Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-15
Roses.


THE Persians, compared with their
neighbors, the Turks and Egyptians, are
a lively people, but we would call them
quiet and even sad, because their gayety
is so different from ours and their manners
are more grave and dignifed. But they
are fond of amusements, and one Of their
yearly festivals is the Feast of the
Roses" which takes place during the
rose season, which is June, July, and,
indeed, the greater part of the summer
| viii try to tell you something about it
The climate being very warm the peo-
pie live much out of doors, and during this
feast tents are pitched; every one wears
his or her prettiest dresses, and, as all
Eastern people are fond Of bright colors,
the scene is a very gay one.
During this festival everything betokens
mirth and enjoyment. The cymbals and
lutes are heard from morning till night,
the stOry-tellers recount their most beauti-
full tales, and the dancing girls dance for
hours at time. Then, when the night
comes, and the moonlight covers every
thing like silver cloud, the people stretch
themselves on their soft carpets and listen
to the songs of the nightin gales and soft
serenades on the WOmen's lutes.
In some parts of Turkey whole fields of
roses are cultivated, from which tie Turks
make the famous altar of roses which
is so fragrant that a vessel or anything
touched with drop of it seems never to
lose the smell; and the Hindoos scatter
rose-leaves in the water they drink to give
it a pleasant appearance.
There are more than 200 kinds of roses,
and they are Of all sizes, from the tiny
'"Picayune rose" SO called because it is
no larger than five-cent piece-Which, in
the South, is called a picayune--to the
immense cabbage rose; of all shades of
color, bright yellow, pink, red, and almost
black. The rose of Damascus, or damask
rose, is the one first brought to this coun-
try, and is very deep red, with q strong
perfume. Then there are the Egyptian
sea-roses, tea-roses, rock-roses, which
grow in dry, rocky places, where no
other flower can live; and the Alpine rose,
growing by the eternal snow-drifts of the
Alps.
Roses are hardy plants and will live a
long time if properly cared for. There is
rose-tree in Germany which is known
to be 800 years old, and it is still blossom
ing.
We all know and love the pretty moss
rose, with its messy, green veil, that gives
it such a shy, modest air; and the tea-rose,
which, in the South and West, grows on
large trees. The writer had, in her garden
in Arkansas, one which grew to be over
seven feet high, and would bear as many
as 500 blossoms at once.
But there is one rose more curious than
all the others-the Rose of Jericho. 1t
has another name which botanists call it,
that is, A1dstdt5ca, Greek word, meaning
resurrection; and the Arabs call it the
symbol of Immortality, because it comes to
life again long after it has seemed to be
dead. 1t lives in the hot sands of the Des-
ert of Sahara, and when the dry season
comes it withers, folds its leaves, and draws
up its roots, like little feet, into light
ball, and the winds of the desert carry it
until it reaches moist soil, and then, we
are told, it drops, takes root, and its leaves
become green, and its blossoms open,
delicate pink. Scorer
There is flower in Mexico, known as
the Resurrection Flower, which is very
much the same. 1t may be carried about
in your pocket for a year and more, and
yet when put into saucer Of water, in a
few hours will blossom out as bright and
fresh as if it had Just come out OF the gar
den. f-t
When the Romans conquered Britain,
more than 1900 years ago, they intro |
duced many curious customs into that
country-among others, that OF carving
the figure of a rose on the ceiling OF their
banqueting- halls, or suspending a natural
rose over the dining-table, with the Latin |
motto, Sab rosa,' y written aboye u, to |
indicate that whatever. was sad there |
among friends, or under tie r0se-for that
was the meaning of the words-should |
not be repeated, the Ehite rose being the
symbol of silence.
The rose is the national emblem OF En- |