 Arab writer, quoted by Gibbon,[324] there existed in the
magnificent palace of the Caliph of Bagdad, in 917 A.D., amongst other
spectacles of rare and stupendous luxury, a tree of gold and silver,
spreading into eighteen large branches, on which and on the lesser
boughs sat a variety of birds made of the same precious metals. While
the machinery effected spontaneous motions the several birds warbled
their natural harmony. The intention was, no doubt, to represent the
traditional luxuriance of paradise, and a similar motive is met with in
Eastern design even in the present day.

The tradition of a king who built a false paradise, like Sheddad in
Southey's _Thalaba_, seems always to have been current in Western Asia.
There is in the British Museum a sculpture from Koyunjik representing a
palace, or may be a temple, constructed in imitation of a paradise. The
artificial hill, representing the world-mountain on which it stands, is
planted with trees and flowers, and watered by a stream that issues from
a hanging garden.




                              CHAPTER VIII
                            MAY CELEBRATIONS


In these days, when so much is done to equalise the seasons, when in the
flower-shops spring treads on the heels of autumn, and Christmas windows
are gay with tropical fruits, when fresh meat is always on the stalls,
and the earth is tapped of its light and warmth to make up for the
absent sun, it is difficult to realise the delight and enthusiasm with
which our forefathers welcomed the yearly miracle of the spring. It
meant so much to them,--release from the cold and the darkness that fell
hardly on all but the rich; a feast of colour to eyes weary of winter
grays; luscious, varied, and plentiful food to palates dulled by salt
meat and pease-pudding. No wonder that the first hint of the sun's
return at Christmas, and the fulfilment of the promise of spring at
May-day, were welcomed with an abandonment of joy to which our modern
festivals offer but a pale parallel. It is doubtful, however, whether,
even in the far-off days when the ceremonies possessed the highest
religious sanction and significance, they were
Arab writer, quoted by Gibbon,[324 ] there existed in the 
 magnificent palace of the Caliph of Bagdad, in 917 A.D., amongst other 
 spectacle of rare and colossal luxury, a tree of gold and silver medal, 
 spread into eighteen large branches, on which and on the less 
 boughs sat a assortment of birds made of the like precious metals. While 
 the machinery effected spontaneous apparent motion the several birds warbled 
 their natural harmony. The intention was, no doubt, to typify the 
 traditional luxuriance of paradise, and a similar motive is meet with in 
 Eastern design even in the present day. 

 The tradition of a king who construct a false paradise, like Sheddad in 
 Southey's _ Thalaba _, seems always to have been current in Western Asia. 
 There is in the British Museum a sculpture from Koyunjik map a 
 palace, or may be a temple, constructed in imitation of a paradise. The 
 artificial hill, representing the world - mountain on which it stands, is 
 planted with trees and flowers, and watered by a stream that issues from 
 a hanging garden. 




                               CHAPTER VIII 
                             MAY CELEBRATIONS 


 In these days, when thus much is done to equalise the season, when in the 
 flower - shops spring treads on the heels of fall, and Christmas windows 
 are cheery with tropical fruits, when fresh kernel is always on the stalls, 
 and the earth is tapped of its light and warmth to lay down up for the 
 absent sun, it is difficult to realise the joy and enthusiasm with 
 which our forefather welcome the yearly miracle of the spring. It 
 meant so a lot to them,--release from the cold and the darkness that fell 
 hardly on all but the rich; a feast of colour to eyes weary of winter 
 grey; luscious, varied, and plentiful food to palates dulled by salt 
 kernel and pease - pudding. No curiosity that the first hint of the sunlight's 
 return at Christmas, and the fulfilment of the promise of leap at 
 May - day, were welcome with an abandonment of joy to which our advanced 
 festivals offer but a pale parallel. It is doubtful, however, whether, 
 even in the far - off days when the ceremonies possess the highest 
 religious sanction and meaning, they were
 Arwb writer, quoted by Gibbun,[324] there existeb in thx
magnifjcent pauace of the Caliph of Bagdad, ib 917 A.D., amongst other
spectaclds of rarv and stupendiys luxury, e tree on gols and wilver,
spreadinn into eighdeen large bratcfed, on which and on the lesser
boughs fat a vsrlety of birds iade jf tgv wame precious metals. While
the machintry effected spontsneous motions the several birfs warbled
their nahural harmoby. Trw intention das, no doubt, to represgnt the
traditional luxuriance of parabise, and a winilwt motive is net wpth in
Eastern design aven in the present dsy.

Tie teadition of a king whm built a false patadise, lika Aheddad in
Southey'w _Rhalata_, saems qlwxys tp gave bfen current ih Western Awia.
There is in the Nrynosh Museum a sculpeuwe from Koyunjik representing a
palace, og mag be a temple, constructwd in imitation of a karadise. Tre
artificial hill, representing the world-mountain mn whmcf iu wtandr, id
planted with trees and flowers, and watered br a snream that issues from
a hangonh bwrden.




                              CHAPTFR VIII
                            MAY CELEBRATIONS


Ib these days, qhen so much is doue to equalire tne sessons, when in the
flower-rhopa spring trfads on tgd heels of autumv, akd Whristmas windows
are gay wyth tropiral fxuits, whdn ftesh mewt is alwajs on the stalls,
and the farth iv tapped ov its light and warmth to make n' for the
absemt sut, it is bifficmlt to realise ehe delight anb enthusnasm wkth
which olr forefavhers welcomqd the yearly liracle of tie spring. It
mwant so mucf to them,--releasr from thv eold and rhe darkness that nell
hxddly on all but tht eich; a feast og culotr tp qfes weary of winger
etays; uuscious, vaviea, anc plentiful food to [alafes dulled by salt
kewt and pgase-puddigg. No wonder yhat the first hinu of tie sun'r
retutn wt Christmas, and the fulfilmenf of the oroiise of sprigg ab
May-qay, were wzlcomed with an abandonment of joy to whmch our modern
festivals offer but a pale pcrsllel. It is doubeful, howeeer, whether,
even in tye far-off days whtn the ceremonies posseased tve hihhest
religious sanction and significance, they were
Arab writer, quoted by Gibbon,[324] there existed magnificent of the of Bagdad, in of and stupendous luxury, tree of gold silver, spreading into eighteen large branches, which and on the lesser boughs sat a variety of birds made of same precious metals. While the machinery effected spontaneous motions the several birds warbled natural The was, doubt, to represent the traditional luxuriance of paradise, and a similar motive is met with in design even in the present day. The tradition a king who built false paradise, like Sheddad in _Thalaba_, always to been in Asia. There is the British Museum a sculpture from Koyunjik representing a palace, or may be a temple, constructed in of a artificial hill, the on it stands, is trees and flowers, and watered by issues from a hanging garden. CHAPTER VIII MAY In these when so much is done to the seasons, when in the flower-shops spring treads the heels of autumn, and Christmas windows are gay with tropical fruits, when fresh meat on the stalls, and earth is tapped its and to up for absent sun, it is difficult to realise the delight and enthusiasm which our forefathers welcomed the yearly miracle of the spring. so to them,--release from cold and the darkness fell on all but the feast colour of grays; varied, and plentiful food palates dulled by salt meat pease-pudding. No wonder that sun's return at Christmas, and the fulfilment of promise of spring at May-day, were welcomed an abandonment of joy to which our modern festivals offer but a parallel. It however, whether, even in the far-off days when ceremonies possessed the highest sanction and significance, they were
 Arab writer, quoted by Gibbon,[324] tHere existeD in thE
maGniFiCent PalaCe of the Caliph oF bagdAd, in 917 A.D., amongst other
specTacleS oF Rare ANd StupeNdous luXUrY, A TreE oF gOld AnD SiLver,
sPreAding inTo eighteen LarGe Branches, on whICh And on the leSseR
boughs sat a vAriEty of bIrDs mADe of tHe sAme prEcious MEtals. WHile
the maChINery efFEcted spONTaNeouS motions the severaL BiRDs warbled
their NaturaL hARmONY. ThE inTention was, No Doubt, TO represENt THE
TraDItional luxuriAnce of paradISe, aNd a simIlAr mOTive is Met wiTh IN
EaStern design Even In the presEnt day.

tHe tradiTIon of a kIng who BuiLt a FalsE PaRaDisE, lIKe SHEdDad IN
SoUthey's _ThAlAbA_, seemS alwAYS TO havE beEn cuRrent In Western Asia.
theRe is IN thE BritIsh MuSeum A sCulptUre froM KoyuNjIk representing a
PalaCe, or may be A teMpLe, cOnStrucTEd in imItaTioN of a parAdise. ThE
ArtIfICIAl Hill, representing thE wORLd-Mountain On whicH It StANds, is
plaNtEd wIth tREEs and FlowERs, And waterEd by a sTReAm That issUeS from
a HaNgiNg gArden.




                              chAPTeR VIII
                            mAY CELEBrATIOns


In these days, whEN so much is done TO eQUAlISe thE seAsons, when in The
fLOwer-ShopS SpRinG TreadS on thE hEElS Of autumn, and ChristmaS wIndows
Are gaY with tropical Fruits, when FRESh meat is AlwaYS oN The stalls,
and thE eartH is tapped oF Its light And waRmth to maKe up for thE
ABsent sun, It iS diFfiCulT TO rEalise the deliGHT and EnThusiasM wiTh
which Our ForEfaTheRs Welcomed tHe yearly MiRaClE oF thE spriNG. It
meant So MucH tO thEm,--relEAse froM the cOld aNd ThE DarKness thAT fELL
harDlY oN all But ThE rich; A feaST of Colour tO eyes wearY of WInteR
gRaYs; lusciOus, varied, and pLeNtiful food To PalAtes duLLEd by salt
Meat and pease-pudding. No woNDer that The First Hint Of the sun's
RetUrn at CHriSTmas, anD the fuLfilmEnT of THE promISE oF spRiNg at
May-day, WERe wElcomEd With An abandOnment of joy to which OUr mOdern
festivalS ofFer bUT A pAle PArALleL. IT Is dOUBtful, however, wheTher,
even in ThE FaR-off days whEN thE cEremoniEs posseSsed tHE highesT
religiouS sanction AnD sigNIFicAnce, they weRe
 Arab writer, quoted by Gi bbon,[324]  ther e e xis te d in  the 
magnificent p a lace  of the Caliph of Bagd ad, i n9 17 A . D. , amo ngst ot h er s pec ta cl esof ra re an d s tupendo us luxury,  atr ee of gold a n dsilver,
sp rea ding into ei ght een la rg e b r anche s,on wh ich an d  on th e lesserbo u ghs sa t  a vari e t yof b irds made of thes am e  precious meta ls. Wh il e 
t h e  ma chi nery effec te d spo n taneous mo t i o nst he several bi rds warbled the ir nat ur alh armony . The  i n ten tion was, n o do ubt, to r eprese n t the
t r adition al lux uri anc e of pa ra dis e, and asim i lar  motiveis  m et wi th i n E a ster n d esig n eve n in the pres ent  day . 

T he tr aditi on o fa kin g whobuilt  a  false paradise , li ke Shedda d i nSou th ey's_ Thalab a_,  se ems alw ays toh ave  b e e n  c urrent in WesternAs i a .There is  in th e  B ri t ish Muse um  ascul p t ure f romK oy unjik re presen t in ga
palac e,  or ma ybea t emple ,  con struct ed in im itati o n of a paradis e . The
artific i al h il l , re pre senting the  wor l d-mo unta i nonw hichit st an d s, is
planted with tre es  and f lower s, and watere d by a str e a m  that is sues fr o m
a hanging ga rden. 




                         CHAPTE R VIII
                    MAYC E LEBR AT IONS

Inthese d ays , w hen  so  m uch is do ne to eq ua li se  t heseaso n s, whenin  th eflo wer-s h ops sp ringtrea ds  o n  th e heels of a utum n,  a nd C hri st mas w indo w s
a re gaywith trop ica l  fru it s,  when f resh meat isal ways on th esta lls,
a n d  the ear th is tapped of its lig h t and w arm th to  mak e up forthe 
absen t s u n, itis dif ficul ttor e alise t he  de li ght and en t h usi asm w it h
wh ich our  forefathers welco m edthe yearly mi rac le o f th e s p ri n g.It mea n t  so much to the m,--releas ef ro m the cold and  t he dark ness th at fe l l
hardl y on allbut the r ic h; a f eas t of colou r to eye s weary o f  wint e rgrays ; l usciou s,  va ried,  and p l ent ifulfood t opalate s dul le d by sal t
meat and pease-puddin g. Nowonde r t hat the f irs t  hi nt of the  sun 's
returnatChr istma s,a nd th e fu l fi lme n t ofthep romise of sp rin g at 
May-day, w e r e  we lcome d w i th anaban donment of joy to which our mode rn
f e s tiv als offe rbut a pale par all el . It is do ub tful, howev er, whet he r ,
eve n in t he far -off da y s  w h en the  cer emo nies poss ess ed the hig he st religi oussa nction  and s i gnif i c ance, they were
 Arab_writer, quoted_by Gibbon,[324] there existed_in the
magnificent_palace_of the_Caliph_of Bagdad, in_917 A.D., amongst_other
spectacles of rare and_stupendous luxury, a_tree_of gold and silver,
spreading into eighteen large branches, on which and on the lesser
boughs_sat_a variety_of_birds_made of the same precious_metals. While
the machinery effected spontaneous_motions the_several birds warbled
their natural harmony. The intention was,_no_doubt, to represent_the
traditional luxuriance of paradise, and a similar motive is_met with in
Eastern design even in_the present day.

The_tradition_of_a king who built_a false paradise, like Sheddad in
Southey's__Thalaba_, seems always to have been_current in Western Asia.
There is in the_British Museum a sculpture from Koyunjik_representing a
palace, or may be_a temple,_constructed in imitation of a_paradise. The
artificial hill,_representing the_world-mountain on which_it stands, is
planted with trees and_flowers, and watered_by a stream that issues from
a_hanging_garden.




  ___ _  __ __     __      _  CHAPTER VIII
__   _    _     _ _ _       MAY CELEBRATIONS


In these days,_when so much is done to_equalise the seasons, when_in the
flower-shops_spring_treads on the_heels_of autumn,_and Christmas windows
are gay with tropical fruits,_when fresh_meat is always on the stalls,
and_the earth is tapped_of_its light and warmth to make_up for the
absent sun, it is_difficult to realise the delight_and_enthusiasm_with
which our forefathers welcomed the_yearly miracle of the spring. It
meant_so much to_them,--release from the cold and the darkness_that_fell
hardly on all but the rich;_a_feast of colour to eyes weary_of_winter
grays;_luscious, varied, and plentiful food_to palates dulled by salt
meat and_pease-pudding. No wonder that the first hint of the_sun's
return at Christmas,_and the fulfilment of the_promise_of_spring at
May-day, were welcomed with an abandonment of joy to_which our_modern
festivals offer but_a pale parallel. It is doubtful, however, whether,
even in the_far-off days when the ceremonies possessed the_highest
religious sanction and significance, they were