The Iola register., 1891-02-13

The exhibition of chrysanthemums a
! NatatOriIm Hall was not only beautl
ful display, atTording pleasure to many
visitors, but was also useful in stimula
ting public interest in the advances
which are being made in the cultiva-
tion of flowers and the increasing prom
inence they are attaining as a factor
| of popular refinement. The chrysan'
| themum, once common flower but
| little esteemed. has been improved by
! intelligent culture and crossing with
the Japanese flower of the same species
until now it presents an infinite variety
| of beautiful blossoms, and has taken its
place as one of the prime favorities for
purposes of decoration in houses as well
as in garden plots. The attention paid
to its development is by no means a
waste of time and effort. The results
serve to show what a wide range OF
taste and skill may be expended on a
single species. with results which fully
repay the enthusiastic cultivatOr. And
every step which is gained in the i'm
provement of single family of flowers
is contribution to the important work
of educating the public taste to a per-
ception of the beauties to be discovered
in what are often regarded as the most
ordinary and commonplace objects. The
farmer whose thoughts have never been
directed to aught but the material con-
ditions of his calling despises as weeds
the many beautiful wild flowers that
spring up in his path every spring, but
if he could be brought to appreciate the
fact that these humble little blossoms
have beauty and value of their own
he would often find refreshment in his
daily toll in taking note of their varied
charms. So of the GwellerS in cities.
10 them, absorbed in the daily routine
Of business occupations or manual Ia
Dor, the florists windows often present
only casual sense of brightness and
color, but in recent years the attention
which has been paid to flowers as adOrn-
ments of life which have a positive
usefulness has brought about a much
more general appreciation of them as
source of pleasure and profit. The man
or woman who has attained to a really
Intelligent love of flowers, who value
them as something more than mere
ornament or for their sweet perfume,
has acquired a refining taste which
nay have almost as important conse-
1uences in the development of charac-
ter as taste for literature. for music
Dr. for art. And, indeed, the influence
Of flowers on humanity in general may
be considered more important and more
widely felt than the masterpieces, of
authors, composers or artists, since
these latter appeal to the educated few,
while flowers touch the hearts and eX-
cite the best impulses of the many.
They are natures means Of ennOb-
ling souls, and who can tell what power
for good they have eXerted, for example,
in our hospitals and prisons? a single
blossom may recall to the weary suf-
ferer or the erring wretch some incl
dent or memory or scene of happier
days which affects him in a way of
which he himself, perhaps, is uncon-
ooncious. They infuse an element of
poetry into the commonest lives and
beautify the most sordid surroundings.
In this view OF the subject ''hower
shows" may be considered as subscribing
a distinctly useful and benefcent pur-
pose. and all efforts to encourage and
stimulate the popular taste for flowers
contribute in some degree to the |
work of popular education and improve
ment which is being effected by means |
OF a great variety of refining agencies.