THE ARMED PLANT 



A RICH crop of symbolical lore has grown up around 

 the holly, in a special and pre-eminent degree the 

 plant of the Christmas season. There are sym- 

 bolical explanations of its evergreen leaves, of 

 its red berries, and, of course, of its place in 

 the decorative scheme of the festival. They are 

 all simple and obvious enough, and fit happily 

 and harmoniously into their place in history and 

 legend. But it is really unnecessary to invent 

 a tale to account for the part the holly plays in 

 a midwinter feast. You find everything made clear 

 by simply stepping into the wood or thicket in 

 December and searching for something which will 

 serve. Put aside the spruces and others of their 

 kind, all aliens and unknown to our ancestors, 

 and what is left? There is the ivy, clinging in 

 robustly green masses to the bole of the elm and 

 wandering over its major branches. Its decorative 

 value is perceived on the spot, and the decorator 

 takes heavy toll of its long and leafy limbs. And 

 what more? Nothing but the holly. With its 

 brilliantly green foliage and its vivid berry- 

 clusters, it would be chosen from among many 

 competitors ; but the simple and unavoidable in- 

 ference is that it was taken for Christmas adorn- 

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