Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-16
ADJOINING THE GRAVE.
ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM OF PLANT
ING TREES IN CEMETERIES.

Men have always given much thought to
the subject of death, and mourners for the
dead have striven in many ways to show the
depth of their devotion to their departed
ones by fitting outward manifestations in
their homes, in the sight OF the public, and
about the graves. The grave Is so naturally
a place of despair and gloom, and the thought
of corruption going on beneath the surface
of the earth has been SO revolving TO SORROW
ing hearts that they have been glad to bring
such ornaments around the place of burial as
would be signs of grief and yet be beautiful
and, where possible, suggestive OF the hopes
that look beyond the grave.
AN ANCIENT CUSTOM.
The association of particular plants and
trees with the person of the dead, and the
abode of death is SO far back in the history
of man as to seem one Of the first instructive
ideas Of the human race. There are illusions
to it in the most ancient writings and rec
ords One of the Oldest trees thus mentioned
was tree of life which grew at the side OF
the road that was passed over by the souls or
the departed, and the fruit of that tree was
the symbol of eternal life. 1t is probably a
remnant of this old belief that sometimes ap-
pears in folk lore tales, where the fruit IS
called the "apple of life"
Way back upon the oldest Assyrian inscrip-
tions is probably the earliest representation
known of this tree of life, and although it Is
very common among the inscriptions, gener-
ally guarded by celestial genii, and some
times also worshiped by royal figures, yet
no one has been able TO ascertain It's exact
meaning, except that Babylon in its earliest
that is, anti-Semitic days-was its special
place of honor, the old name of Babylon, Thu
tir-ki, signifying ''the place of the tree OF
life"
In Greek legend not merely trees but plants
and flowers are connected with the departed
In the Elysian fields-that is in that part OF
the domain of Pluto where the souls OF the
good dwell-whole plains were said to be COW
cred with asphodels, the very flowers which
the Greeks and Romans were accustomed to
place on the graves of the departed as sym
bols of the future life.
Sometimes in the early Christian days the
previous usages Of the inhabitants appear in
local customs, as in France, where those who
prepared the dead for burial were accustomed
to scatter in the bottom Of collins beneath the
corpse seeds of various plants, probably Of
UnOSo NHlCn UuSY were SApcCtS'i " hsO utOHi
in the new life beyond the grave.
The ancient Egyptians were in the habit
of burying bulbs of flowers and wheat with
their dead, in the belief that the body was
coming to life again and could sow these
for use in that new life. Some of these
kernels of wheat, after being kept for thou
sands Of years in the mummy case have been
planted by the finders and have produced
wheat very much like that which is still
grown in Egypt.
The belief in future existence probably led
to the custom of planting trees on or near
tombs, especially the cypress, which was re-
garCled as type of both life and death. The
tree growing over the grave was also con-
side1.ed an emblem of the soul, become i'm
mortal
The bay, according to Sir Thomas Browne,
was originally adopted as a symbol of the
resurrection, because when to all outward
appearance it is dead and withered it will
unexpectedly revive from the root and its
dry leaves assume their former vividity.
Evergreen trees, whose growth is like a
pyramid or spire, whose top points heaven
ward are emblematic of eternity; of these
the arbor vitae and cypress are the most IA
vored.
The weeping birch, the willow and Aus
traian casuarina, with foliage bending to
the earth, find their natural places in church
yards as enbiems of human sorrow.
THE yEw TREE.
The view tree has been considered an en-
ble.n Of mourning from an early day. The
Greeks adopted it as such from the Egyp-
tians, the Romans from the Greeks. and the
Britons, after Caesar's Invasion, from the
Romans. Through such associations, for so
long period, the yew acquired meaning
of sacred symbolism which everywhere
made it an ornament Of conSecrated church
yards. Hence it is very seldom cultivated
elsewhere, although its wood is very vaiua-
BILE. It is a little singular that such strong
growing tree as the yew should have main
tanned its place in England after the Saxons
came in, for one OF their peculiar superstl-
tons was that the trees prey upon the bodies
OF the dead who rest beneath their shade. At
one time it was the universal custom to carry
branches OF the yew tree in the solemn pro-
cession to the grave, depositing them be-
meath the body.
In Wales we have the evidence of another
superstition in the eustem of planting the
mountain ash, or rowan tree, in the grave
yards as protection against evil spirits but
not with the usual idea of the funeral tree.
The walnut tree, whose shade is said to pro-
duce death, is in some countries funeral tree,
and both the elm and the oak are connected
with the grave by their indestructible quail
ties on account of which they are used to
this day for collins, just as the ancients used
the cypress and the cedar
Tho tr.aa haipo k,,,e~ or Efa ouj
pointing upward, has been connected with
graveyards from the beginning, but a deeper
and more tender symbolism has been attached
to the shorter lived and more beautiful
flowers, which, in many hpes and varied
forms, have been so woven into the history
and legends OF all the nations OF the world.
Their Use in connection with the dead began
way back in the times when records were
first made, and with the first tales of human
existence mention is made of them.
The ancients planted the aSphodel and the
mallow around the tonbS Of the deceased, be-
lievinG that their seeds gave nourlShmenJ 10
the dead.
The holy basil or tulaSi is regarded by the
HiudooS rs most sacred herb and is grown
in pots near every temple and the dwellings
of deyoU5 Hmdoas Their celestial Saga
Narada has sung the praises OF the immortal
plant, which it says is perfection Itself. 1t is
supposed to protect those who cultivate 1t
from every misfortune. and sauctifies and
guides them TO heaven through the belief
that the tulasj opens tee gates of heaven 10
the devout worsaiper. Il. this II was probG-
bly, the origin Of the sesame plant mentioned
IN Arabian Nights" When s Hindoo dies
they place upon his breast leaf OF tulasi;
when dead they wash his head in water into
which has been dropped some fax seeds and
tulasi leaves.--DetToit News
Risat in the Van.
(-ie---Sr-, =, "