Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-09-14
MIsT.EToE LEGENDS.
Wonderful Qualities Attributed to tn.
Plant in the Past.

Plant in the Past.
Mistletoe has been credited with super
natural powers from very early period.
One of the most singular legends about this
very singular plant is TO be found in myth
illogical history, where there is an account
of how Balder, the god of eloquence and
poetry, met with his death. The young
god was exceptionally beautiful, and was
the special pride of his mother, the God
dess of Friga. He was also exceptionally
bold in the chase and in war, and knew no
fear until one night he dreamed that he
was about to die. The vision was so dis
tinct that he reported it to his mother. who
was greatly alarmed. After consulting
with Balder's father, Odin, she summoned
all the powers of nature, the elements,
metals, trees, plants and animals, and made
each VOW that under no circumstances
would it hurt the god of eloquence and
poetry. Satisfied that she had averted all
danger, she informed Bladder of the fact
and babe him to be of good cheer.
The young god tbs relieved of all fear
entered with greater energy than before
into undertakings involving danger. He
seemed to court wounds or death, and dis
armed foes who had what in modern par
lance would be called The drop" on him.
Arrows and missiles struck him in face and
chest, but did him no harm, for each was
composed of some material under obliga-
tious to secure him from hurt The repu-
tation for bravery which Bladder earned
caused his enemy, Loke. intense jealousy,
and this person set to work to ascertain
where was the young gods vulnerable
lEgrt1 90, Il a l.,
tied Friga, and hattered her vanity by
singing the praises of her favorite son.
In vivid terms he told the proud mother
how Balder would go into the thick of the
fight and laugh when arrows or rocks struck
him
For once Friga was taken off her guard
and she replied with naughty laugh, 81
believe it, for all these substances are
sworn not to hurt him. There is nothing
in nature that can injure him except one
little plant which grows in the bark of the
oak. | have not troubled to ask its pro-
lection, because of its exceeding feeble
ness" Loke waited to hear nothing fur
ther, but, setting aside his disguise, went in
search of a mistletoe plant. Finding a
large specimen, he made an arrow from it,
and with it shot and killed Balder. Hence
probably arose the superstition that no
layman dared pluck mistietoes, and that
any who tore it up by its flimsy root would
fall from the tree and die. Other super
stitions imply that the sap of mistletoe is
deadly poison, so powerful that If it 50
much as touch the skin recovery is impos-
sible.
In the druidical era an elixir was man
ufactured from mistletoe, and an implicit
belief in its virtues was general. Only
such as grew on the oak could be used for
! this purpose, and when some was found
growing on this sacred tree, an imposing
| ceremony was gone through. Two white
bulls were bound to the tree, and the arch
druid, dressed in white, assembled it and
cut down the plant with golden sickle.
| Subordinate priests caught it in their vest
ments as it fell, and then sacrifices were in
order. Under ordinary circumstances the
bulls were sacrificed, but when it was
especially necessary to propitiate the gods,
human beings took the place of the bulls
| and were placed on the affairs. Finally
the most wild rejoicings were INDUCED in,
| and what was not needed for making elixir
was divided among the participants. The
sanctified twigs were hung up in front of
the huts to propitiate the sylvan deities
during the time of frost and snow The
universal remedy made out of the plant by
the priests was almost the only known an
tidote for poison or specific for disease used
at the time
Among the Scandinavians a mistletoe
elixir was used for centuries, and there
are many legends regarding it. One is
connected with a love story. Away on a
solitary mountain there were three or four
huts occupied by poor peasants, who had
little intercourse with the outside world.
About Christmas time beautiful maiden
fell sick and seemed about to die Her
sweetheart lived in one of the adjoining
huts and at once set out to find some mis-
tIetoe, out Of which the old woman could
brew the only remedy for the sick girl.
1t was essential the plant should be found
| in an oak tree, and the young man had
many miles to traverse before he could
find what he sought At last he was re-
warded for his industry, for on snow
covered oak he found an abundance of
mistletoe. In his haste he forgot the
danger he incurred, and mounting the
tree tore off large plant, Immediately he
| fell TO the ground and died
Many centuries later there is evidence
that Englishmen and Scotchmen regarded
mistletoe with much superstitious awe
and respect. The custom of gathering for
| Christmas decorations is so old that its
origin can only be surmised. Several
writers speak of the excursions after the
white-berry bearing plant, and Sir Walter
| Scott refers to the custom:
Forth to the woods did merry men go
To gather in the mistletoe.
In connection with the little wood-loose-
strife, known also as the herb twopence
and he,be aur cent ndLadieS, it was used in
the seventeenth and eighteenth centurie;
in an elixir, the praises of which have
been loudly sung. The sanicle or black
shakerfoot was also used in connection
with these and alone In the latter case
it was regarded as unequled for both in
ternal use and outward application, and
one writer says of it: He who hath
sanicle needeth no physician, for il
maketh whole and sound all inward
wounds and outward hurts.
The most delicate constitution can safely
use DR.. ]. II McLesn's Tar Wine Lung
| Balm. 1t is sure remedy for coughs. loss
I of Jall fhrnof nd