The sun., 1902-03-09

shs started In to study herb lors.
Now abe has an interesting library Of
herb books, many OF them quaint and
curious. Her garden has broadened far
beyond its original boundary, and the
pursuit Of the herb Is one Of her favorite
summer amusements.
A year ago last summer zeal and long
ing for q rare swamp root led her into
bog where she stuck fast and howled dis
her clothes were ruined, her enthusiasm
wasn't even dampened.
There was time when herbalism was
astro- medical, when each plant was thought
to be under the direct influence of some
certain planet Each planet had special
body The herb belonging to the planet
would cure any disease OF the organs con-
trolled by that same planet
The enthusiastic herbalist can tell you
scores Of anecdotes and traditions connected
with that phase Of her science.
Then there was the herb oure by sig
nature. II was forerunner OF home-
opathy, an illustration Of Ike cures like,
and It's efficacy was vouched for by null
itude Of believers.
Vervsin, with its likeness to the human
eye, was invaluable for eye wash. Certain
spotted herbs were infallible In freckle
lotions Yellow herbs cured jaundice.
But 1t Is the broad general herb tradition
that is most entertaining, What woman
can afford to ignore cowslip water when
1t Is warranted TO produce beautyi Peri
winkle tea will cure any husband whose
affections wander and bed OF periwinkle
should grow under the windows OF every
happy home
Rue will quicken the inventive faculty
and should be fed TO all writers OF fiction.
Sage will strengthen the memory and do
so much all-around beneficial work that,
as one old English herbalist sighed: The
wonder lyeth In that man who groweth
sage in hys garden can dye at all.
A dose OF mugwort will insure one against
lightning Ground ivy, which the English
country folk call gill 60 by ground will
drive away the bluest melancholy, thing
assured by the fact that IL Is really an OK
cellent dyspepsia remedy.
Solomon's seal heals broken bones. There
Plantain and rue make dose that will
insure immunity from poison for twenty
four hours.
King Mithridates, so say the ancient
herbalists used an antidote OF this kind
daily until, when at last he tried TO commit
work. He had made himself permanently
immune.
Basil, ill-omened plant OF romance and
poetry, deserves it's bad reputation, for all
authorities agree that If bruised IL breeds
scorpions. The Duke OF Genoa under
Of Milan an envoy bearing a handful Of
basil.
"Why basll1' asked Milan.
II handled gently it gives out fragrance.
II bruised it breeds scorpions answered
Genoa.
Then there IL mandrake. 1t will bring
on madness and death il properly given;
and il shrieks when pulled from the ground.
We have the word Of Shakespeare and old
Chaucer for that as well as the word OF
the early herbalists.
Marjoram will heal friendships. Rose
mary keeps lovers true.
Oh, there is wealth Of sentiment and
tradition clinging around all herbs. A
woman in need OF fad could do much
worse for body and mind than 60 forth
and plant bryony and wakerobin, spear
mint lavender rue, rosemary, saxifrage.
hyssop, bergamot, thyme and their kim
dred. They are not so beautiful as roses
and volets. but they have their charms.