The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-03

from "a eL-knOWn Am ericdn Women
Who Believe That We Ought to Add
Floral Emblem TO the Country's
Insignia.
Copyright Secured.
NEW YORK, June 1.-The question Of the
choice of a national flower, discussed in
these columns a fortnight ago, has awak-
ened general interest among women. What
sprig of green is dearest to Americans?
What flower is rooted in our hearts and
unfolds its petals in our historyl What
posy offered the brightest promise of wei
come to the first immigrants whose Ship
ploughed westwardl What blossom smiled
as it promised peace to the soldiers of both
parties in the civil warl What bio m is
most fragrant when crushed by the wheels
of the prairie scho 0ner rolling heavily to
ward the land of promise? What flower is
democratic enough to be at home in
earthen crock at the window of the settlers
cabin, and beautiful enough to be the pride
of the rich and worn at a fair woman's
bosom. Is there any flower which could be
made with proprletY an emblem of the r.
public, which could be united nong our
insignia, along with tie flag, the eagle and
the sbielda Is there any a lwer which
could rypify our national characters les.
which is distinctly American, large, sturdy
and brave, stately and fragrant, unconven-
tional. and withal delicate in color and tex
ture, fair to look upon! Have we any dow
er which our sculptors could chisel and ouI
artists paint, and which wanderers cou d
point to as the flower of their own land7
Can we have national flower? To continue
the quota ton of opinions:
"Ihe mountain laurel, with its rich leaves
and lavish bloom and wide distr button.
seems to me The fittest flower for nationa
emblem, and next to it the golden rod, tina
incarnate sunshine OF aleslmmer."
EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.
Following the poet come the artists, and
first the founder of the Society of Asso-
ciated Artists, the fountain-head of decora-
tive art in America:
81 think the magnolia is the most pecu-
liza Ito us) Fl wer we have, but wit on,
question of appropriate ess should nam
tne water lily as queen among native bios
SONS. CANDACE WHEELER.
MY answer is the ma nolia, the Ameri-
can species Of magnolia. IL is 4 very large
flower, can be seen at a great dis ance,
which is great adva tage for decoration
at any national festival Secondly. it has
a fragrance, and in t Q language Of flowers
taking the poets of all nations as the
heaven sent interpreters) fragrance is EN-
blematical Of soul. Thirdly, 1t grows on
stro stem, and strength is a national
Characteristic. Fourth, tie magnolia has
not yet been connected with any OF er
country or Characteristic, and so is Tree from
other assoc G-ions.
However, there is another flower to
which hangs the only historic lege d con-
nected with the revolution of l776, t g trail
ing arbutus. The legend is TIA t where tie
most blood was SIZED for att nal indepen-
dence there the flower has the deepest color.
The trailing arbutus blossoms u der the
snow, has perfume, has both vitality aud
deicacy, and is hardy, can take ca o II it.
self; IN short, has American characteristics.
Its long straggli & vine taxes 4ot easily
and bears Lrown and green leaves aud nas
furry stem. believe the arbutus grows
nowhere but in this country.
I'm using emblens in decorative de ign
ing l have employed the trai ing g bu us
for the north and tne magnolia for the
south when making decoration to typify
our whole United States"
AGNES DoNLEY.
New York Studio of the Ladies, Art Asso-
citation.
Some members of the guild of the pen Of
fer INTEREST," g suggestions:
"As to the choice of national flower, in
the first place, l would say let it be dis
tinctly American. Let us not adopt sym
bols, as well as citizehs steal the emblems
of foreign states as we steal their literature
and music. So leave unplucked-at royal
English rose, Bourbon lilies, Bonapartist
viOletS, German Imperial cornflowers, the
Austrian stephanotis, the allan mar
guerite and the Swiss edelweiss. Lay not
violent ha DIS On the Scotch this le. Seek
not to transplant the Irisl shamrock, think
ing 1t would always grow four-leaved for
us. Let us have something new, native and
characteristics.
Coming of Puritan stock my first unre-
tectlng choice was first new w rid
flower heheld by the Plymouth Pilgrims.
the dear sweet trailing arb tus. 1t is hardy il
is CHEEKY, even brave and pushing when dead
leaves and Late SHOWS obstruct its passa g TO
the light, but 1t Is also modest and does not
get above the grouHd. Certes, lis too hum
bic flower for us. TIE yellow iassamine
OF the south is o sectional and the W III
clematls and the affiuent wisteria are vi es.
ana We want no creeping ing, not eveu
the splendid scarlet begonia OF Virginia.
though that is not objectioA ably modest. 1t
blows its own trumpet in magnificent style.
Inc laurel and rhOdodendrun are shrubs,
very me In their way, but not in II national
representative way. Nor are we quite
rettaS - adopt tue brilliant cardinal 40 err
IL bath a seetaria D, papal suggestiveness
besloe IL Belongs to wild, sHampy regions
ana VIII vanish as we settle up the land
Inc lilac is too domestic aud the sunfowe
TOO aesthetic. We want something big, but
noble and grand, and what 50 emf en- ly
ana poetlcally proper as the magnolia, the
magnolia grdndiford? The tree gives
generous shade for tie weary, the glorit us
hover itself shines starlike amid the dark,
Trlch foliage, and sweetens the circum an
plent air, far and near. 1t is not a delicate
exotic, for the Conservatives OF the ari,to-
crat the millionaire. Ii is not only
Iree native product, but splendid as it is
thoroughly democr tic sym OIL"
GRACE GREENWOOD
As national emblem l oud suggest,
Us some one has done before me, p-rhaps,
the apple blossom as the most appropriate
OF all our field or orchard flowers.
In ma ure and in art apple blossoms are
beautiful aid graceful, and whll. t e.r
fragrance makes the orchard place of de-
Hght IN May, suggestive alike to the bees
Oh hoey AID to man OF the fruits that shall
Swell in sunny June
And redden in tie August noon
The apple is our national fruit; an i'm
portant source of tie nations wealth, aud
Is found in all parts Of the union Apple
blossoms are universal favorites, welcome
alike IN talls of splendor and in tie cot
tages of the poor. Thtir rosea hues are
reminders of childhood's day and linked
with thousand dear me uories of home
and friends. The ap 10 blossom las
nto - Ii.