The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-03-03
i SACRED PLANT.

The most popular house plant this
season seems to be the Japanese lily
Every flower fancier knows its delicate
white blossom. with yellow tinted
centre, surmounting the graceful stalk
that rises from a bulbous root. sur
rounded by smooth pebbles. IN a vessel
Of water
When [ first saw it this year. 1t car
ried me back to Grass Valley, Cahfor-
MIA, where a plant closely resembling
it grew in the garden Of my temper
airy home. 1t had been presented to
me by DR.. Wah Kee. digniied
Chinaman. who occupied himself with
affairs temporal and spiritual, as he
was both practicing physician OF no
mean pTetentions and the high priest
Of the temple in that part of Grass
Valley known as China town. | EN-
ployed people of his race to perform
sundry menial services for me, and be
cause | appreciated his authority over
them and deferred to him in regard
to them, he was ever on the alert to
show me some polite attention. Hear
ing that [ was a magician, he several
times invited me to listen to the tenn
pie band at special performances ar
ranged for my express benefit. as well
as at the hour of worship. If | failed
to enjoy the harsh combination of
drums. gOngs and shrill wind instru
ments, the fault was that of my birth
and education. not of the friendly
high priest and medical man.
The lily he gave me | did enjoy 1t
reminded me Of an o.l fashioned
Philadelphia garden plant, the jonquiI.
He brought me the present on Janu
airy 30, the Chinese New Years day, a
time when the Celestials are particu-
larly free in extending hospitality or
making gifts 1t was growing in
water with pebbles surrounding the
bulb. bat DR.. Wax Kee told hle to
plant it In the garden when the spring
opened. If | kept the earth about it
moist. he SAID, it would flourish all
sumner / must watch it very care
fully. he told me, for in it [ would
find an indication Of my own fate.
As long as it continued to thrive and
blossom IN perfection. | might hope
for great good and fortune. but if harm
or blight should overtake the lily /
would have cause to fear Ill luck. To
explain It's rare powers he told me a
charming legend concerning it, which
ran thus:
Long ages ago there dwelt IN a
mighty Chinese city L man who had
enormous wealth He had
two wives. each of whom had present
ed him with a large family The
Youngest and handsomest of these
wives was his favorite, and when he
died he left his entire fortune to her
eldest son with the injunction to pro
vide for his mother and her other
children. The less favored wife and
her family were thus left destitute
The poor wOman's oldest son sought
his fortunate brother and implored
him to relieve the want of those who
had been so cruelty wrOugcd. His
wealthy brother laughed him to scOrn,
until wearied with the petitioners I'M
portunities he mockingly granted him
half an acre Of marshy land, consider
ed wholly valueless. The gods had
looked disapprovingly on the fathers
shameful injustice. and they frowned
still more darkly on the brothers cut
ting scorn. Gazing with protecting
pity on the portionless and wronged
family, they caused to spring up in
this marshy land the dainty lily'I have
described The sale of the flowers
provided ample support for the needy
ones, who were moreover, hon0Ted by
all who knew them, as the favored OF
the gods.
This lily may be transplanted and
it thrives when tended by those who
are worthy to possess it, but it is IN
digenous to no other spot than the
marsh made sacred by the gods.
The Japanese lily that adorns SO
many homes to day undoubtedly has
the same origin as the Chinese plant.
1t should be tended with care by It's
ha,,Ily- r,r,.-.aGSgl,