Turning the Chair

The same list of 1831 gives the small omens of daily life. Pigs were said to see the wind, hairy people were born to be rich, and a cat sneezing meant colds for the whole house. To put on your stockings inside out by accident meant good luck all day; to give or take a knife or scissors from a friend cut the friendship; a burning cheek meant someone was talking about you and tingling ears that lies were being told. The writer once idly turned a chair round two or three times while talking to a neighbour, who took offence, said it meant they would quarrel, and never spoke kindly to him again.