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A BAKER'S DOZEN.
While a good many persons profess
to dislike the number thirteen, relatively
few are found objecting to the
reception of a baker's dozen of articles
when they have paid for only the ordinary
dozen!
The custom of using thirteen for a
dozen arose at a time when heavy
fines were imposed for short weights—
that is, when loaves of bread or other
articles were found to weigh an ounce
or two less than the standard weight.
Rather than run the risk of incurring
the fine, the bakers made it their practice
to throw in an extra loaf for every
dozen loaves ordered so that any possible
short weight might be made up.
One meets occasionally in old books
the phrase, "Devil's- Dozen." It, too,
means thirteen instead of the usual
twelve, and has reference to the once
prevalent superstition (traces of
which are still found among the credulous)
that thirteen is an unlucky
number.
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