The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-09-11
ny KATHERINE BEALs

y HE thistle of Scotland is said to
be the oldest national flower on
record, and tradition traces it's
adoption to the reign of Alexander III
and the battle of Largs.
In 1868 there was war between the
Danes and the Scots, and the Danish
army succeeded in landing unobserved
on the coast of Scotland near the mouth
of the Clyde, not far fnom where Alex
ander's army was encamped. The
Danes regarded it as contrary to the
ethics of warfare to attack an enemy
at night, but the temptation was too
great and on this occasion they de-
Waited from their rule. They crept
stealthfly toward the Scottish camp, and
had almost accomplished their purpose,
victory seemed within their grasp,
when one of the bare footed soldiers
trod upon thistle It's sharp prickles
caused him to utter a cry of pain, and
the alarm was given. The Scotch war
riors seized their weapons and pro-
ceedet to drive the invaders from their
shore with great slaughter. From that
time, say some authorities, the thistle
has been the national emblem of Scot
land.
STORY OF sCOTLAND's CHOICE
Another account Of it's adoption is of
very different character. About the
middle of the fifteenth century COM
pany Of stern faced, bearded men met in
the old council chamber at Edinboro.
and the occasion of that meeting was to
discuss adyisability of substituting the
thistle for the figure of ST. Andrew on
their national banner. The proceedings
of the council were secret, but soon
after the thistle appeared upon every
Scottish banner.
The national motto might have been
adopted with equal appropriateness on
either of these occasions: q Memo me
impune lacessit." The polite reading
of this is, mo man attacks me with
impunity," but the more simple trans
lation Of earlier days was Touch
me who dares" while the original
motto is supposed to have been, 'Wha
dare NEEDLE wi me?" Another in
scription which sometimes accompa-
MES the Scottish emblem reads, zee
que Dieu garde, est bein garde."
guarded"
The thistle appeared officially for
the first time in the reign Of James
Ii, who had it placed upon the coin
age OF the kingdom and adopted it
as his personal badge 1t also APP
peared upon the coins of the reigns of
James ~, Mary Stuart, James and
James vi.
THISTLE AS EMBLEM
The Most Ancient Order Of the
Thistle which the Scots claim ante
dates the Order Of the Garter, bears
upon its insignia golden thistle
During the reign of Queen Anne it
pleased her to bestow upon the great
Scotchman, the Duke of Hamilton, the
Order of the Garter That nobleman
refused it, unless he should also be
allowed Of AZ
Thistle, saying that he would never
lay down the thistle to make way for
the rose, and reminding her that her
majesty's father, James II, had be-
slowed the Scottish honor upon him.
Anne not only permitted him to wear
both orders, but from that time did so
herself.
The coat OF arms of the National
bank of Scotland, granted in 1926,
bears figure of st. Andrew, the pa
iron saint Of Scotland carrying his
cross before him, surrounded by a
border of thistles.
THE THISTLE FAMILY LARGE
There has been some controversy as
to which variety of the plant was
originally selected as the emblem Of
Scotland, but the common cotton this
tie, with its purple flower, is now gen
orally accepted as the Scotch thistle.
The thistle family is very large one
and widely diversified. In France, Ger
many and Spain there grows a variety
known as the Carline thistle. 1t is very
large and the country folk hang it out
side their cottage doors as a barome-
ter, Before a rain the flower invari-
ably closes and when the storm is
nearly over it gradually opens.
CHARLEMAGNE'S THISTLE
The Carline thistle derived its name
from its association with Charlie
magne. On one occasion as the story
is told, when the emperor was engaged
in war a plague broke out among his
soldiers, many OF whom died. Charlie
magne prayed to God for help and
that night an angel appeared to him
and shot an arrow from crossbow.
telling the emperor that on the spot
vi al.n the arroNN fal " ,lrn1rll L..