Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-03-28
LEGENDS OF TREES.
svpERsrITloMs FROM ANCIENT
DAYS CONCERNING THEM.
The Oak. Holly, Mistletoc, Poplar,
Mulberry, Fig, hay and Rose Are
Vegetable Gro wtls that Arc Rich in
Associations-Old.r Time Myths.

Christmas is the only holiday identi-
fed with certain vegetable growths-
the holly, the mistletoe, and the Christ
mas tree. The veneritiOn in which these
are held goes back to Il remote an
tiquity. There are, however, some
strange and curious legends attaching
to other products OF the vegetable king
dom.
The oak tree is rich in associations.
having been held sacred alike by the
Hebrews, the Greeks and the Romans.
The oak under which 1t is believed
Abraham stood when the angels came
announcing the birth OF Isaac was long
an object of veneration, and was SAID
to he still in existence in the time OF
Constantine.
All the oaks in the grove Of Dodona.
in Epirus, We're said to be gifted with
prophecy. Some Of the trees We're cut
down and hewn into timber to build
the ship Argo. One Of the myths states
that Jupiter derived his power from the
acorns, SO they might become strong
and wise, and to swear by the oak was
a most solemn and binding form.
When returning from the internal rc-
| gions 1t is related that Hercules wore il
wreath composed of poplar leaves. His
brow being damp with perspiration. the
inner side of the leaves. coming in con
tact with it, turned white, and the out
ersurface of the leaves turned almost
black from smoke. From this. it is
said, came the silvcr-lcafed poplar.
From the Arabians comes Il story as
to the origin of the yellow. for which
there appears TO be some foundation in
the scriptures. David, after his mar
riage with Batllshcba. WAS one day
playing oh his harp, when two angles
appeared and accused him Of his great
sin. For forty days and nights David
shed tears of repentance. From his
tears flowed two streams. which ran
from the chamber into the garden, and
from them sprang two trees. one OF
which was the willow which %incessant-
ly weeps and mourns and the other the
frankincense tree. which sheds big
tears, each i'll remembrance of his re-
pentance."
The ancicnts had n custom of making
presents of dried figs and bay leaves ul
the first of the year. for the hay tree
was considered COED Tor The health.
There are always TO he tc,.d >nne has
leaves III the cMo:ccs; packages CT figs
which come from abroad.
1t vas near Il white mulberry tree
that the lovers p.yramus and Thislas
met their tragic death; and the poor
mulberry tree, being, it is said, .sprinkl-
ed with their blood, forever after bore
red fruit.
The holly is said to have come by its
red berries in n similar way. Some of
the gods, 1t is said. were diverting them
selves one day by shooting ut BLADDER.
the god of nnirtll. after placing him
against the holly. 1.oki. the god OF
envy, shot ut him With an arrow tipped
with mlstletoe. n few drops CT his
blood spurtcd Owe the holly. con-
s%equently the berries are red, and the
grief OF the m~istletoe was SO intense
that ever since her berries have been
like teardrops.
Some traditions relate that the origin
al color of the rose was white, says the
New York Times, but that one day
when the gods We're feasting Cupid
with his wing upset a bowl of nectar,
which fell in Il shower upon the earth,
dyeing all the roses red. Another story
tells that the goddess of flowers, upon
finding the dead body of her %favoritc
nymph, implored the gods to assist in
changing her into IL flower which
should be the queen ui flowers.
I'm response to her request says
this legend. "Bacchus bathed the flower.
in nectar, Aurora caused her dews TO
fall thick upon it. refreshing it's roots,
while Apollo's beams shone with invig-
Grating warmth. Flora crowned it's
stem with Il diadem of bloom unsur-
passed for beauty, and Nertumnus
anointcd it with perfumes from the
Vale of Tempe"