PROVERBIAL WISDOM 45 



Steadily the stripping process goes on, until 

 the violent gales after the equinox finish the 

 work, and leave the wood ' pillared ' indeed, 

 but a ' shade ' no more. 



Trees are not often mentioned in pro- 

 verbial wisdom. The Irish have a saying 

 that there is no tree but has rotten wood 

 enough to burn it reminding us of the 

 smouldering fire of evil propensities within 

 us ; and the Scots have another to the effect 

 that 'it's a gude tree that has neither knap 

 nor gaw,' the meaning of which proverb 

 is somewhat similar. Then we have Pope's 

 well-worn couplet 



1 'Tis education forms the common mind : 

 Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined.' 



neither of which propositions is invariably 

 true. Although somewhat neglected in 

 proverbs, trees have not been overlooked 

 by those who directed the beginnings of 

 superstition. In ancient times woods were 

 the temples of infant religions. In many 

 passages of Scripture we are told of 

 1 groves ' which were the scene of idolatrous 

 rites. Even particular trees were sacred to 

 special divinities. Thus, Jupiter claimed the 



