The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-04-13
St. George and the Dragon.

st. George of Cappadocia, the patron
saint of England, whose ''Day" occurs on
the 23d of April, and is then celebrated
by various clubs of the order of St. George
was a learned eclcsiastic of the fourth
century. He became Arian Bishop of
of Alexandria A. d. 352.
We are told he was murdered by mob.
and was cannonized by Pope Gelasius in
794. According to the Greek legend he
was called the victorious" from his
having destroyed terrible dragon in Asia
Minor (supposed to be identical with that
mentioned in the book of Revelation.)
In old paintings we frequently see the
valiant st. George mounted on a high
mettled steed, and, with javelin in hand,
about to thrust it into the dragon, which
is represented rearing its head and glaring
upon St. George with fiery eyes. The
knights of the Garter" always wore this
figure of st. George on horseback.
Several orders of knighthood bearing
the name of St. George have existed, and
and still exist, in Europe. We find that
the Russian military order was instituted
by Catharine Ii. in 1863, and was re-es-
tablished by Alexander l., 1901. That of
st. George of Lucca founded in 1888:
the Hanoyerian Order of st. George.
1885, and that of st. George, of the Re
union, instituted by Joseph Bonaparte in
Naples, 1903, and reconstructed BY Ferdi-
nand L., 1919.
The tomb of ST. George is situated in
Bay Kesrouan, between the Nah-ret Kelb
and Batroun. 1t is surrounded by luxu
rant gardens and groups of romantic-look-
ing villages and converts. The Arabs
venerate st. George, whom they style
Mar Djurios, and point to small ruined
chapel originally dedicated to him to com
memorate his victory over the dragon,
which they say, took place near to the
spot Their tradition is that the dragon
was about to devour the Kingof Beyroot's
daughter, when St. George slew him and
thus saved the lady fair The credulous
natives also point to a kind of well up
wards of sixty feet deep, where they stout
ly affirm that the dragon used to come out
to feed upon his victims.
This tradition is rather curious mas
much as it gives an Arabian interest to
the career of the patron saint of England,
whose portrait, in the act of Staying the
dragon, constitutes the reverse of most
English coins, and is regarded as the en-
bodimcnt of English valor.
1t is singular how far superstitious be-
liefs still take hold of credulous minds.
Here is one which, we think, hardly gives
the good saint much reason to be kindly
remembered; nay, rather does away en-
tirely with all advantages to be derived
from his staying the dragon.
"Near tho town of Moldayia, on the
Danube, is shown the cavern where St.
George slew the dragon, from which, at
certain periods, issue myriads of small
flies, which tradition reports to proceed
from the carcass of the dragon. They
respect neither man nor beast, and are so
destructive that oxen and horses have
been killed by them. They are called the
Golubacz's fly. 1t is thought that the
Danube rising, as it does in the early part
of the summer, the caverns are flooded,
and the water remains in them and, be-
coming putrid, produces this noxious fly.
But this superstition appears to be worth
less, because some years ago the natives
closed up the caves and still they we're an
noyed with the flies.
"They nearly resemble mosquitoes, and
in summer they appear in such swarms as
to look like volume of smoke, and they
sometimes cover a space of six or seven
miles. Covered with these insects, horses
not infrequently gallop about until death
puts an end to their sufferings.
shepherds anoint their heads with a
decoction of wormwood and keep large
fires burning to protect themselves from
them. Upon any material change in the
weather the whole swarm is DESTROYED
thereby"
Since these myriads of flies cannot be
accounted for in any other way, it is to
be hoped that the carcass of the dragon
will, in the course of few centuries, cease
to breed these tormenting flies.