PARSLEY. 
223 
PARSLEY. 
FESTIVITY. 
Parsley was held in high repute by the 
Greeks. At banquets they hound their brows 
with its slight sprigs, and also adorned with 
them the graves of their deceased relatives. In 
the Isthmian games at Rome the victors were 
crowned with Parsley. It was formerly imagined 
that this plant came originally from Sardinia, 
because that island is represented on ancient 
medals as a female, beside whom is a vase con¬ 
taining a bunch of Parsley ; but it is in fact a 
native of all the damp and shady spots in Greece 
and even of the southern provinces of France. 
From the beautiful green of this plant, it 
forms an elegant decoration to the dishes which 
are garnished with it. It adds a luxury to the 
poor man’s soup-kettle, and contributes to the 
elegance of the most splendid dinners. A 
branch of laurel and a Parsley crown are the 
