The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-04-02

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the Passover with his disciples. At
the cruciflxion Joseph received few
drops of Christ's blood into the cup,
which thereafter became known as the
Sangraal, Sangreal, or Holy Grail, be-
cause the blood had not only sancti'
fed it, but had given miraculous pow
ers as well. On every Good Friday
morning these powers were renewed
a dove coming down from heaven and
deposlting in the cup consecrated
wafer. Many a time did the chalice
aid and sustain Joseph and his little
band OF followers, who took 1t with
them to England, where they estab-
llshed the first monastery at Glaston-
bury. But sin finally appeared among
the flock and angels carried the Holy
Grail away.
In Palestine there grows creeping
plant with long, hard thorns-the
SpIna Christi-which may have fur
nished material for the crown Of thorn
placed on the Savior's head. One OF
the legends says that the willow was
used for this purpose, and that, In
sorrow for causing so much agony, 1t
dropped and wept, its sharp thorns
changing into soft leaves, that they
might never again cause any pain.
And ever since 1t has been known as
the weeping willow. other legends
relate that this change in the willow
came because its branches were used
as a scourge upon the Savior's back.
In Germany, France and England, 1t
was generally believed that the crown
was made from hawthorn twigs. In
Italy the barberry, In the West Indies
the cashew tree, and elsewhere the
brIer rose, acanthus, wild hyssoD and
acacia bear this stigma.
A great deal OF bird lore Is linked
with the stories OF the Passion. There
is Danish legend that as Christ was
suffering on the CROSS three birds
came and allRhted upon IT, One cried,
"Styrik ham, styrik ham," Strengthen
him, strengthen him!), and since that
time the stork has been known as a
bird OF strength and blessing. The
second, 1t was interpreted, cried "Sval
ham. sval ham," (Refresh him. re-
fresh him). and the swallow was like
wise thought to be bird OF blessing.
But the third cried, "Puen ham," (Tor'
ture himD, and so from that hour
the lap-wing has been accursed among
birds. The Swedish legend is the
same, with the addition Of fourth
bird, the turtle dove. which, flying
thither, cried, "Kyrle, Kyrle!" Oord,
Lord!) and It's voice has ever since
been limited to that single word OF
lament.
An owl. according to the Spanish,
was SO dazzled by the sunlight 1t did
not perceive that It had alighted upon
the cross. But as night came on It
saw, and, frightened. called. Cruz
cruz!" (Cross, GROSSLY as It few away.
And from that moment the owl has
kept repeating this cry and has been
able to see only after darkness falls.
The crossbill, in an unsuccessful
effort to draw out one Of the nails
which fastened the Savior to the
cross, twisted its beak and dyed its
plumage with the Martyrs blood.
Concerning the robin there is a sim
liar tradition. expressed in verse, as
follows.
To the Savior's throbbing head
She fOndly strove. His blood, It's said,
Dyed all her tender bosom red
Since then no hand dlsturbs her nest.
No providing beasts her young molest--
That sacred bird of ruddy breast.
Some OF the early Italian painters
have in the foreground Of their cruel
fixion scenes the white wood sorrel.
purple-stained, which is said to have
grown at the foot Of the cross. and to
have been colored from the blood
which dropped upon 1t. The fact, as
Ruskin points out, that the leaf OF
this plant possessed the power Of
quenching thirst, may have been an
other reason for its introduction into
the pictures.
One species OF the orchid, which in
Cheshire is called Gethsemane, and
whose petals are marked with DARK
stains; the passion flower. symbolical
OF the crown, the scourge, the spear
and the nails; the arum. tiger lily and
scarlet anemone-all, it was believed,
were mute witnesses of the crucifix-
ion. And the white lily, emblem Of
purity, has always been connected
with the stories of the Virgin and Of
Christ.