Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-03
mind with regard to this darling of the Hol-

mind with regard to this darling of the Hol-
landers heart
Another equally mournful tale is told Of a
ricn merchant and his beloved specimen Of the
coveted variety known Ssmper Augustus,
and which was valued at 81 400.
One morning in his warehouse he was hold
Ing this treasure in his hand. discoursing to a
friend the while on its value and latent beauty,
when a sailor came in announcing that the ship
on which he belonged was just in from . long
voyage with a cargo of silks for the merchant.
This unexpected piece Of news caused the
merchant to momentarily forget that apple of
his eye, the tulip, and while giving directions
to his men as to the disposal Of the goods he
laid it upon the counter.
When the merchants back was thus turned
the sailor. observing the tulip. and deeming it
a remarkably fine onion-a vegetable for which
he possessed a decided penchant-slipped 1t
into his pocket the owner, in his absorption,
not discovering his loss till after the sailor had
returned to the ship.
Then there was hue and cry indeed! The
store Was fairly turned inside out in the efforts
to discover the missing bulb, till finally some
one bethinking himself of the sailor, rapid
and indignant procession started forthwith for
the quay, and there, alas alack! sat jack tar
serenely upon a coil Of rope, and Just finishing
the last vestige of his "onion," which he had
consumed to the accompaniment Of red her
ring.
The chronicler Of this melancholy history in
his earnestness to relate how merited punish
ment was promptly dealt out to the transgres-
sor. neglects to mention whether the tulip
really tasted like an onion, or whether the
sailor. believing 1t to be onion. the effect OF
mind upon matter thus rendered it one to all
intents and purposes. at scientific psychologist
query that it Is q decided omission not to
have answered.
NOT MUCH CELEBRATED By POETS.
Few poets have sung Of the tulip, flower
poems, indeed, being found to treat almost ex-
clusively Of those blossoms possessing fra
GRANGE. and that this fact is gauge of the pop
ular taste can be proved by the little moons pic
uous mignorette, which is better loved and
more extensively cultivated than many Of it's
snowy, scentiess sisters. fragrance being to a
flower what beautiful character is to a person.
Abraham Cowley, though. who. if now almost
forgot, ranked. IN the opinion OF his contempo-
ratles, with Shakespeare and Spencer and who
was honored by burial in Westminster Abbey,
complimented the tulip in the following quaint
verse:
The tulip next appeared all over gay.
Bnt wanton. iull Of pride and full OF play.
The world can't show n dye but here has place.
Purple an god arc both beneath her care;
The richest needlework she loves to wear
And to outshine the vest in TN fInery."
The Hollanders. though, have always been,
and yet remain. true to their love of the tulip.
To this day they pride themselves on their
collections Of this flower, US the Eug,ishman
prides himself on his horses and picture gal
leries. Holland, too, is headquarters for the
production OF the finest varieties of the bulb.
and florists from all parts Of the world send
there annually for their supplies in this line.
And II their price has been reduced, not so
their beauty. Now, no less gracefully than
then, their wind-shaken cups of ruby and gold
sway on their delicate stems. as If they were
being passed by invisible cup bearers to an un-
seen company of merrymakcrs-the ethereal
banqueters and their servers alike hid BY some
veil which dull human ewes may not penetrate.