The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-06-11
TAe Rose, ShansrOcE and Thistle.

Chambers Journal gives the origin of the
national emblenls as follows:
The Rose Of E5,1land..-Iu the early part
of the reign of Henry VI, about the year
1890 few noblemen and gentlemen were
discussing who was the rightful heir
to the English crown. After time they
adjourned to the Temple Gardens, think
ing they would be more free from inter-
ruption, Scarcely, however, had they ar
rived, when they saw Richard Plantagenet
approaching. UNWILLING to continue the
conversation in his presence, a great silence
ensued. He, however, asked them what
they had been so anxiously talking about
when he joined them, and whether they es-
poused the cause of his party, or that of
the usurper Henry of Lancaster, who had
filled the throne. A false and absurd po-
likeness preventing their making any re-
ply he added, "Since you are so reluctant
to tell your opinion by words, tell me by
signs, and let him that is an adherent Of
the House of York pull white rose as I
do" Then said the Earl Of Somerset, "Let
him who hates fiattery, and dares to main
tain our rightful king, even in the presence
OF his enemies, pull red rose with me-"
When Henry VII. married Elizabeth
York, the rival houses were blended, and
the rose became the emblem Of England.
The Thistles Of Scotland In the reign of
Malcolm J., in the year 1910, Scotland was
invaded by Danes, who made descent on
Aberdeenshire, intending to take by storm
Staines Castle, fortress of Importance
The still hour of midnight was selected as
the time for recommending the attack. When
all was ready, and thereitwas reasonable
hope that the inmates of the castle were
asleep, they commenced their march
They advanced cautiously, taking off their
shoes to prevent their footsteps being heard.
They approached the lofty tower, their
hearts beating with anticipation ofViatory.
Not sound was heard from within. They
can scarcely refrain from exclamations of
delight. for they have but to swim across
the moat and place scaling ladders, and
the castle is theirs! But in another
moment a cry from themselves rouses the
inmates to a sense of their danger the
guards fly to their posts and pursue the
now trembling Danes who now fly before
them. Whence arose this sudden change
of affairs From very simple cause. 1t
appears that the moat, instead of being
filed with water, was in reality dried up
and overgrown with thistles, which pierced
ohS ullJlOtCStSo lCCG VI pup .iSodilohtoi NhVs
tortured with pain, forgot their cautious
silence and uttered the CRY which had
alarmed the sleeping Inmates of the cas-
tie. i.y .,.,.r"' -
The Shamrock Of Irelana.-One day St.
Patrick was preaching at Tara. BE was
anxious to explain the doctrine of the Ho-
ly Trinity, The people failed to under
stand and refused to believe that there
could be three persons and yot but one
God. The holy man paused moment,
absorbed in thought, and seeing 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 Z"
His audience understood without difficulty
this simple yet striking illustrate * tho
inexpressible delight Of ST. Patrico> ,ry.rn
that day tho shamrock became the uatisn-
al emblem of Ireland. w