st. John’s wort. 
123 
ST. JOHN’S WORT. 
SUPERSTITION. 
This plant, to which ancient superstition 
attributed the virtue of defending persons from 
phantoms and spectres, and driving away devils, 
whence it was called Fuga Dcemonum, has been 
named by modern bigotry St. John’s-wort. For 
the same reason it was also called Sol terrestris, 
the Terrestrial Sun, because the spirits of dark¬ 
ness were believed to vanish at the approach of 
that luminary. Growing close to the earth, its 
large yellow flower, whose hundreds of chives 
form so many rays, headed by sparklike anthers, 
it reminds us of small wheel-fireworks, and 
forms a happy contrast with the azure flowers 
of the periwinkle. 
It forms an appropriate emblem of supersti¬ 
tion, but by some is regarded as a symbol of 
happiness, on account of the happy confidence 
with which it inspires the fond believers in its 
imaginary virtues. 
