Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-11
THE MATE FLOWER QUESTION

n
taken on the state flower question :
that is to say, what native flower is :
most emblematical of the state and =
most typical of its fora? In Whatcom I
considerable interest has been aWak- :
ened i'm the matter among the ladies ,
and quite spirited contest seems :
probable, though with our ideas of the .
"eternal fitness of things" we confess
orr inability to understand how any !
considerable degree of enthusiasm can
be worked up in favor of the hop
flower, which is one of the two candi-
dates for the suffrages of those inter-
ested i'm the matter on the Bay. Or
course this is said with all due defer
ence to the taste of the ladies who are
championing the cause of the effer-
vescent hop The blossom is very
pretty, we admit, but yet it can hardly
be regarded as flower in this contest.
1t belongs rather in the same class
with potato blossoms, and in our hum
BILE opinion is not eligible as candi-
date for public favor in this election.
II is not indigenous 10 the soil of this
state, is in no sense typical of its flora
and is emblematical of little but yeast
and beer, with suggestions of such con-
comitants of the latter as pretzels and
limburger cheese. And, furthermore,
hops have lice, and it is really quite
beyond our comprehension how the
ladies can champion anything lousy,
no matter how pretty it may be at
times. Hops are all right as a trade
mark for brewery, but it would be
ridiculous to adopt its blossom as an
emblem of this grand state. Don't,
ladies, don'tl
A far more appropriate flower has
been suggested by Mrs. Ella Higgin-
son, of New Whatcom, the popular
poetess-laureate of Washington. 1t is
the white clover, beautiful and sturdy,
indigenous to the soil and at home in
all parts of the state, from the shores
of our matchless inland sea to the
snow line of the Cascades and Olym
pics, and on the vast rolling plains o
the Columbia as well as on the island:
and in the valleys of the grand BASH
of Puget sound. There may be othe
flowers in the state more beautiful dur
ing the little while they bloom, ant
others less common, but the fact that
is common is a strong argument in it
favor, and certainly thus far, all thing
considered, none other has been urge
which is so emblematic of the "Evel
green state" and therefore worthy 9
adoption. Perhaps there may be Other
more appropriate, but if that is so it
time they were brought to publ
notice. The choice seems limited
the black-eyed Susan, of Easter
Washington, the rhOdodendron, sy
inga, hop and clover, and of these II
clover really seems most worthy of OF
favor. Mr.. G. It. Conover, one of Il
most prominent and popular of Il
younger citizens of Seattle, writes
the Post-Intelligencer in support
Mrs. Higginson's choice as follows:
1.-THE recent discussion regarding sui
able state flower has brought out ma
interesting ideas. but confess that un
today had not noticed the suggestion
any particular flower that seemed e
tirely appropl late. The syringa was I
favorably received, and it seems to
that the only merit the rhododendron
is the fact that it is evergreen, there
typifying our sobriquet, 1.-THE Evergrt
State" The latter flower is found Of
in few unfrequented places. and it is
uncommon that not one out of humid
of washlngton's people are familiar "
IT, and besides it has Raudy beauty d
is not n keeping with the character
this state.
ELLA Higginson. with true poetic
stinct, has, to my mind, named the flo
that is destined to be the state emblei
the modest and beautiful clover. i
found 10 every nook aud corner Of
commonwealth, on mountain sides and
valley. II is, therefore. emblematic OF
tireless energy and enterprise Of our st
smoke OF the matter today to one OF
most eminent engineers In the MOI
west, Mr. John G.. Scurry, who Is fami
I'm an exceptional degree with every
tion Of the state. and he said: If
state flower question is decided on
merits, It must be the clover, Mrs.
0inson's choice. II is the only flower
"a found wild in every portion Of the st
and TO which our climate seems pecuii
adapted. In mountain passes and
most inaccessible places, where prob
human feet had never trodden befor
have often been pleasantly SURPRISED
find a rich carpet of fragrant clover
..Tbe wealth OF honey in the clover
resents the wonderful richness OF
state. and the flower has lasting pc
soonarv While not peculia