Wichita eagle., 1888-04-01
THE RESURRECTION FLOWER.
Stories That Are Told Of This Natural
Wonder.

Stories That Are Told of This Natural
Wonder.
Travellers in Egypt, who profess 20 have
seen the genuine resurrection flower, describe
it as little ball hanging on It's fragile stem,
and resembling both in color and shape 4
shrunkea poppy head Sleeping. but not
dead, the flower is aroused By being for an
instant immersed in water and then sup
ported in an upright position. Soon tho
upper fbers ,egin 70 stir Slowly, ye. Wis
IDLY, thev unfold, until, with petals thrown
back IL equidissans order, II assumes the ap-
pearance of a beautifully raiiated, starry
flower, not unlike some OF the sssers in form
Resting a moment, it suddenly, as though
inspired by some rev impulse. throws its
very heart 20 the daylight, curving back its
petals farther still and disclosing beauties
undreaned OF even in the lovel;ness OF its
first awakening
To say that, in general effect, its appear
a1ce resembles the passion flower. Is TO give
but poor description, and yet one searches
in vain for a more fitting comparison Lack
ing entirely the strong contrasts in color Of
the latter, il yet wears halo Of its own, UNI
like any other in the whole range OF floral es-
fects
w ucu N4S"rSi u pTNeFIUi EeDs, Offo
traveller claims the heart Of tho flower
which, to the naked eye, lies flooded in q
warm, colorless light. assumes the most ex-
quisite iridescent hues, far moro beautiful
than the defined tints of tie passion flower.
Melting 10 the eye in its iuicinsss and deli
cacy, yet firm In its pure outline and
rounded finish, it bears the same relation TO
that chosen type Of the great Suffering, that
peace bears TO passion, or that promise bears
TO prayer.
Soon the aspect of the flower changes. As
though over the vel spring of its eternal life
hangs some ruthless power forcing ii back
into darkness, before an hour has passed, we
can see that its newly found vigor is fading
away. The pulsing light at its heart grows
fainter and fainter-slowly the petals raise
themselves, to drop YEARLY 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
that alone can walen it again
This rare botanical wonder blooming one
moment before adrnirins eyes, and next lying
dried and shriveled, is not without its legend
airy interest, though the odor OF its oriental
history has, by this time, been neary blown
away by that sharp sImoom of investigation,
which has already whirled so many pretty
fables and theories into oblivion.
The story of the resurrection flower, as
given in 1886 by tho late DR.. Deck, the
naturalist, is as follows:
While travelling on q professional tour in
Upper Egypt, eight years before engaged in
exploring for some lost emerald and copper
mines, he CHANGED to render medical service
to an Arab attached to his party. In grati-
tude the child OF the desert formally pre-
sented to him this now called RESURRECTION
Flower at the same time enioining him
never to part with it. Like the tabled gift
of the Egyptian, it was supposed to have
''magic in the web of it.n The doctor was
solemnly assured by the Arab and others Of
his race that it had been taken ten years be-
fore from the breast Of an Egyptian mummy,
q high priestesS, and was deemed n great
rarity; that it would never decay if properly
cared for; that its possession through life
would tend to revive hope in adversely, and,
if buried with its owner, would insure for
him hereafter all the enjoyments Of the
Seventh Heaven Of Mohanned. When pre-
sented, this flower was one of two hanging
upon the same stem. DR.. Deck carefully pre-
served one. The twin specimen be presented
to Baron Humboldt, who acknowledged IL TO
be the greatest floral wonder yet seen and
the only one he had met with in the course Of
his extensive travels.
For years the doctor carried his treasure
with him everywhere prizing it for its in
trinsic qualities and invariably awakening
the deepest interest whenever be CHANGED to
display its wondrous powers. During the
remainder of his lie, it is claimed, he caused
the flower TO open many times, without caus-
Ing any diminution OF its marvellous property
or any injury whatever TO it.