Are these just urban myths?
Prompted by our script meeting's quandary about "flora and fauna", Michael Hull has been in touch with a few other matters he'd like cleared up. Can anyone resolve these once and for all?
(1) In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the rule of thumb"
(2) Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only,Ladies Forbidden". Thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
(3) Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs - Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
(4) If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
(5) In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight."
Comments
I know the truth regarding most of these since I've had a segment on my radio show for a while devoted to debunking urban legends (of which there are many, as those with an email account will probably know). I'll weigh in with one in particular and leave the rest up to the others:
4) Horse statues. This isn't true. The reference site reports that only 10 out of 30 or more statues in Washington D.C. hold to this code, for example. If it is a tradition, it seems few of the artists responsible for the memorials know about it!
Interesting John. Why don't you send Will your top ten urban legends - i'd like to read them.
Re #1:
Great cartoon, John, in the snopes.com link:
And if all four legs are in the air, its time for new glasses
Incidentally, I am not the original collector of these myths and I don't know the truth of them myself!
One down, four to go!
Regards,
Michael
David- That's not a bad idea... I should put together some of the best and send it over.
Is Puff the Magic Dragon really about drugs?