Show GOD BLESS MEANING Expression of Solicitude Th That t Can Can Be Traced Back to the De cline of Athens The Greeks and Romans had their I Long life to you Gesundheit Is Isnow I now note verboten But we still say Sante and God Go bless bless' you I after a 8 sneeze I j This expression of ot solicitude can be traced back to the decline of Athens One of the terrible devastating de' plagues which darken the pages of ot European history was raging In the famous city The flower of Greece her foremost writers and artists the foun founders of much of our modern culture culture culture cul cul- ture were ruthlessly cut down The dead plied piled high and dally daily Athenian courage was taxed to the fullest But Butto Butto Butto to every home where lay Jay a n victim the elixir of hope the rainbow v of ot promise promise prom prom- ise was the sneeze for It Indicated to the watchers that the danger was was passed that the patient would recover A few Cew centuries later another epidemic epidemic epidemic epi epi- demic assailed Europe but this time the sneeze being a n symptom of the malady was a bad omen In U this ls age of witches goblins medicine medicine medicine med med- men and arid leeches s superstition flourished Some of the most Intellectual Intellectual Intellectual Intel Intel- minds of ot the time accredited charms and soothsayers ers It was therefore therefore there there- fore ole nothing extraordinary for the pope to decree the exclamation God bless you I by anyone who heard a sneeze This was supposed to combat combat combat com com- bat Its evil powers and prevent pre the spread of ot the disease And God bless you ou 1 h with Its kindly human In Interest terest has tins come down through the ages |