Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-06-02
The Geography OF Flowers.


rWritten by little girl Mrs Kasey's school, Capol
Hill, Washington
Next to the resolving of flowers into tneir
component parts and determining their species
genera. Sc, the most delightful of all botanical
pursuits is that of Floral Geography The IN
curing mind beholds in every nook where
flower can find room to open its dellcate leaves,
some new tribute to the unerrlng providence OF
God Every leaf and bud suggest new thoughts,
and in viewing the wonderful structure OF the
vegetable kingdom, the mind begins to form
an adequate idea of that Being who not only
supplies man with all the necessaries Of life
but scatters beauty along his path, and speaks
to him of hope and mercy through the fra
grant cups and emerald leaves of the flowers
that blossom everywhere.
There is no place. not even the icy glaciers
of Switzerland, where flowers are not found
On the snow-bound coasts of Melvlles Island
around which everlasting cebergs are float
ing, the little red snow plant opens its tiny
petals, and stains the white robe of the hills
with it's crimson light. On the frozen summit
of Sulitelma, in Norway, the beautiful blue gen.
tian, and fringed pink bend over the edges of
glaciers, and behold their colors in the polished
ice below. The lily of the valley also shines,
white and spotless, on the few spaces which
the short summers of Norway and Sweden can
clothe in green verdure, and the strawberry
blossom peeps up along the steep sides of the
ice-capped mountains.
And who shall describe the rich luxuriance
of tropical growth - the magnificent Brazil
ian forests and the lone and lovely islands in
the far-off southern seasn The surprising
beauty of the orange tree which displays on
one side the golden fruit, and on the other it's
snowy blossoms, is an example. Those who
tend the pining cactus and the dropping exotic
in northern lighthouses, can form no idea of the
gorgeous flowers that bloom, almost perennialy
in the rich tropical climes, nurtured by soft
southern breezes and fervid sunshine
Even in phlegmatic, composed Holland these
beautiful objects 1.-THE alphabets of angels, they
have been truly called) have been fully appre-
ciated. 1t seems rather ludicrous to fancy the
sturdy, Understanding Dutch running mad
after tulip proofs; but when we come to examine
the delicate fibres of the soul and to consider
the firm and unalterable links that exist between
the beautiful in all it's forms, and the spirit of
man, we cease to wonder.
The thistle of Scotland the white and red
roses of England, and the feur-de-lis of France,
are immortalized in history as the emblems of
their respective countries. Thus not satisfied
with their supreme dominion over the king
doms of love- innocence, and beauty, they en-
Irvine themselves with war and politics-no less
DOduoiluA3 hOWCfCi, IL eAO oiiO Cdoc ClluH III blc
other.
In Miss Mtford's very entertaining elite
rary Recollections," she describes an interview
in her little garden with Mr.. Webster, then
filled with roses, pinks, and splendid geraniums
and speaking of the indigenous plants Of Eng
land and America, she expressed great de-
sire to see the scarlet lily of New York, and
the fringed gentian of Niagara, known only to
her by Miss Martineaus description. Soon
after Mr.. Webster's arrival in America, Miss
Milford received package of the seeds Of each,
directed by Mr.. Webster's own hand. What
more beautiful gift than this from the cultiva-
ted wales of New York, and the roaring tor
rent of Niagara, to the castled homes and ivy
clad towers of old England, could be found! No
wonder that Miss Milford, passing half her
life among the flowers, should be SO truthful
delineator of Nature
Happy, then, is the person who is early
taught love of flowers Earth may grow
weary to him, life may lose its charms, but he
will ever derive consolation from the thousand
sources of Nature. He may 90 forth despair
ing and Disguised with the deceiving charms
of the world; but when he is alone in the
messy woods, with the flowers all around and
their odor rising in the hushed air, he finds
that there is beauty still left in existence His
spirit roves from the beautiful flowers to their
Maker and Preserver, and to the blessed COM
ing time when he shall wander as a white
robed angel where the roses of Paradise are
poisoning along the River of Life
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