






134 HOSPITALITY. 
less esteemed by the Greeks than the crown of 
gold; but the Romans considered it the most 
desirable of all rewards. In order to obtain it 
the candidate must be a citizen,—he must 
have killed an enemy,—restored a lost victory, 
—and have saved the life of a Roman. Scipio 
Africanus refused the civic crown after having 
saved his father’s life at the battle of Trebia; 
he refused the crown because the conscious- 
ness of having discharged a sacred duty ap- 
peared to him to be a sufficient reward. In 
Epirus the oaks of Dodona gave out oracles ; 
while the wide-spreading foliage of the Gallic 
oak concealed the mysterious sacrifices of the 
ancient Druids. With the Celts, who adored 
this tree, it was the emblem of hospitality, a 
quality so highly esteemed by them, that, next 
to their claims to bravery, they considered the 
title of ‘‘ friend to the stranger” as the most to 
be desired. 
Hamadryads, fairies, and genii, no longer 
enchant our sombre forests; but the aspect of 
a majestic oak still fills us with admiration, 
and inspires us with respect and awe. When, 
full of youth and strength, it elevates its lofty 
head, and extends its immense branches, assum- 
ing the character of a protector. Despoiled 
of its verdure by the power of a thunder shock, 
it resembles an old man, who, having outlived 
his generation, ne longer’ takes an interest 
in the passing events of the world. The 
