After reading yesterday's vitriolic attack on poor defenceless news readers, today's artifact will be a bright little gee-gaw reflecting light and good taste. I have been assured by a very good but anonymous source that the following story is true, and if that is so, it might explain the creation of some interesting phobias.
In the 16th Century, Thomas Muffett had a little daughter named Patience. He believed that spiders could cure many ailments. He wrote (probably in his daily blog) that having plenty of spiders in the house prevented gout. (This must be true, because I don't have gout). He also stated that Spider dung and urine cured running eyes. He often tried these spider remedies on Patience.
So this is why Little Miss Muffett ran from spiders, and probably from Dad too, and went through life with perpetually runny eyes. It might be best not to try these remedies unless under medical supervision.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment