Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-09-08
FLOWERS IN FOLK LORE.
REGARDED As BENEFlcENT IN POP
ULAR LEGEND AND STORY.

World wide Admiration Of the ROso-An-
emone, Amaranth and Asphodei-But-
tercups and DaIsies--The Forget-Mo-Not.
Tradition Of the Lily-Modest Violet.
The syrians regarded the rose as an
emblem Of Immortality Chinese plant II
over graves, and In the Tyrol 1t Is said TO
produce sleep Germans call the rose Of
Jericho the Christmas rose. and 1t Is sup
posed 20 divine the events Of the year, IL
stepped In water, on Christmas eve. II Is
said in Persia that there Is O certain
charmed day in which the rose has a
heart Of gold Another tradition relates
that there Is a silver table on a certain
Mount Calassy IN India and on this table
lies silver rose that contains two beauti-
ful women who praise God without ceas-
ing In the center Of the rose Is the
triangle-the residence Of God
It Is said that II n white rose blooms In
nutumn an early death Is prognosticated,
while an autumn blooming red rose signi-
fies marriage The red rose, It Is also
said, will not bloom over a grave Rose
leaves are sometimes thrown on the fire
for good luck, and rose bush may be
made 20 bloom In autumn by pruning It
on St Johns day Here, as well as in
France and Italy, II Is believed that rosy
checks will come 20 the lass who buries
n drop Of her blood under a rose bush.
In Posen, young women assure the fdel-
ity of their lovers by carrying a rosebud
In the breast. Rose leaves are chosen for
divination in Thuringia. the maiden hav-
ing several lovers scattering leaf named
after each one on tho water; the leaf that
sinks last IL the true lover
ANEMoNE. AMARANTH, AsPHODEL
The anemone was regarded as the sym
bol Of sickness I'm ancient Egypt. 1t was
tabled to have sprung from the tears wept
by Venus over Adonis. The amaranth
would, says Pliny, recover its color II
sprinlIled with water It was a symbol
OF Immortality, the word meaning lever.
lasting" Tho asphodel was its opposite,
meaning regret" Tho spirits of the
dead were thought TO subsist on this
flower. The bachelors button is 80 named
because youths carried one in the pocket
TO divine their success in love II the
flower died, 1t was an Ill omen. The
flower basil Is test Of purity II 1t is
put under the plate Of an impure maiden
In Voigtland she will not touch It.
Our familiar buttercup was so named
from an idea that its consumption in
creased the butter producing quality Of
tho cows milk Cows never eat themS
but they grow only in dry, rich pastures.
Tho columbine was Hncieutly called
"thanllless flower" and was the emblem
Of forsakcn lovers Tho meek little daisy,
opening It's oyo with tho light of the
planet Venus has always been Il favorite
with the poets. Its star form caused 1t
to be an object of superstition. and Ger
man maidens prognosticated their fortunes
with 1t.
Tho forget-me not is one Of the flowers
that in German lore guard treasures en-.
tombed In caveIns The Swiss regard
with superstitious feeling the little edel-
weiss (our cats foot or everlasting(. It's
Swiss name signifies noble purity.
LEGEND AND TRADITION.
Tho common marigold is named in
French Soucis (care) In Breton legend,
II touched by tho bare foot OF pure
hearted person ON a certain morning, II
gives power 20 understand the language
Of birds. Tho crocus signifies unre-
quitod love. Tho poppy Is u well known
symbol Of death. Tho snowdropi Is sacred
to the Virgin Mary The primrose is an
important flower in folk lore. The Ger
mans namo 1t "Schlussel blume, or key
flower, 1t is tabled TO opon the way to
treasures.
The lily Is traditionally the emblem OF
Diana and Llith. Adams second wife.
To the people Of India and Egypt II typi.
hOd fertility. TO the prophets It had a
mysterious Specification. II Is potent
against Withcraft In Germany, II gath.
cred with prayer. Spanish superstition
credits II with the power Of restoring 20
tho human shape any one who has been
transformed TO an animal Il Is = remedy
for Vonomous bites In England. and Il
was formerly thought that the number Of
HowUrS on the finest stem indicated the
price Of grain for the season.
Tho thistle. gathered In silence, was
formerly = valued charm. Il was sacred
TO Thor. and was one Of tho many plants
that protected dwellings from lightning
In England. the milk thistle Is "Our
LAdy's thistle and the plant Ia we'll
known as the national emblem Of Scot
land Lastly. there Is the modest violet,
typs Of humility MohammedAns ArO fond
OF Il, a. thor founder reVerod Il ~ q type
Of his religion. lt was the badge Of me-
diSvL minstrols, and = golden violet was
the prise In the postioAl contests At Tou.
louise. ~. 8 hAssett In GLOBE Democrat