Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-18

floating lily of electric blue, and the large
white pond lilies, represent the Blue and
W Mite Nile lotus, while the red 10 near
Indian cousin who il an ancient report is
10 De believed, was white until its petals
We're stained by the flowing blood OF the
goo SRA when wounded by the Hindoo
Cupid.
These all belong to the same family, the
Nymph3a, and were considered sacred
oy the Egyptians. They are mentioned
and described by Herodotus. Theophras-
tus, Athen9us, Dlosoorides, and Pliny.
Inc blue lotus is most frequently repre-
sented on monuments; it's fragrance ac-
counting for the position in which it Is
held, as Tito inhale the perfume. The white
lotus Is the plant most frequently alluded
TO 0y ancient authors. 1.-THE lotus so
called" Herodotus tells us, ''grows chief
ly in the plains (of Egypt) where the
country Is inundated. The flower is
white, the petals are narrow as those of
Ine lily and as numerous as OF a very
double flower. When the sun sets they
cover the seed vessel, and as soon as the
sun rises, the flowers open and appear
above the water, and this is repeated till
the seed vessel is ripe and the petals fall
OIL" AS early as O'Clock in the after
noon the observations OF the old Greek
may hnd Endorsement if one chooses to
take the trouble to look again at the lilies
In Union square. The suberb blue Nym-
ph@a was yesterday almost closed and
half sunk beneath the water, while the
red and white lilies were at that time al
most as close as buds, though still up
right. The plant not only is closely ln-
terwoven with the religious faith of the
Egyptians, and is found engraved upon
their tombs, but, to misapply Words
Wortn's horribly prOsaic image, sis not
too good for human natures daily food"
Both the seed and the root--"to what
bases uses do we come"--is eaten. In
times OF the great Indian famines it has
been largely resorted TO for food, and has
done better service in propltiating the
god OF destruction than IL even did as a
sacred sacrifice. On the authority OF
Cook the root OF the lotus resembles
ounce when raw, and the yelk OF an egg
when boiled, facts hard OF reconciliation,
but which must be swallowed when so
presented.
Aprop0s of the name of lotus (though
without connection with water lilies,
possibly 1t may not be quite out of place
to say that the lotus made familiar TO Us
II the Homerlo myth, and still more by
TennysOn's melodlous verse, is not an
aquatic plant, but a small thorny tree,
bearing fruit about the size of an olive
and in sweetness like the fruit of the
palm tree by name Zizyphus Lotus or
JujuOe and from which is made a wine.
Mungo Park, speaking OF this African To-
tus, says bat the DatiVas gather the ber-
ry, expose 1t TO the sun, afterwaTd pound
ii In mortar 10 separate the estAb Bile part
from tie ssed and make ii into bread.
which 10 vary sweet The GtoheS are
then shaken about In water, which be-
comes sweetened and is used as s drink,
or cooked with millet into sort OF Cruel.
When we remember that sugar is a
modern invention, or rather Its general
use is modern, ne wonder iess at che &C
Gentuation which Insignificant sToets,
like honey ard dciGd dates and the lotus
fruit, receive at the hands of wri EZRA, an
oient and mediDvai, saoreG and protRne.
The lotus uuit, sad az 1t is to allow such
heresy, Is merely \ commoupiuc. fruit.
which Is sweet and pleasant to the taste,
and yields 8 simple wine, and We must
not forges tho greatysst boon of ALT mas
given 10 the world .he loyelest Of all Ten.
nyson's lovely LYRICS, The Lotus
| Eaters"
| It is q water Ills the queen Of all flow
| ears, the Victoria Regia, thai the world
owes her crystal palace. The house built
| by Mr.. Paxton TOR :his wonderful plant
suggested TO his mind the plan for a palace
| OF glass and iron, instead OF mass Of ma.
sonry, ugly, cumbrous and expensive In
| which the exhibits of the first world
fair should be displayed. The Royal
| Commissioners were charmed out OF all
| their prejudices by tie bold innovation.
| The Crystal Palace was built and we
! have Victoria Regia to thank, with pos
slbly a slight mOdicum of gratitude to
! spare for Mr.. Paxton. .. S. b. FL.