The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-28

estimation, and 1t was customary Tor teIn lC
send SprigS OF it to their friends with cordial
. ceilings during the satunaiia.
In the Ivy the Christians presented ar en-
DIem OF everlasting life, because 1t always re-
manned green, preserving an ever verdant APP
pearanCe. 1t was also emhlematiC OF what
faith should be, nasmuch as it chung close TO
the tree or wal! from which it derived life and
nulture. This To it must be admitted was 4
fitting selection. The Ivy was much priced
! by the lieathenS. Oft was made the prne
IN the ISthmian games, until in time ii was SUI
perccded by a garland otpine. The Romans
| dedicated il 10 BaCChus, 1.-THE drink king,
! the Egyptians in like manner dedicated II 10
their god OSirus Judge OF the dead and in both
countries it was held in great veneraton:
| Why the aucal should have been selected
is net quite clear but presumably it was for
similar reasons which led to the selection Of
the Ivy 1t was emblcmaliC Of Victory and
peace. The greeks held the plant in such
great estimation that they gave wreath of lis
| beautiful leaves rs the prize in the lythlan
games. In modern times il has been typical
| IN design rs the emblem OF victory and peace.
! rhe ancIen,S believed that the laurl had the
power Of communicating the spirit of poetry
and Of prophesy from which belief was drawn
the custom of browning poets with laurel
WFe1lneS. HIS 100 WIS lllS CtlISS, IcIOlNCtl
by some Of the ancient authors, Of young liter
lry aSpiranrS putting laurel leaves under their
| pillow to acquire inspiration The Romans
adopted the laurel as an emblem of victory
and crGwn their successful warriors with It's
wreath.
There is no record of when MiStleIoe was
Introduced into Christian decorations but i, is
we'll known that the Druids and Scandinavians
veneralud the plant and used II in their Cerc-
mOniaIS The word is undoubtedly COrrup-
ton Of "Mistel-ta' derived from the German
"Mlstei' the droppingS OF birds, SO called
from the belief that the plant was SO propoga'ed
by HE Missel-thruNh and"ta' Tor tan, old
morse ''Isln." signilying plant or shoot. Ii
is the emblem Of love, and for this reason |
wish that my friend the "kissing reporter
Of the "I.ighl' had TO deal with this subject
as II requires a gentleman of vivid magma |,
uon and extensive experience to deal prop !
.rly with it, because under the Nistletoe bush !
much kissing is done. Even l,With my limited |
experience can remember what fun | have
:tah under the "klsSng bu n, as the Mlatle-
zoe hough is sometimes called, what sport
there has been in gathering the Mistletoe,
Nhen surrounded 10y beyy Of beautiful girl;
what sly h,rtations have taken place in decor
a,ing the churches and the many pleasant
galntilnS~ nave attnHtu "IitIc TIC oHCula-
tory ceremonINlS Of the kissing bush have
been fully performed. These bushes are
frequently placed il all directions and if you
IAN only dr3" ycm tar one under one OF them
YOU can claim kiss which IS generally grace
'Uiiy ard heartily gwen, So much Tor the
honour IN which the custom IS held. What
friend it has been to a bashlul lover to claim
under the Cust'm 4 privilege long sought
which he would never bad the courage l."
take otherwise some of the girls ariuIiy eva
led being drawn under the bush. For this.
the masculine arlhcer was generally armed
ny ,ing of miStlctoe which he carried about
IN his poke! produced claimed his reward.
,omeumeS to the CONSERVATION OF his victim
&ho tor some reason or other had tried 10 avUii
the fate. But beware young man traps arcs"mc-
times IaId for thee. II 4 lady kisses thee
under the mlstetoe when thou art not scck-
ng her, then thou are bound by honour and
custom to iuy her present. The artiul fair
who SO dcIu'irN thee WI calmly tell thee the
size of her gloves and al thy next meeting
thou hast to present them. il thou vLlucsl thy
peace and her good will. The pleasure is worth
the pair Of gloves bat if thou art surprised
800 much thou may st iihd it expensive amuSc
ncW. Nevertheless. tie amusement OF all
DScuIAtory surprise IS an innocent plea ure 10
.oth ScAcs, especially when performed by al
agreeable person. Whilst much has passed
ot that has s." occurred leaving behind il
nothing hut pleasant recoll ction, many
happy unions have resulted from the kiss
under the mistctoc.
In the Scandinavian mythology there is
pleasing legend il respect 10 the mi,tetoe,
1hi~h Is worth repetition. Ii Is As follows
L"hi, the spirit OF evil intensely hated Bladder,
he Scandinavian 3ur,rl, and s,u,L, hi.