The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-25

to Gaul to Visit 81 Martini attracted Dy
the fame of his sanctity and miracles. On
arriving in the midst of snow storm, az
the banks of the Loire, not far from the
spot on which the church now STANDS
which bears his name, he sought shelter
under a thorn bush. 1t was Christmas
tide, and the winter was a severe one.
The shrub. out of respect for the saint,
extended its branches and shook off the
snow which rested on them; when the ser
want of God arose to continue his journey.
il appeared covered with snow-white flow
ers St. Patrick crossed the Loire on his
cloak, and, arriving on the opposite shore,
again rested under another blackthorn,
which also burst into flowers. "Since that
time" concludes the cronicle, 1.-THE two
shrubs have never failed to blossom on
Christmastide in testimony of the sanctity
of blessed Patrick
Another version of this beautiful legend
runs as follows: On his return to ireland
after a visit to St Martin in Gaul, 81. Pat
rick came to the left bank of the Loire;
he requested some boatmen to take him
across the stream, promising them the
blessings of heaven If they compiled. But
these rude men gruffiy repulsed him.
Thereupon the saint Laid his mantle upon
the water and directed his course by
means of branch OF blackthorn which he
had broken from a bush near by, foated
safely to the opposite shore The boat
men were overcome with astonishment. 81.
Patrick planted the thorn branch and
kneeling down, gave thanks to God. The
branch took root, and grew into a BUSH
which blossomed each succeeding winter
in honor of the saint.
So far the legend. Before giving an ac-
count of the phenomenon, we may remark
with St Patrick's latest and best biogra-
pher, Father Morris of the Oratory, that
1t would seem as If Nature would fain re-
pay the saint for the way in which he had
l.
made high mountains his affairs and
bound to himself the elements as at
tendants in service of the Lord. Natural
monuments are distinguishing feature of
St. Patrlck's history in Ireland, and it is
certainly very remarkable that the same
characteristic should attach 10 the record
of his life in France.
1t is a fact and one for which science IL
still unable to give any satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION, that a tree in a little town on
the banks of the Loire. not far from
Tours, named after st. Patrick, unfailiug-
ly, every year at Christmas, is seen COW
cred with flowers. Some few years ago
the flowers appeared during the entire
octave, when the mercury was constantly
below zero and the same time white with
the snow of winter and the blossoms OF It's
own flowers. Thousands come to gather
those Fleurs de st. Patrice, which are be-
lieved to be an undying witness of St
aliiCh connection Win ST. Martin OF
Tours These trophies of the apostle Of
Ireland are also objects of religious ven
Grafton. M. Dupont, better known as the
molly man of Tours always kept a branch
of the Fleurs de St. Patrice hung uD in
has room. The whole neighborhood." as
Father Morris remarks, 'is redolent OF
st. Patrick" Besides the village the
commune bears the name of the saint.
and the ancient parish church, dating from
the tenth or eleventh century, Is dedl-
Gated to him.
The following account of the mysterious
tree from the pen of Mgr Chevallier
president of the Archaeological Society Of
Tauraine, is given in Father Morris adj
mirable Life of st. Patrick. II has for
title: "Extrait des Annales de la Societe
d Agriculture, Science, etc. du Depart-
ment dIndre ct Loire. t. xxx. aimee 1870
81, 70" translation of the same account
was published in these pages a few years
ago. out 1t Will be new to many of our
readers:
"On the banks of the Loire. a few
leagues from Tours, a very remarkable
phenomenon is repeated year by year and
from time immemorial-one concerning
which science as yet has given no salts
factory explanation. This phenomenon.
too little known, consists in the blossom
ing, in the midst of the rigors of winter
of the backthorn (prunus spinosa). com
monty called the sloe. We have lately
verified this circumstance with our own
| eyes, and can vouch for it's truth without
| fear of contradiction. We can appeal to
| the testimony of thousands who at the
| end Of December in each year are the wit
| nesseS to its repetition, and we have our
selves gathered these extraordinary flow
! ers. This remarkable shrub is to be found
! at St Patrice. upon the slope of hill not
| far from the Chateau de Rochecotte The
circulation of the sap, which should be
suspended in winter, is plainly revealed
| by the moist state of the bark which
easily separates from the wood which 1t
covers. The buds swell, the flowers ex-
pand as i'm the month of April, and cover
the boughs with odorouS and snowike
flowers; while a few leaves timdly ven
| ture to expose their delicate verdure to
| the icy north wind. Shall / venture to
! add?-to the flowers succeeds the fruits,
and at the beginning of January a small
berry appears attached TO a long peduncle
in the midst of the withered and discol-
ored petals, which soon shrivels and dries
up.
This singular growth of flowers is al
most unknown, although il has been re-
peated every year from time immemorial.
| The oldest inhabitants of ST. Patrice have
always seen it take place at fixed period
| of the year, no matter how severe the sea-
son may be; and such has always been
the ancient tradition of their forefathers
| while legend seems TO attribute very re-
mote origin TO the fact; but, as the shrub
itself appears quite young, il is probable
that 1t is renewed from the roots. How
ever. this phenomenon is limited to the To-
cality and to the shrub in question. Cut
tings transplanted elsewhere have bios
somed only In the spring, and the haw-
thorns which grow amidst the sloes do not
manifest any circulation of sap
THE incredulous will object that, after
all, this circumstance is not more extraor-
binary than the Towering OF the lilac In
November. when the buds, by an unwary
mistake, suppose that. in the still, mild
temperature. they have found the soft
breath of spring. Our readers must not he
deceived the blackthorn of st. Patrick
grows. develops and bears fruit In the
midst of the rigors Of winter in the most
icy temperature. Although growing on
the slope of "A hill. this shrub Is In no way
sheltered from the north wind its branches
are encrusted with boar frost the ley
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