The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-01-22

The apple tree is distinguished alike in
the mytholosies of the Greeks. Scandinavia
ans, and Druids The golden fruits Of the
Hesperides which it was one of the labors OF
Hercules to procure, in spite of the sleepless
drasoon which guarded them, were believed
by the pagans to be apples. Hercules was
worshrpped by the Thebans under the name
Of Melius and apples were offered at his al
tars. The origin OF this custom was, the
river Asopas, having on one occasion over
flowed its banks to such an extent as 20
render it impossible to bring a sheep across
which was TO be sacrificed TO Hercules,
when some youths, recoiieciinS That an APP
pie bore the same name as sheep III GTeek
melon; offered an apple, "ith four little
sticks stuck in it, 10 resemble legs, As sub
sttute for sheep; and after that period the
Paeans a.ravs considered the apple as es-
pccialIy devoted to Hercules. In the Sea-
dinavian EiIa, we are told hat the goddess
lduna had the care of apples which had the
power OF comforting Immortality; and which.
were consequently reserved for the gods,
who ate of them when they began to feel
e IN, niselyes growing old. The evil spirit,
Loke, took away Iduna and her apples, ard
MD them in forest, where the gods eould
not find them In consequence of this ma
world. The gods became cid and iufirnl,
and cnfcehelcd both in body and mini no
longer paid the same attention to the Affairs
of earth ar d men having no one to look AZ
ter them, fell into evil courses, and became
the prey of the evil split. At length the
gods, finding matters get worse and worse
every dav, reused their last remains 0: ii
COR, and combining together forced Loke to
return the tree. The Druids paid partCu-
lar attention to the apple tree, because the
mistletoe VAS supposed to grow on it and
the oak; and also Oh account Of the useful
ness Of Is fruits.
Tie Ash, according to heather mytholo-
", furnished the weed Of which Cupid
Hide Lis arrows. before he had learned TO
ADOPT the mere fatal cypress. IL the san
d...av:an tila, Il is-sst.tel th-t the court OF
the gods Is held ua,:vr a mighty ash, The
SAX. nit o. which reaches to the heavens,
IL, branches eversha3Ow the who.e earth,
ami the roots penetrate to the iaie"nal r.
cions an eagle rests on lis summit, to Oh
serve verythinS that passes, 70 whom
s1urrel constantly asccnds TO report any
ting which The exalted bird may have rs
elected 10 notice. SerpcGls are twined
round the trunk aud from the roots there
springs two limpil fountains, in ora Of
which wisdom is concealed, and iE The 9TH
sr knowledge Of the things 10 come. Three
virgins constantly attend upon tins tree, to
sprinkle It's leaves Will! water from the mag
l. fountains and this water, falling on the
earth in the shape Of dew. produces honey.
Man. according 70 the L Ida, was formed
from thy wood Of this t.ee.
\ CnEAP FlLTEE.-In some situations
spring water cannot be obtained, hence rain
water Is employed for all domestic purposes.
To render Il III for drinking and cooking, !;
requires to be filtered, as showers carry
down insects and their ora from the atuos--
p!.ere and dust from the roofs upon which
;'.ey fail. Il is best to purify ram water be-
fore il enters the c.stern, and for this pur-
pose COED filter can DC made By any per-
son at tie cost Of oGly a few sl.i,lings. The
way to do this is as follows :-COuStruCt a
to'eraOle large ana stout wooden box, with a
hole IN the bottom OK Al the side near The
bottom, and in connection with p:p= lead
# Z. i1to the ci-tcrn maj! q coarse cotton or .
linen cicti over its bottom inside, and then
Ii! il up 10 within three iUcA : Of the top
with layers of G., an gravel, sand, and char
coal, and over the top of these secure 4 stout
cloth. Into this box lead the PIPE, and Z.
tie rain passes through it to the ciStcrn, it
viii be purified and fitted for drinking or any
other purpose. Tie top cloth ol this filter
can b" cas- J. rcm y-d and freq emily wash
Il. Vt !:ttic extra cost, this filter NAV be .
made so 10 rotate OF axis To be turned .
upside down, and washed out by making
c.ran water rush from lis bottOu through 10
the .op. l. is necessary 10 make such filters
somewhat large 10 carry oil water rapidly
during heavy showers.