The Dickinson press., 1889-08-31
Tile LOVELY VIOLET.
FACTS AND FANclES ABOUT THE
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FLOWER.

BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FLOWER.
The I"c,s Know Moro THAI the Scientists
ot Such Thin.s-Shakespeare's Refer.
cncc to the Violet-The Supcrstitions of
M".li:rval Times.
According to the scientists, who are a
dull sort of folk, however, and who love
to hide their ignorance behind long
names of learned sound, the violet is a
genus of %cXogcnous herbs of the order
N~iola"ur and is Il native of tho northern
temperate zone. But the poets know a
great deal more than the scientists, for
they were born before them and will
survive them, and the poets tell us all
ai.r:t the creation Of this fragrant flower.
When Jupiter VAS in love with 10 and
changed her into Il heifcr, dceming that
common grass and flowers we're no fit
diet Tor ii sweetheart of the king of gods,
h" created the violet that she might feed
upon its dainty petals And, it is added,
a!Irn 10 died Niolcts sprang from her
body Shakespeare alludes to this old
tradition when he says:
Lay he, l. the earth
And from her fair and unpollutcd flesh
May violctS spring
Tho G>cci name for violet was Ion, and
possibly because that suggested Ionia,
whence tho Athenians were tabled to
have sprung, the flower was n great IA
vorite with the %.Athcnians, who adopted
it as their badge and loved to weavei it
into the chaplcts which they wore at
%Ianqucts. thinking. indeed, that it was a
guardian against drunkenness.
.\lcibiades went to Agathos crowned
with ivy and violcts. The only lines
that have survived from Alcrus' ode to
Sappho begin by addressing her as
Violet crowned, pure, swcetly smiling
Sappho." The Athenian orators, when
striving 10 win tho favor and attention
of the people, were wont to address them
as "%Athcnians, crowned with violets!'
Among the Romans also the violet was
highly esteemed. Ovid, in speaking of
tho ancient sacrifices and contrasting
their noble simplicity with the garish
display of moro degenerate times, says
that 'if there was any ono who could
add violets to the chaplets wrought from
flowers of the meadow he was a rich
man," And Virgil, to emphasize tho
desolation Of nature mourning the death
OF Daphnis, speaks of the violet as re-
placed by the thistle.
TIE VIOLET IN THE EAST.
In the east the violet had a great repu-
tation among those races whose religions
were rather emotional than mystical.
The Arabian poets, like their brother
bards of other climes, babe the wealthy
and naughty learn humility from this
lowly waysidc preacher. 1t was a favor
tic flower with Mohammcd, and hence
has acquired a peculiar sanctity in Mos
lem countries. ".Asmy religion is above
Others" quoth the prophet, $50 is the ex-
c%cllencc of the odor of violets above
other odors. 1t is as warmth in winter
and GOODNESS in midsummer"
1t is likely that it was from some long
foreground Of popular homage that tho
violet became tho badge of the medieval
MINISTRIES, as in the poetical contests of
Toulouse, where the prize was u golden
violet. Clcmcncc 1saurc places the VIC
ltC tllllOIlH lIlc IlOhGIS WIlu winch VlCCOTS
i'll the gal science were crowned.
The superstition still survives i'll widely
scattered countries that to dream of the
violet is good luck. In B~randcnburg
and Silesia it is held 4 specific against
the aguc. In Thuringia it is a charm
against the black art. In many parts of
rural Germany tho custom is still OBJ
served of decking the bridal bed and the
cradles of young girls with this flower,
a custom known to have been in use
among the kclts as well as mo the
Greeks.
No one, indeed, names tho flower but
to praise it; no one uses it but for some
pretty, useful or poetical purpose. Its
popularity is highly creditable to human
nature. Except that in some regions of
the cast it has been used to flavor sher-
bets, and that in Scotland it has been
mistakenly used as a cosmetic, it has
been universally cherished only for its
modesty and its beauty and its delicate
fragrance.
CORPORAL LA VlO1ETTE.
In modern Franco the flower has been
adopted as the emblem of tho Bonaparte
family. Corporal Ia Violctte" or 'Papa
Ia Niolctto" was the title bestowed by his
partisans upon tho first Napoleon after
his Punishment to Elba-significative of
their confidence that ho would return
again in the spring.
Early in January, 1915, a number of
colorcd e%ngravings made their appear
ance in Paris representing a violet in
full bloom, with the leaves so arranged
as to form the profile of Napoleon. IN
derneath was this significant motto, "Il
reviendra avea lo printemps." Tho phrase
became al imperial toast, and tho flower
and color wero worn as a party distinc-
ton. And, in fact, the sentiment was
realized. When March 90, 1916, saw Ma
poleone enter tho Tuilleries, after his escape
from Elba, he found the grand staircase
filled with ladies, who nearly smothered
him with violets.
On the death Of the king of Rome very
pretty devices in violets were made,
showing On the edge Of the petals pro.
files Of the members Of the Bonaparte
family, each profile forming the outer
edge of tho petal looking at the flower
and leaving the face white.
On tho death of Napoleon III, also, the
visitors to Chiselhurst wore or carried
there punches Of violets. New York
Herald.
Disheartcniug.
SLOW arc you getting alongT asked a
travelling man Of an acquaintance who
had gone on the stage.
"Oh, l have met with a share Of sue.
cess. Iplayed Hamlet for the first time"
did you get through all right"
Eyes, except that ! happened to Stun
biz and fall into Onhelia,s rraye.n