Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-07-07
The Rose, shamrocl, and thistle.

Chambers Journal gives the origin of
the national emblems as follows:
The Rose Of E7glORCI-Int the early part
of the reign of Henry VI, about the year
1850 few nOblemen and gentlemen were
discussing who was the rightfuI heir
to the English crown. Aftera time they
adjourned to the Temple Gardens, think
ing they would be more free from inter-
ruptiOn. Scarcely, however, had they
seen Richard Plantagenet approaching;
unwilling to continue the conversation
in his presence, a silence ensued. He,
however, asked them, what they had
been so anXiOusly talking when he
Joined them, and whether they espOused
the cause Of his party, or whether that
of the uSurpeT, Henry Lancaster, who
filled the throne. A false and abused
pOliteness preventing their making any
reply he added, "Since you are so re-
lUctant to tell your opinion by words,
tell me by signs, and let him that is an
adherent Of the House of York pull a
white rose as do" Then said the Earl
Of Somerset, LET him who hates fiat
terry, and dares to MAINTAIN our rightful
king, even in presence of his enemies,
pull q red rose with me. .U-When Henry
VII, married Elizabeth York, the rival
houses were blended, and the rose became
the emblem of England.
The Thistle Of ScOtIGnd-In the reign of
Malcolm I. in the year 1910, Scotland
was invaded by the Danes, who made a
| descent on Aberdeenshire, intending to
| take by storm Staines Castle, a fortress
/ of importance. The still hour of mid
night was selected as the time for COM
mencing the attack. When all was
ready and there was reasonable hope that
! the inmates of the castle were asIeeD,
they commenced their march. They
advanced cautiously taking off their
shoes to prevent their footsteps being
| heard. They approached the lofty tow
er, their hearts joyous an anticipation of
| victory. Not a sound was heard from
| within. They can scarcely refrain from
eNclamatiOns Ofdelight, for they had but
to swim across the mOat and place the
scaling ladders, and the castle was theirsI
But in anOtheTmOmenta cry from them
selves rOuses the inmates to a sense of
their danger, the guards fly to theirpOsts
and pursue the now trembling Danes
who now fly before them. Whence arose
this sudden change Of affairs? From a
very simple cause. 1t appears that the
mOat, instead of being filled with water,
was in reality dried up and OvergrOwn
with thistles, which pierced the unprO-
tected feet of the aSsailantS, who. tOTtUr-
ed with pain, forgot their cautious sill
ence and uttered the cry which alarmed
the sleeping inmates of the castle.
The SbCtBlTOcE IN LrCldRd-One day st. |
Patrick was preaching in Tara.-He was /
anxious to explain the doctrine of the /
Holy Trinity. The people failed to un-
derstand and refused to believe that there
could be three persons and yet one God. |
The holy man paused a moment, absOr- /
bed in thought, and seeing a shamrock |
peeping from the green turf exclaimed: |
''DO you not see in this simple little wild |
flower how three leaves are united in one
stalk" His audience understood with |
out difficulty this simple yet striking
to the inexpressible delight /
of st. Patrick. From that day the Sham
rock became the National emblem oil
land.