Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-20
FOR THE EVENING STAR.
The Music Of the Flowers.


blend in unison. like the notes of an instrument.
For instance, helotrope, almond, vanilla, and
orange. blossom, blend harmoniously. each pro-
ducing different degrees of similar impression.
The citron, lemon-verbena and orange-peel form
Il higher octave which blend in the same man
ncr. Then. there are semi-odors such as the
rose and rose geraniums, for the half notes, and
so on. If this is true, and believe no one has
risen to dispute the statement there is more to
be admired than We have heretofore known i'm
the flowers We love so well. Let us assume, for
the sake OF little mental exploration, that it is
true. and see where i'll the realm of the ideal it
may lead us.
IL the odOrs Of the flowers are analogous to
the notes of music; if. peradventure. they may
be arranged to represent melody and harmony.
the flowers, according to their tones and semi
tones being the notes. or portions Of the chro-
matte scale. how much music there is shut up in
the wonderful mystery of sweet perfumes.
Songs grow by the wayside! Symphonies, I'M
heard except perhaps by the angels. are in the
fields and in the trees, and whole operas in con-
servatories and gardens. music that might excel
the most delightful ever heard by human ears,
Some of the old poets have intimated belief in
this
RHYTHM OF FRAGRANCE,
though none have ventured far into the unex-
plored realm. Shelley says in one of his little
poeUs lHdt IHe nydctiltH hung 1TOUl It's OellS
emusic so delicate, soft and intense
IL was let like an odOr within the sense"
The language Of the flowers would, indeed.
have higher and hOlier meaning than ever vet
understood. if it could be translated and inter-
preted in music that all could understand as all
do understand the music of any language,
though the words themselves may fall upon un-
apprecative ears. How much, in addition to
the great beauty and delicate fragrance of
prettily arranged bouquet. would be convened to
the belOider, if he understood the concord of
sweet sounds the flowers represent. Placing
the f1Owers as tones and semi-tOnes according
TO the melody the poet composer has in his soul
ms composition in color. fragrance and harmony
would awaken the most delightful tlnotiOns
By the magic of this scientific formula melodies
we love to hear. strains that ever please and at
tract music to which the world pays Difference
and homage, would become visible. We could
see it. not as ordinary black and white musical
characters, but as we see the sky at sunset and
the eye would revel in the beautiful while the
ear would be enchanted by sOng
WE MAY GO FURTHER
in this line of speculation, and fancy that the
y-of-the-valley, the heiiOtrope, the hyacinth.
the ar5utus the mignonette and other fragrant
flowers. in varied combinations represent the
sweetest of sweet songs, while the ailantus.
the daisy. the dandelion, the garlic and others
OF low degree. in union. perhaps. with higher
perfumes. stand fer comedy, negro melodies, the
airs of 'Pinafore," the Pirates of Penzance."
and the like.
The blended perfumes Of the violet and the
honeysuckie, for example, may give US the air
of Home, Sweet Home" Possibly the iimpson
weed, with the wild plum. or some other neutral
lZingstone, may represent yankee Doodle"
The dOg-fennel with some odorous bark, NAV
stand for "Od Dog Tray" The melody of the
Last Rose of Summer may come to us in it's
fragrance. The fcur-de-lis of the royal insignia
of France may have its own Interpretation in
the soul-stirring air of the .:Marsellaise. And
deissohn's Wedding March is the fragrance of
the orange blossom, which ID made a symbol of
the holy ceremony. Come Where My Love Lies
Dreaming and ''Fritz's Lullaby" may be the
fragrance-tOnes of the lotos-fOwer and the
poppy. The drinking Song" we may well
believe, is represented by pitcher-plant.
''We'll Not Go Home till Morning" is a night
bioOming-cereus," and Way Down South in
Dixie is the magnolia. Some bright flowers,
fragrant and spicy, may be the score of Hail
Columbia" blooming clover may give the air of
''Sweet Little Shamrock" the orange liIy that
so loves the restless tide. may represent "A Life
on the Ocean Wave. and the strangely beautiful
passion flower. with its solemn and haowed
associations, may be the melody OF StobGt Mater
or Nearer. My God. to Thee"
However vague ard illy-deiined the theory may
be. certain it is that the fragrance of certain
flowers
BRINGS BACK ALMOST FORGOTTEN STRAINS OF
MUSIC,
olden memories and incidents that otherwise
would fade from the tablet of the mind. / never
inhale the perfume Of the locust without at the
same time hearing the tones of bell that have
fingered long i'm my memory. To friend of
mine the fragrance OF the honeysuckie brought
to mind the old song ''Allan Percy" because he
once heard it sung while he sat on a porch
Irf t,n ne
odors Of the tube-rose, the violet and some ger
aniuins produce sadness. because they revive
the soft and solemn dirges of the grave. This
may be the result Of association. and again it
may come from the vibration of hidden strings
touched by the sweet fragrance OF the flow ers
repeating the melodies that sometime have been
heard and left "reminiscences Of song.
The written notes, the mere characters on
lines and spaces, are OF themselves simple and
unimportant things: but. arranged by Mozart.
Beethoven, an Ofenbach, or Strauss. they
become the symbols Of enhancing music char
aeters that, once fixed by the master hands, are
never forgotten. representing melodies that in
spire the human heart and lift 1t into heaven
OF delight. If by touch divine our eyes were
made to see, asthe great composers saw before
voice and instrument awakened the strains that
were in their souls, what beautiful music Of the
flowers to US now unwritten and unexpressed
might be made known! What grand songs and
chOruses we might get from large cOnserva-
What beautiful solos and duets from along the
streams and ON the hillsides.
After all, it may be but a passing fancy. and
yet 1t is pleasant to give it pIay--to think that
the birds get their inspiration, may see the
scores from which they sing 80 diyineiy I'm the
woods and in the fields where the flowers
bloom. and where there are Infinite types of har-
| mony and beauty.
Let Us believe that the suggestion Of the man
OF science is based upon the truth. 80 that a
tory. Held unfolding lis blooms In the sun
light OF spring and summer. may have for us a
greater element OF interest and delight in these
possible ambrosal melodies. We may admire
the beauty OF those flowers that are enieared to
US by colors and associations inilale the delicate
hagrance that rises like incense from the altar
AID fancy the sweet though silent music tiiat IS
f1Setqoned - bnd a1d blossom.
ye1ol1k 1eerT.