The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-10-16
for the poune.
Fabulous Creatures.

httfmaiuA, clfeuh, naFples, Duic0Fns,
Ph@nixes and Dragons, were neverseen By
any one; but they were written about ii
poems and stories, and some Of them we're
used IN this way to express various SYM
bolic meanings, so that, in writing at least,
i seemed difficult 70 get on without them.
One Of the mast absurd Of these animals
was the Basilisk, most unpleasant crea-
ture 10 every way, and not one that could
possibly be made a pet Of. People were
silly enough 20 believe that It came from
an egg laid by very old cock and hatched
BY q toad, and that it had cocks head
and wings, lizards body and tail, eight
feet, and wore kingly crown as monarch
OF all the serpents and dragons, who ran
away whenever It came near them. It's
breath was poison, and the fearful glare Of
its eyes killed both animals and men when
ever they encountered it. The Basilisk,
sometimes called the Cockatrice, lived in
the deserts Of Africa; it could only live 10
a desert, for its dreadful breath burned up
everything that grew, and no animal would
venture near il except the weasel, who
would bravely fight with Il. The weasel
got the better Of the Basilisk by eating an
herb called rue, which oieaued the mon
ster when il bit him-but the poor little
weasel always died too. When the Basil
isk was dead and burned to ashes, people
took little comfort in It, for the ashes
were said to turn all kinds Of metal into
gold. s
The DoLPHIE.--The Dolphin made
very pleasant variety in the list of unreal
creatures-as il was delightful in every
way. Very much larger than the common
dolphin or porpoise, the Dolphin Of fable
was thoroughly good-natured and obliging,
and always swimming about and showing
its pretty colors. These colors were said
to be brighter than ever when it was dy-
ing, and some poet has written Of s'the
hues of the dying Dolphin"
The supposed home Of the DolphiDs was
in the Grecian seas; they we're said to have
many human tastes, as they were fond of
music, could be easily tanned, and became
very fond Of their masters. They would
let children ride on their backs; and this
must have been even more exciting than
riding on an elephant, or driving . pair
Of goats. These Dolphins were very af-
fectionate; and q story is told Of one, In
the reign Of the Emperor Augustus, which
carried a boy to school every morning.
But after while the lad died, and the
faithful Dolphin watched for him on the
shore day after day-until, finding that
he did not come, ID pined away and ex-
PRED Of grief.
The DEMONSTRATING can be said in
favor Of this ugly-tempered monster. Il
was always In passion, and had most
unpleasant habit Of vomiting FIRE from iia
head and its tail-which prevented its
ever being crowded for room, as no crea-
ture cared to 60 near Il. 1t seemed 70 be
sort Of live volcano in form very much
like crocodile, with the addition Of
wings, collar and ears. It's neck, however,
was long and snake-like, and ii had the
feet of a lizard, with claws. These horri-
bic monsters went about destroying every
thing in their path, and would often lay
whole country desolate, 50 that brave
knights sometimes set forth to slay them
and rid the land Of such pest. They
were terrible enemies 10 fight with, and
only good men could overcome them. You
remember hearing Of St. George, the pa
tron saint Of England, and Of the ferocious
Dragon which he killed after hard bat
tie. One Of these creatures in Africa was
said 10 have driven back the whole Roman
army. 1t is thought that the Dragon was
type of Satan, or the power Of evil.
The PHGNIx. most interesting
of oil fabulous creatures is the Ph0nix.
1t was exceedingly beautiful, as large as an
eagle, with plumage that shone like gold
around its neck, a purple body, and tail
Of blue and rose-colored feathers. II had
q cocks comb under its neck, and mag
ni6cent crest This splendid Hooking bird
was supposed to live i've hundred years,
and then burn itself, to rise from the
ashes young, strong, and more beautiful
than ever.
An old writer gives long account Of
this new birth Of the Phoenix, which
always took place at Heliopolis, tho City
of the Sun A priest made FIRE of spices
on the altar, and the bird few into flames
and was burned with the spices. A small
worm would then be found 10 the ashes on
the altar, and on the second day after it
appeared it would be transformed into a
bird, and in one day after that, or the
third day after the burning, the Phoenix
would be itself again and would 20 Of in
fine spirits. aa
THE GRIFFIE.-It ought TO have had
long name like s'ichthyosaurusp OF Me-
gatherium, " or some Of those other grcat
creatures that lived before the food; fos
one Griffin was said to be larger and stron.
ger than hundred eagles, 50 that il could
carry, while flying to its nest, q large horse
OF even two oxen yoked together a. they
stood at the plow. It's claws were as large
as the horns Of oxen, 50 that drinking
were made Of them. Its head, wings and
feet were those Of an eagle, and It's body
that Of lion. Stoue Griffns arc often
seen IN old churches, and on the pillars Of
old gate-ways; for place that was guard
ed BY such powerful creature was In no
danger of being invaded So the figure
Of a Griffin came TO represent strength and
vigilance. Grifin's eggs were considered
very valuable, and were made into large
goblots; but ii is probable that these eggs
were really laid BY ostriches
The UNICORN. This animal was more
absurd than frightfal, and looked very
much like large horse, with one I'M
mense horn on rs forehead. Tbis horn
was white at the bottom, black IN the
middle, and red at the zip. The Uni
corn's beauty was further improved BY
having white body, a red head, and blue
eyes. II was said to run faster than any
horse; and in spite Of is queer appear
anee, Ii was very aristocratic quadruped
and 4 stanch supporter Of the British crown.
In the arms Of Great Britain It stands on
one side and the lion on the othvr. The
Unicorn has appeared in poetry. too--for
We all know the famous lines