The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-03
Ssart,r, gtonne and Garden.
THE GARDENS OF GREECE.

Modern society can scarcely form O.
conception OF the extent to which flowers
we're cultivated in Greece, says popular
writer, not merely for the sake of their
beauty when beheld in the garden, but
on account Of the immense use made OF
them in religious ceremonies as we as
In the circumstances of daily life. The.
lover crowned hime elf with flowers when,
he went to visit his mistress, hung gar
lands OF flowers upon her door, and
adorned with wreaths the statues of the
dlvlnlties who were supposed to preside
over love or marriage. Scarcely any one
entered temple uncrowned, and accord
ing to the character of the deity wor-
shipped there, the flowers of the wreath
we're changed. Again when the Atheni-
ans repaired to the theater, which con-
tanned an audience of between twenty.
and thirty thousand persons, nearly every
one wore garland on his head. At pri-
vate paItie likewise, when they dined
or drank together, their brows were deck
ed with flowers, while the apartments
In some instances were covered SO deeply
with roses that they reclined upon them.
as upon sofas.
This taste. which prevailed more or
less throughout the whole country as.
well as in Magma Gr@cia, Sicily, and Asia.
Minor, may convey some idea of the ex.
tent of floral cultivation which eyery--
where constituted an important branch
OF industry, just as the cultivation OF
roses still does in parts of Central Eqy pt
and the mol thern provinces of India. In
these eastern countries vast quantities of
roses are needed for the manufacture of
altar, the most lasting and delicate per-
fume ever invented by man.
In the present day, the Greeks convert
roses to several uses not much thought
OF In the West. At Athens, for exam
pie, Is made conserve of roses, import
ed occasionally into England which may
be reckoned among the most delicious
articles of luxury that can be imagined.
being equally remarkable for taste and
scent as we'll us for its power of stimulst-
ing digestion and promoting health.
The love for natural flowers is a re-.
fined instinct, and no woman, however
poor, can afford to lose the influence of
growing plants in her living rooms all the,
year round, but more esq ecially during
the winter months, when their cultiva-
ton out OF doors is impossible.
A fresh-cut rose, or bunch of carpa-
tons on the dinner table gives to the
simplest repast an appetising flavor, and
the oommonest surroundings are Made
more cheerful from the dash of color and
fragrance afforded by ported plant in
bloom; while the cheap print dress of the
mistress of the cottage, if clean and neat.
and frightened by a single flower upon
her breast, invites the grateful apprecia-
ton OF the tired husband coming home,
from a days hard toll. In this matter
OF ornamentation with flowers as in ply
steal development, women of the present
would do we'll to look to the natural and
commendable customs of ancient Greece
for suggestions, and not to the artificial
and debasing fashions of the France OF
to-day. For the best results in living
we must study the best models, and sure
ly the highest forms of nature are pref
cradle to the lowest forms of art.-Wo-
man.