The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-06
For The Cecil Wi
THE USE OF FLOWERS.

nor ENJOY the pleasure and instruction
which they ought to afford. 1t is indeed
lawful to inquire into the use of Gods
creatures, but not to suggest by our ques-
lions that some of them are of no use at
all. God made all things in wisdom and
goodness, but nothing in vain. He made
everything beautiful in its place, and flow
crs have their time and place. their value
and use.
They were made for man. Let not man
despise them. In the garden of Eden God
made to grow both that which was "pleas-
ant to the sight" and that which was
"good for food" When he put our first
parents into that garden "to dress and to
keep it, we understand that they should
cultivate what he ha0 planted, both for
food and for ornament.
For " All around he made fair flowers to
grow " But what's the use of flowers
We cannot eat them, and they do not suit
to wear"
This reasoning would be quite conclu
sive if all mans interests related only to
to forget that besides that tongue-taste for
food and drink, which man has in common
with the beasts there is implanted in our
higher nature a taste for the Beautiful,
which we have in common with our Crea-
tor himself.
That other taste, which is wide awake in
every mans mouth, is apt to be quite
active and strong, because it is very much
cultivated and exercised. The taste for
the Beautiful is often very weak because
sadly neglected. God made man both for
duty and for pleasure, and in placing him
in world stored with things both pleas
ant and good, he wisely and lovingly
adapted his surroundings TO his tastes and
capacities for enjoyment.
Flowers in endless variety of forms and
colors pleasantly and powerfully influence
both the body and the mind through the
senses of sight and SMELL aud thus contri-
butte materially to the sum of human hap
piness. Their enjoyment is both pure and
pleasant.
And do they not, in common with many
others of Gods works, pleasantly teach us
many good lessons which we need to learn?
They too reveal the character and proclaim
the glory of the Great Creator. They ex
hibit the inimtable skill of Divine Artist
who has so formed and finished their
leaves and petals that no microscope can
detect a fault, and has so tinged them
that no painter on earth can equal the deli
cate hues and blendings of their beautiful
colors.
Solomon gave them place in his varied
studies and "spoke of trees from the cedar
tree that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that
springeth out of the WALL
A greater teacher than Solomon has sent
us to the grass and to the flowers to learn
to trust his Providence and to be always
saying, what shall we cat, what shall we
drink, and wherewithal shall we be cloth
ed? ~ "And why take ye thought for
raiment, consider the lilies of tic field how
they grow; they toll not, neither do they
spin: and yet say unto you that even Sol
ONION in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these"
The Goodness of God shines forth in visi
BILE forms in these gifts of his love. For
here we plainly see that it did not satisfy
his goodness to give food and raiment and
homes to men, but it also added the means
of adjoining their homes and of cultivating
their tastes in the possession of beautiful
and fragrant flowers.
The cultivation of flowers tends by
silent and powerful intlue nee to the purifi-
cation and refinement of the feelings, and
to a general improvement of character and
conduct. Hence travellers often remark
that they find a certain elevation and re-
tinement of tastes and ma nners where the
surroun dings of home al decorated with
flowers. But how different the impression
made by the opposite side of the picture!
81 went by the field of the slothful, and
by the vineyard of the man void of under
standing; and 10, it was all grown over
with thorns and nettles had covered the
face thereof, and the stone wall thereof
was broken down. Then l saw and con-
sidered it we'll; I looked upon it and re-
ceived Instruction.
Farmers, artists and all other men should
encourage a proper taste for Horticulture in
their wives and daughters for the improve
ment and enjoyment of their families For
this fine art is especially suited to the deli
cate tastes and feelings of the fair, and it
affords them health giving recreation
and exercise.
Nor is the pleasure and improvement
derivable from this source confined to the
rich alone, but it is open and accessible to
all For while the rich may have more of
the new, rare and costly things, the family
of the poorest laborer may have, with little
expense, and even with their own hands
from cuttings and seeds, abundance of
plants and flowers to adorn their windows,
deor-ways and little plats of ground. The
| whole appearance of village or country
is vastly improved where such taste and
| culture prevail.
| ness relax and recreate himself from daily
! toll and care so pleasantly as by strolling
| alone, or with his family, i'll garden
blooming with flowers?
When a man has retired from business
! in the evening of life and would not con-
| sumo with the rust of idlenesS, what pleas
anter employment can he have than the
care and culture of garden, where his
pleasure ever increases with tho collection,
the seasons and varieties of his plants and
flowers
In the sick room, where so little that is
bright and pleasant can come, the silent
and smiling flowers are always appropriate
and welcome. By the smell and sight Of
them the sufferer is often refreshed, de.
lighted and instructed. They divert his
mind from pains and gloomy bodings, they
whisper of purity, joy and peace, and leao
him to hopeful trust in him who Sc
clothes the grass of the field and will moi
| Al. Ii.