The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-17
Beaconsheld and the Primrose.

Mr.. Jennings writes in his L'ndon letter
to the New York World:
A matter deserving of a moments notice
relates to the ''primrose festival" which is
now, it seems, likely to become celebrated
every year on the anniversary of Lord Bea-
consfields death. What authority there is
for asserting that the primrose was Lord
BeaeOt sfield's favorite flower know not; i
should have thought it extremely improbable.
The primrose is the simplest OF all beautiful
flowers, aud Lord Beaconsield's tastes did
not run towards simplicity. | have always
been one of his greatest admirers as poll
tician, and believe that the more closely
his career is studied and the more his pub
lie utterances are examined and read in the
light Of subsequent events, the greater will
be the public respect for bis judgment and
foresight. But simplicity was not his strong
point, and one cannot help begrudging the
primrose to his followe s. What shame ii
seems 10 vulgarize that charming flower, as
ISOLATED in the mind of every true lover of
Nature with shady woods and deep dingles,
and with many an old lane whose steep
banks are, at this very Time, all glitteriug
with its pale yellow flowers, and sweet with
its first scent of spring Who cannot but
regret that this flower, of all others, IS to be
taken as party badge? Lord Beacons6eld,
50 lar do Nc kDDH, lkcu ever 1AutDE tlidt w as
snowy and gandy. Peacocks strufted about
his lawn, aud he delighted in Them; all his
rooms were titged ~ in the mos, gorgeous
manner. His house in Curzon street, Lon
don, was a wonderful sight. The bedr 1om
was lined with blue silk with red roses
spread over it, and the chairs and curtains
we're all of the same material. The drawing
room furniture was covered with brilliant
crimson satin damask Certainly, this does
not seem much ike The taste of a sincere
lover Of the flower viii h -four ishes best In
what Spencer calls its slowly shade Nor
is it in Lord Beaconsfield's writ ngs that
we can discern any evidence OF simplicity in
taste. One recalls the many passages in
which he allowed his fancy tor finery to
have full sway-in "Eudynion," f1r In
stance, where he speaks If the cleaning
and Respondent chestnuts' and of ''merry
cotilIon Of jocund bouquets" In '.Lothair''
We are told that ''tIoops Of social cavalry
cantered and caracolled in morning rides"
and that ''tIIe danes and damsels vaulted
on their barbs and genets." All this merely
means that few ladies and gentlemen went
out to take ride on horseback. Then think
of another peacockian passage, also in ''Lo-
tbaif''-'Her 0lympian brow seemed dis
tended; phosphoric light glittered in her
Hellenic eyes, Could Mr.. G j. Yellowplush
have done much bettr han this? l iecol-
lect another gem: HE sealed with an en-
brace her speeches. form" Fancy sealing
form with an embraced I like, too, those
passages in "Endymion" which tell us how
1.-The graz duke PLAYED with the beautiful
and naughty infants" and how ''the grooms
were sitting with folded arms of naughty
Indifference" All this is very grand indeed,
but it does not seem TO me much like the
style of lover of primr0ses. The idea, how
ever, has been taken up BY the public, and
now the Liberals are Oh the lockout for a
flower, some Of them suggesting the sweet
william In compliment TO Mr.. Gladstone,
while Mr.. Chamberlain would, doubtless,
recommend the orchid tribe, only every
body could not afford to "sport" an orchid
in his buttonhole worth $40 or so. These
are the Injuries reserved for the happy few
who are not obliged to toll or spin. The
sweet-wlliam is a struggling sort Of flower
and soon drops eff. Why do not the Rsdi-
Gals tai e the sun-foge It's snowy, effective
and aesthetic. Pray make them present of
this suggestion.