The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-03-29

To So that, in general effect, its appear
nnce resembles the passion flower. is TO give
but n poor description, and yet ono searches
in vain for a more fitting comparison. Lack
ing entirely the strong contrasts in color Of
the latter, il yet wears q halo OF its own. UNI
like any other in the whole range of floral e.
fec:S.
When viewed through powerful lens, ono
traveller claims the heart of tho flower,
which, to the naked eye, lies flooded in
warm, colorlcss light, assumes the most ex-
quisite irjdeSceat hues, far moro beautiful
than the defined tints OF the passion flower.
Melting to tho ego in its juiciness and deli
cacy, yet firm in its pure outline and
rounded finish, i. bears the same relation to
that chosen type Of tho great Suffering, that
peace bears TO passion, or that promise bears
TO prayer.
Soon the aspect of tho flower changes rs
though over the well spring of its eternal lifo
hangs some ruthless power forcing it back
into darkness, before an hour has passed, We
can see that its newly found viSor is fndin,
away. Tho pulsing light at its heart grows
fainter and fainter-slowly tho petals rniss
themselves, TO drop wcarily side by side upon
its.bosom-and finally, its beauty vanished,
its strength exhausted, it hangs heavy and
brown upon its stem, waiting for the touch
This rare botanical wonder, blooming one
moment before admiring eyes, and next lying
dried end shriveled, is not without its legend
airy interest, though the odor Of its oriental
history has, by this time, been rcary blown
away b. that sharp siinoom of investigation,
which has already whirled so many pretty
fables and theories into oblivion.
The story of the resurrection flower, a.
given in 1856 by tho late DIR. Deck, the
naturalist, is as follows:
While travelling on a professional tour in
Upper Egypt, eight years before, engaged III
exploring for some cost emerald and copper
mines, he CHANGED TO render medical service
70 on Arab attached to his party. In graf; :.
tudc the child OF tine desert formally rrc-
seutcd to him .his calls-l '.Resurrection
Flower at the same time enjoininS him
never 10 part with it. Like the tabled gift
of the Egyptian, it was supposed to have
magic in the web of it, Tho doctor was
solcmnly assured by tho Arab and others oil
his race that ii had been taken ten years 10
fore from the breast % an Egyptian mummy
high pricSteSs, and was doomed a great
rarity; that It would never decay il properly
cared for; that its possession through life
would tend to revivc hope i'll adversely, and
if buried with its owner, wosild insure foI
him hereafter all the cnjoyments OF til,
Seventh Heaven OF MohamIned W hen IRE
tented, this flower was ore OF two hansin.
upon the same stem DR.. Deck carefully pre-
served one. The twin specimen he presented
to Baron Humboldt, who acknowledged it L
he the greatest floral wonder yet seen ant
the only ono he had met with in the course q
his extensive travels.
For years the doctor carried his treasury
with him everywhere, prizing il for its in
trinsic qualities and invariably awakeain.
the deepest interest whenever be chantSd Il
display its woi.drous powers. During TN
remainder of his life, it is claimed, he cause,
tho flower TO open many times, ~ithCut calls
ing any diminution of its marvellous proIart,
or any injury whatever TO it