hundred years ago. When the members of the local bar were chagrined because they were unable to take the same title as their brethren in Edinburgh, they ran after*-' His Majesty's carriage, snouting "Ca' us advocates." King James, naturally angry at this apparent, liberty, in his brusque way said. "Ca' yersel's ftilvoeates and gang to the deevil." This title has been confirmed by Royal Charter.

The nick in a coat has been a ptinslA' to many. It is said to date back to the time of Napoleon. A general named Moreau had many followers, but they were afraid to openly express sympathy with him. It was therefore agreed to put a nick on their coats as a secret sign. The letter M can be seen in the lapel representing the initial letter of the general's name.

The w.ord "tip" finds its origin in tlie fact that restaurant keepers used to place a box with a slit in it, with the words. "To insure promptness," the initials of which spell the now familiar term for a gratuity.