Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-25

The Egyptians regarded the frail ane-
none as a symbol of sickness. The tina
gin-nut plant of Madagascar is believed
by the natives to be divine plant, given
to be a test of the rightfulness or
wrongfulness of an accusation. Among
the flowers of ill-omen can be mentioned
the poppy, which is regarded as the SYM
boil of death-the twin-sister of sleep,
The marigold is excluded from fortunate
flowers, and is looked upon with suspi-
cion. The crocus, the peasants OF Aus
tria say, must be plucked only by healthy
young girls and men, as it tends to draw
away strength The four-leaved clover
has been given wonderful virtues,
yet the finder of it will have bad
luck. 1t is Silesian superstition
that flowers must not be laid on the bed
of sick persons. No child in West
phalia and Thuringia, is permitted to
wreathe itself in flowers, or it will die
soon; and in the East it is said that if
they are so used, such flowers will soon
die. The Germans say flowers must not
be laid on the mouth of corpse, since
the dead man may chew them, which
would make him monster--one who
draws relatives after him. To dream of
white flowers prognosticates death. If
one throw a rose on grave, 1t will
waste away. The sudden budding OF
white rosebud is a sign of death
in the nearest house. The rosemary,
in many lands, is strewn on graves.
In Shakespeare it is said, There's rose
mary for you-that's for remembrance.
In many lands rosemary is used as d.
viner of love affairs. In Austria the
saffron has an ill-omen, while in the East
it is an omen of good destiny to one on
whose grave it blooms. In Egypt the
rose was the emblem Of silence; also
in Greece, where it indicates that Sc
cresy in which love delights, The rose
also appears on Roman shields TO indi-
,ate the silence of strategy. The Ara
,ians say there is a garden of mystical
oses now lost and buried in the desert.
The Chinese plant roses over graves.
The Greeks had a legend that the red
'ose was changed from white by the
blood Of Venus when she trod on its
horn. The Turks claim it as version
that it was changed to red by the blood
If Mohammed. In Germany there is a
that if the rose is stepped in
water on Christmas eve, it confers the
power of diyining the events of the
coming year. Another Greek legend is
hat the rose sprung from the bath Of
Aphrodite. In Germany it is said that
the rose unlocks the treasures concealed
in fairy castles. A white rose blooming
in autumn denotes an early death; If
red, an early marriage. tits said a red
rose will not bloom over a grave. In
Posen the rose apple " is carried
by the country maiden in her bosom
to keep her lover true. In Germany
they throw rose leaves on the fire for
good luck Another curious saying in
Italy, France and Germany is-"that
if a drop Of ones blood be buried under
rose bush it will bring rosy cheeks.
The Lotus is still eaten by the Bedouins.
The lily of the valley was referred to By
the Savior. The water lily has been held
sacred in past ages, and has been invest
ed by poets with significance. In Spain
the lily has been credited with power 10
restore those who have been transform
ed into animal shapes. Many believe
that If is a cure for venomous bites. The
snow drop has been regarded as
a sacred flower in France, because
it gives the first sign Of return
ing nature by piercing the snow
The hie everlasting. is also a flower |
given over to superstition. In
swabia, they believe, if pulled in GER
tain time Of the year, rolled in a white
cloth and worn against the naked breast
It will be bullei-proof A number Of le-
gends are connsS;ss55a Nth the strawberry.
OF the clover, II is said in the Tyrol. II
you pat il under your pillow you viii
dream Of your beloved. The four
leaved clover protects you FROM witches