The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-17
Gtneral Misfellanv.
The Apple.

The apple, with its various hues-ruddy
golden and russet-forms handsome group,
accompanied by its oblong relatives, the mot
tied pear and the tawny ounce. The apple
is unfortunate in having acquired the repu
tation Of misunderstanding fruit ever since
the designation of "apple" has been applied
to the fruit of i'll, omen eaten by Eve. The
reader will remember the trite examples in
the classic mythology Of the apple Of discord,
the golden apples which caused the swift
footed Atalanta to lose her fateful race, and
the apple of Acontius which brought SO much
sickness and suffering to Cydpipe, and is in
mortalized in Ovid's Heroic Epistles. In la
ter times. an apple was, indeed, fruit of dis
cord to the imperial family of Byzantium.-
Theodosius the younger, Emperor of the
East, in the fifth century, had married the
beautiful, accomplished, and celebrated Eu-
doxia (called Athenias before her conversion
to Christianity) and for many years he en-
tertained the strongest affection for her.
There came to the court of Constantinople
Paulinus, a philosopher who was highly es-
teemed for his learning by Eudoxia. One
day she unguardedly bestowed on him, as a
mark of friendship, remarkably fine apple
with which she had been presented by Theo-
dosius. Paulinus, ignorant of these crcum-
stances, carried the apple as a respectful Of
fering to the Emperor. The latter, recoSni-
zing the fruit, and conceiving jealous sus-
picion, went to the Empress, and, in a stern
tone, demanded what she had done with his
gift. Eudoxia, disconnected by his manner,
was unhappily tempted to an untruth, and
replied that she had eaten it. The Emperor,
confirmed in his suspicious produced the ap-
pie, convicted her of falsehood, taxed her
with infdeHty, and banisheG her from Con-
stantnople forever. She retired 10 Palestine,
where she died, after enduring eleven years
of humiliation and exile. The unfortunate
Paulinus was put to death by the orders of
Theodosirus. Thus was an apple fatal to the
peace of the powerful, the beautiful, and the
wise. The reader will be interested by COM
pairing this historical anecdote with the stri-
kingly similar story Of "The Three Apples'
in the Arabian Nights. The Byzantine his
torians furnish US with trait resembling the
classic judgment of Paris, in which the prize,
in competition for superior beauty, was a
golden apple. Theophilus, Emperor Of the
East, in the ninth century, desirous of choos-
ing the most beautiful woman in his domin-
ions for his wife. published a manifesto re-
quiring all the unmarried females who were
remarkable for their charms to repair to Con-
stantinople, and assemble in his presence on
an appointed day, when he would distinguish
the object of his choice by giving her an ap-
pie of gold. Great numbers appeared, and
presented such galaxy Of beauties, that
Theophilus was perplexed and walked to and
fro undecided, among the anxious competi-
tors for throne. At length he stopped be-
fore Icasia, young girl of high rank and ex-
ceeding loveliness, and his eyes seemed te
say he would seek no further. "Truly," said
he, as he gazed admiringly, "women are dan
gerous beings they often do great deal Of
mischief" Icasia thought it incumbent or
her to reply "Yes, sire, but in recompense
they sometimes do great deal Of good."-
the Emperor was displeased F; he thought
modest silence at such moment would have
been more becoming tnan an attempt at re
nartee. He turned from Icasia, and the gol
den prize he had been on the point Of pre-
sentine to her he gave to Theodore. lcasl'
buried her modification in cloister, where
she amused her leisure by writing severa
works of merit, and was, in the end, mor'
happy .han her successful rival. Theodore
and Theophilus differed in religion-the I'm
press was Roman Catholic, and the Emper
or an Iconoclast, or image-breaker he wa
man of ferocious temper, and there was ~
union of soul between them. After trouo
led reign of twelve years, Theophllus dled
leaving the widow to contend with the wick
edness of her son, the young Emperor Mich