Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-01-19
AN FNpEROR.S FLOWER.
Why tho Emperor of Germany Prefers
the BluebOttIe.
I American Register.

American Register.
That the bluebottlc (also called the bachc-
lors buttOn) is the tavorite flower OF the
Emperor of Germany is we'll known fact
The reason why this simple field flower
should be preferred by him to other and
much finer ones may not be so we'll known.
On the occasion of small festivity given at
Kpnigsbere the Emperors mother, Queen
Louise, al cared in the presence of several
French Generals sent by Napoleon |. to the
unhappy Prussi.,n King in q very simple
white dress wearing some of these flowers III
her hair and II small bunch of them in her
corsage much to the astOnlshment OF the
rude warriors, who did not hesitate to ex
change, in loud whisper, derogatory re-
marks about the plainness OF her toilet
Turning with an indiscribably yet digni-
fled smile to the Generals, the Queen said !:
Ever since your horses have trOdden down
our corntields, gentlemen, these pretty wild
flowers may we'll be counted among the rare
treasures OF my unhappy country" That
scene and the flowers connected with it belong
hencetorth to the Emperor's sad but sweet
"reminiscences of his youthful days. When,
shortly before the battle of Friedland, Queen
Louise had once more to flee from kpn1gs-
burg to Memel, the carriage in which she
travelled with her two eldest sons, Prince Fred
erick William and William, lost wheel on
the road. They were obliged to alight and
being far away from any inhabitation, to sit
down by the side of the deserted road while
the damage was repaired The little Princes,
being tired and very hungry, loudly bewailed
their fate to the detected mother, who did
not know how to appease the wants OF her
children The young and delicate Prince
William, i'll particular, clung beseechingly to
his dearly beloved parent who finally rose
from her grassy seat and culled bluebottles
in the adjacent fields, encouraging the two
boys to follow her example. With the flow
ers thus plucked she twined wreaths, which
occupation the Princes looked on with great
curiosity and interest. The feeling OF help
lessness and the thought of the unhappy
condition of her family, her country, and the
future of the sons by her side brought tears
to the mothers eyes-hot tears which slowly
trickled upon the flowers she held in her
hands. Prince William, deeply touched threw
his arms around her neck, tried to comfort
her with his child-like caresses, which
brought sweet smile on the maternal face
and lips, and won for the irresistible COM
forter wreath of the blue flowers upon his
ten-year-old head. This touching roadside
scene Prince, now Emperor, william mas
never forgotten. On every cornflower (this
being the German name) he still thinks he
sees the glitter of maternal tear. Hence
his fondness for them. Still it is not the
flower alone that he loves; he has also a
great partiality for its color. A peculiar con-
struction of the Emperor's eyes caused this
particular shade of blue to strike it more
pleasantly than any other, to such degree,
in fact. as to render him almost Indifferent,
nav. insensible to all other colers. This is
also the reason why he like to surround him
self with this, his favorite, shade, and the
ladies of his court have long made it point
to appear on festive occasions in blue toilets
which not only produce an agreeable effect
upon his sight but also upon his mood, i'm,
parting to the latter that happy tlnge OF
cheerfalness and amiability which have be-
come proyerbal in his case.