Morning journal and courier., 1892-09-17
THE FLEETING SHOW.

Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIKR.l CONCERNING A MUCH DISCUSSED QUESTION. The mission of flowers, aside from the end they serve in securing the reproduc- tion of the plant, would seem to be chiefly that of delighting the senses and awaking perception of beauty through their mar vsllously varied charms of color form and odor. It is easy to look upon them as symbols of pride or of humility, of purity, affection, sorrow or victory. Thus they have come to play part in politics, to be adopted as emblems of nation or @ party, and 50 to incite to partisanship, to arouse enthusiasm, and inspire to heroic deeds. The rose, at Roman banquets the emblem of secrecy, once in England the symbol of justice and still Enelend's national flower, has become the memento of terrible civil war when the struggling factions of York and Lancaster Haunted the white rose or the red in evidence of partisanship.
 The lily, or iris, in all probability, was once the emblem of the Franks and the Gauls. It symbolizes nobility or sovereign ty, and in it's heraldic form has long adorn- ed the banner and shield of France. For many centuries it was qusrtered upon the royal arms of England in assertion of her claim to the French throne. keeping it's place tbere until finally discarded by George the Fourth.
 During the first Empire in France the violet became the flower of the Bonapartes. It was the favorite of Maria Louisa during l the few years of her life with Napoleon, called by the common folk t'Pere Violet" l and when he was in exile and she reigning as Duchess of Parma, the Parmesse violets gained world wide fame.s l The Shamrock was the flower of Ireland | in the most ancient times, as it is to-day; | the shamrock, too, has been adopted by
 the Bismarcks, with the motto, 'In trini- l tate robur."
 The thistle is the national flower of Scot land, the marguerite the flower of Italy,
 and the imperial family of Japan bear the chrysanthemum in their coat of arms. In
 France the Boulangists adopted the red
 caruation ss their emblem, and Lord Beaconsield's favorite flower, the prim- rose, has given name to the great Conser-
 vative League of England, while the Social
 Democrats of Berlin have selected the red
 tulip as their floral emblem.
 As for our republic, now the rallying
 point of all natiops, her national flower Is
 yet to be chosen. The subject has of late
 called forth much discussion, some sensi-
 ble suggestions, and good deal of senti-
 mental nonsense. The question might
 have been decided long ago if John Win
 throp had gone about Plymouth with a
 flower thrust in the band of his steeple-
 crowned hat, or George Washington had
 worn one in his buttonhole when he took
 command of the American forces, or,John
 Hancock had kept one twirlipg by the
 stem between his teeth when he attached
 his bold signature to the Declaration of
 Independence. We would have adopted
 the flower, or herb, or weed, SO chosen,
 whatever it might have been, and stamped
 it proudly upon coat of arms, and banner, and seal; It was g
 the fathers of the Republic not to have
 provided for this contingency. It is evi ; dent that we should not adopt Howe, : that is the hereditary possession of any ; other nation. It is enough to adopt theil superhuous citizens. We need something original and more exclusive than are oul
 ports of entry. We want no weeds Nk, , the daisy and goldenrod, though the latte especially typi6es abundance and does fit best to cheer the world with its gay sssem plies and long processions waving thei l golden plumes and torches of yellow flame
 The daisy is abhorred by farmers. val
 
 slight; the goldenrod, also their bane
 belongs to Europe and to Canada as mucl
 as to us., The mountain lanre1, beautifu ss 1t is, must be set aside on account 0 3 being poisonous to the cattle that brows
 upon the young leaves in the spring. Tn
 apple blossom, 90 exquisite in form an 3 tint. is too evanescent, and more than any j., thing else suggests the combined thrift an . refinement of New England. The trailinl srbutus was enthusiastically supported b . numbers of admirers because anothe
 name, the Mayfower, seemed to connect
 with that good ship that conveyed th q Pilgrim fathers and mothers to the ster . and rock bound coast of Massachusetts 70 Enthusia.m cooled, however, ewhen 1t, Vt n found that ,he Mayhower of England k which gave a name to the ship, is the hay "A thorn and not the srbutus. Moreover tn
 plant Is too retiring in its habits to fit
 symbolize the American spirit.
 . Tho pansy also has many to support
 claim, It is a dear little blossom, ,fragran 5 velvety of texture, and rich in color, b, E. entirely without aspirations. A bed st pansies suggests nothing 50 much as ;. Sinderearten when the teacher has stepp. " out, the little rogues crowding and whl P nerinv. and making up funny little fac sr st each other. Then the pansy has tri, b of drumming out' and this trait certain .. is enough to ruin its chances for becomil = tho emblem of great, magnificent repu
 lie.
 e. The tobacco leaf has been suggested ai
 vmbolic American product. Certainly
 the question of It's adoption as the natiol .. emblem were put to vote iM !sg