The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-21
FOLKLORE or TREES.
Plant and Tree WowhIp In European
Couutr1ee.

Plant and Tree wowhip in European
Countries.
Among many primitive nations there
was u widespread belief in the person
ality of plants, and superstitious fear
of these spirit-haunted trees. The
Objibways believed that the trees had
souls, and even fancied they could hear
their wailings when mutilated, and the
same idea is often met with in the
of Greece and Rome. In an
old Swedish legend we are told that a
juniper tree said to the woodman
ubout to fell it: "Friend, do not hew
me-" and when this command was dis
regarded, blood flowed from the wound
made by the ax. According to Grimm,
modern folklore still tells us that
when the alder feels the woodman's
ak it bleeds, weeps and dies"
In ancient Germany the elder tree
was held in great esteem, as 1t was
thought to be the home of the Mother
of the Elves" A belief akin to this is
to be found in English folklore, where
the oak was thought to be the home of
wood spirits, and holes in the trees
were the doors where they went in and
lege TO mutilate or cut down one OF
these trees. In India the people point
out the holes in oak trees as the spir-
It's pathway. The Westphalian peas
,lnts also believed in these tree spirits,
and whenever any member of the fam
lily died were accustomed to announce
the death of the nearest oak. They
have also a curious belief that when
The 'Wandering jew" shall find two
oaks growing in the form of a cross he
may rest.
Traces of plant and tree worship may
still be found in some parts of Europe
and many of the old beliefs have
crossed the sea and come down to our
own times. An old woman once showed
me twig of mountain ash that she al
ways carried in her pocket to ''keep of
the witches" 1 did not then know
that our mountain ash is but another
name for the poets Rowan tree, nor
the popular belief that "Witches have
no power where there is Rowan-tree
wood" There is an Aryan tradition
that this tree sprang from the light
ming, and hence it's mystic properties.
In some parts of England this tree is
planted near dwellings to protect from
witches and the "evil eye" For the
same reason an ash twig is used to
drive cattle, and in Scandinavia the
branches are put over the stable door
to protect the cattle from the same
baleful influence.
Among some sailors there is belief
that if Rowan-tree wood is used about
/ L., csr he
evil spell is counteracted by having
juniper on board. On the other hand,
there is an. Icelandic superstition that
if the two woods are in the same house
it will burn down. The Rowan-tree is
not the only one feared by witches. In
some parts of England it is thought
that branches of the plum tree nailed
above the doors will insure the safety
of the inmates, and in India an olive
branch which has been blessed is used
for the same purpose.
Trees play an important part in the
Biblical folklore of plants, and one
writer on this subject says: '"The cross
of our blessed Lord may be said tc
fling it's shadow over the whole vege
table world" 1t has long been dis
DuUcu QucSUlOu DIS W w WlltU UIcc oldll "
ascribed the doubtful honor of furnish
ing wood for the cross. Sir John Mande
vile says it was made of cedar, cypress
palm and olive, while Bede gives III
pine and box in place of the two latter
The gipsies think it was of ash, and I
very general superstition is, that it wa!
} made from the aspen, whose leave
have since that time trembled will
} shame and sorrow. Others say it wa
made from the fig tree that the Saviou
; cursed. There is also a legend that I
cedar was cut by Solomon and burfe,
in the pool of Bethesda. This wa
} found floating in the water and takel
by the Jews to form the cross.
Among BIBLICAL folk tales we hav
one that tells us that the elder was tn
tree on which Judas in despair hange'
himself, and for this reason it is be
/ lieved to have special attraction TO
| suicides. In Swabia, Christ's crown
, said to have been made from black
, thorn, and Swedish legend says tina
the dwarf birch furnished the rod wit
, which he was scourged.
During the fight into Egypt the pin
protected the Holy Family from Herod'
, soldiers, hazel from the lightning
and a juniper gave them shelter. Popu
r lar belief makes the wild carob the tire
) on which John the Baptist fed whe
, ''his meat was locusts and wild honey.
/ The pomegranate was long reverence
. among the Persians and Jews as tn
I tree bearing the forbidden fruit give
/ by Eve TO Adam, a9d there is also q trs
dition that after the expulsion fror
4 Egypt they clothed themselves in tn
LEAVES of the banyan tree. One nigh
: : study these legends indefinitely. for i
the whole vegetable kingdom there
:. scarce tree that has not some super
n stition attached thereto.--Journal {
a Education.
On the Smoker.
Although she had evidently tried har
to conceal the fact, she was really
woman. From the tip of her squar,
toed boot to the brim of her sailor hs
r she was about as lnannish in point {
dress rs the law allows. Her costun
was certainly close to the line whel
"a. =.