Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-05
legend. Relating 20 The Apple.


NJ D. Conway, in Harper's Magazine
says:
OF all fruits the apple seems to have
the earliest, widest and most mysu-
cal history. In Greece the name OF the
hardy fruit, which, having appeared on
the earth about the same time rs man.
has followed him in his migrations
around the globe, became the name Tor
sheep, and all manner OF wealth, as IA
Rome the flock, pecus became pecun'a,
or money. Theophrastus enumerates ~
as among the more civilized fruits lur-
baniores5. Tacitus says that IT was the
fayorite fruit of the ancient Germans
and a shriveled apple is among the re-,
coyeries from the lake-dwellings OF
Switzerland.
The myths concerning it meet us IN
every age and country. Aphrodlte bears
II in her hand as well as Eve. The ser
pent guards it; the dragon watches 1t.
II is celebrated by Solomon; itis the
healing fruit of Arabian tales. ulysses
longs for it in the gardens Of Alcinous.
Tantalus grasps vainly for it in Hades'
In the prose Edda 1t is written; ldu-
ma keeps in box apples which the gods,
when they feel old age approaching, have
only to taste to become young again, IL
is in this manner that they will be kept
in renovated youth until Ragnarok =
the general destruction.
Azrael, the angel of death, accom-
plished his mission by holding 1t to the
nostril; and in the northern Folklore,
Snowdrop is tempted to her death by
an apple, half of which crone has
poisoned, but RECEIVERS life when the
apple falls from her lips. The golden
bird seeks the golden apples OF the
Kings garden in many a Forse story
and when the tree bears no more, Frau
Bertha reveals to her favorite that It
is because mouse gnaws at the tree
root Indeed the kind mother goddess
is sometimes personi6ed as an apple
tree. But oftener the apple is the
tempter in northern mythology also, and
sometimes makes the nose grow so that
the sacred pear alone can bring 1t to
moderate size.
A Polish legend, given by Mannhardt'
saws. There is a glass mountain, on the
TOP of which stands golden castle, be-
fore which is tree Of golden apple. In
the castle lives an enchanted daughter
of a prince. Many vainly try to get on
the mountain; but at last the youth,
who has fastened the claws of the lynx
TO his hands and feet, is successful.
With the golden apple he Gains dragon
which he finds at the entrance, and
finally. having broken the spell that
bound the princess, he must remain with
her and not return to the lower earth.
In the goddess of Hollas garden the
Ifavorite fruits are the apple and the pear
the latter of which fruits retained Its
sanctity in France long after the intro
duction there of Christianity.
A Hanoverian legend says that a glrl
was asked by the dwarfs to be godmoth'
or 10 one of their children. On the day
fixed she was led down beautiful stan
case. which was under an apple tree IN
court, to superb garden, whose tree;
were laden with fruits. She was repaid
for coming by an apronful of apples
which, when she returned to the earth
surface, we're found to be of solid gold
These golden apples are often met with
| in the northern mythology. In some le
gends il is related that such may be
taken from a tree growing over a foun'
tain of holy water with a rejuvinatine
power-all Of these myths being traeea'
Bile to the tree and fountain of Urd, one
of the Nornir. i,
In the Edda, Skirnir offers eleven gol
den apples and the ring of Draupnll
| from which, on every ninth night, eight
equally heavy rings Drop to Gerda i
she will return Freyrs love.