Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-08-20
IHE VINE.


species is the grape vine.
The grape is and has always been re-
cognized as one of the most valuable of
fruits. This is not merely because II
Is used so extensively in the manufact-
ure of wine, OF because 1t is the source
from which brandy, vinegar and tar
taric acid are obtained. or even because
the fruit both in its fresh and dried
state is a luxury, but because it forms
the greater part of the food of the in
habItants of some countries. There
are NOSE than 1900 varieties described
in works on the culture of the vine,
dearly showing its widespread cultiva-
tion and usefulness.
Owing to the excess of its growth
and Introduction in many countries 1t
is found frequently growing wild. In
the hIlly countries south of the Caspian
Sea, among the Himalaya and in our
own country the wild grape is particul-
arly plentiful 1t Is not definitely
known TO which part of the world the
grape owes its nativity, but in all prob
ability to those rcrU hilly countries,
south of the Caspian of which We spoke
before; for here the vine is abundantly
luxuriant, climbing to the top of the
loftiest trees, and producing large, de-
licious fruit.
In old Judaea the steep rocky slopes
with patches of good soil interspersed
were utilized for the cultivation of the
vine. Where the land was suitable, 1T
was often terraced for this purpose.
Nothing could present n more beauti-
full appearance than these rocky sleeps
covered with the trailing foliage and
rich handsome fruit of the grape vine.
Grapes were produced and wine was
made from the remOtest period of anti
guilty, as Scripture and mythology,
lead us to believe. The wonderful,
fable of the marches of Bacchus relates
to the extension of vine produce from
Asia into Europe.
The very earliest accounts we have of
the cultivating of the vine are by Ro-
mans. birgil and Columella. Indeed so
much land was occupied in Italy by the
grape vine, that the Emperor DomitIan
feared corn famine and issued a re
strictive and prohibitOrv edict in \. ID.
81. This edIct rema ned in force long
afterwards. to prevent the abundance
of fine vine from tempting the barbar-
ous tribes of the north to invade the
county. 1t was the Romans who intro
duced the cultivation of the wine into
England.
duction of grapes and manufacture of
wine among the ancients aIa especially
with the Greeks AMI Eomnns, we can
not wonder tlat these fCstirc countries
should "a Sc new festivals in honor of
the vine, OF rather To the god of wine,
Rgcchf,s. He was a NEUROLOGICAL crea-
ture supposed TO have been stricken
with madness, and credited with hav-
ing taught the cultivation of the vine,
and prepared the Intoxicating drink
from the Juice of the grape His wor-
ship was introduced into Greece by
Melhampus. From Greece 1t soon
spread all over the earth, then known.
Tho myth became modified and con-
troyerted to such an extent with Its
spread, that 1t Is one of the most per
picking and difficult handed down to
us
Bacchus was not only the protector
of the wine, but of the fruIt trees and
their produce. and thus became known
also rs the god of fruit. He is usually
represented with long, blond hair. en-
| twined with leaves of the vine or the ivy.
I! His figure, If not naked is covered only
slightly by careless drapery. Like
all the other gods he was human to the
core, VIZ: knew how to dpprccidt.
good treatment, and especially how tc
Z Tetaiidtc for bad.
The worship of Bacchus consisted oi
! noisy rites, which, from their very
! elaborate hccntIousness, have become
| subject matter for history. The myth
/ ical march was suggested to the fancy
/ bv these riotous festivities; for 1t be
came "A part of the Bacchanalian fete:
J for the Bacchantes to feign madness
| nd mn. lFRFf
' torch-Hght to the mountains
! Thebes, the supposed birth place o
! the god, was. therefore, the GrecIaI
centre for the observance of these rites
! The sacrificial offerings made to Bac
I chUs We're CHIEFLY goats and oxen H'
/ Is himself often represented rs an OK
! There was celebrated Mt the time o
/ the rup,-gatherinS feast that de
: serves special mention Among tn
! characteristic nmusements was that o
! watching the clumsy efforts of youn.
J peasants attempting to leap with on
( foot on full wine skins smeared witt
/ oil for the purpose. We can lmaSln'
| much food for merriment among tn,
! spectators at the expense of the youth
/ and their repeated failures
/ The festival of the Lenaea was pecu
/ liar To Athens, and its chief feature
were theatrical representations and Al
| immense banquet at which the usua
| Eacchic raillery and je~ting reigned
| The festivals usually lasted two or thre
! days and on the last day came TIN
+! Great Dionysin, as 1t was called a
! this fete all the new comedies an,
! tragedies were represented. The per
| formers were women and girls, and th'
| orgies were held mt night on the noun
I. . Wa.NTn ~,
, trollel enthusiasm. In the most anci
! ent times the sacrifices t. Bacchus wer
| not limited to animals, but frequentl,
I included the destruction of human lives
| These festive practices were carrie,
! from Greece into italy, and Introduce
ut Rome as early AS 1876 T. c. Bacchus
| Ceres, Llbar and Libera, were worship
| ned here in one common temple an,
~, lrtye rise &c the IjbCr0iiG, fetes of
| simpler and ruder kind than those q
Athens
At first only women took part in tn
mysterious Bacchic rites, but after
wards men were admitted The cele
brations degenerated into such shock
ing betrayals of hcentiousness tina
morality and society itself were en-
danCered At their greatest height, 1
/ duirv was instituted 10y the govermen
which led to the roofing ont of tn
Bacchanalia with great severity and tn
celebrated !ScRG'Us COnsUlt,fH dc BdC
chQnaIiJUS. Mention has been mad
of the practice being rife at late
period, but not, however, to its fOrme
| extent.
The character of these rites an
festivities has led US to apply the teri
BaccbaR1lia to anything wild or eXce'
sive in feast or entertainment, and sue
application we would all strive to avoid
l.. A. y.
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