The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-05

On the Sunday before Easter when palms decorate our
homes aud churches and when palm branches distributed
from many affairs borne away reverenty by multtudes
thought directed this graceful tree beloved Of eastern
nations We al know that ancienty the symbol Of
victory triumph that therefore upon the entry Of
the Lord into Jerusalem the muudes going out to meet
him carried in their hands palm branches These sin
gle leaves from the palm bound with myrtle the right
and citron the left" which constituted triple badge
Jewish wanderngs the oeser and were in conse
Quence carried by the Jews at the Feast of Tabernaces
and then carefully preserved in their homes Typical
palms like those Of Palestine have branches" These
things we know are other legends associated
with the palm win which not well acquainted.
There are $50 varieties Of palms. the date-pam being
that which fourshed hourishes the Holy
species grew luxuranty the Jericho plain the
Of the Jordan around the Sea Gaee vale of Sc
chem on maritime plants and still abundant Bey
rout Authorities consider improbable that it ever grew
on Mount Ove1 because the soil there unsuitable
trees grow clay alluvium; it, therefore singular
that they characteristic Of sandy and subropca
regions.
The idea of elegance and grace became associated with
the tall Of the pine tree from 80 to so feet high and
with their 1eahery foliage and the poetcal eastern
es gave to beautiful the of the palm
find in Hebrew and Greek. "Tamar" In Samuel
read: And unto Absalom there born three
and daughter whose name was lamar and she was Of
a fair countenance."
The early catkins Of the willow or branches of yew
have in many places been substituted the palm branches
appropriate the Sunday before Easter necessarily be
cause of the scarcity latter Brittany sprgs Of
box are used.
In loves Survey of London" we read In the weeks
before Easter had We great made for the fetching
of twisted with Cwthe) they termed it. out Of
the wodes into the kings house and the like into every
mans house Of honor worship
parts Germany it is believed that on Palm Sunday
the palm is possessed Of mystic virtues W many twgs
there are women in family be thrown fire. each
with inscribed it. the person whose leaf burns
soonest viii be the first TO die"
Palm Sunday has been given the Of Fig Sunday,
because old custom originating one knows how of
eating figs Wales it is commonly termed "FIowering
Sunday because mourners wend their way to the graves
of their beloved and strew on them fresh flowers
There is legend Of the Virgin which narraes that
yearning behold her Son again after His ascension she
was weeping one day when an angel stood before her
ing:
HAIL o Nary bring thee branch Of palm gathered
In Paradise command that be carried before thy bier
the day tiny death for in three days thy soul shall leave
thy body and thou shalt enter Paradise where thy Son
awaits thy coming" The heavenly vistan then vanished
from her sight but the palm branch in the hand of the
Virgin shed wondrous light which seemed to radiae from
every leaf simultaneously the apostles though absent
places removed from each other "were miracuously
caught up and set down at the Virgins door Thereupon
she charged St care Of the sacred palm
branch and borne by him before bier the day
WREN she was buried.
The wood Of the cross according to SIR John Msunde-
vile composed of CEDAR cypress. palm olive but
another legend exculpates the palm roa connection
with the tragedy the Crucxon relating that when the
Jews searched for wood of which hew the cross every
tree except the oak split itself avoid neng deecated
This story believed by Grecan woodcuers who regard
tie oak accursed tree.
In Borneo the nipapam is held in veneraton. and in
many parts of the world is considered good omen to
dream o. a palm tree
Many localities in Palestine received their names by
reason of the abundance Of palms Jericho "a fragrant
place.. Hazazon-Tamar. and Baal-Tamar