The herald., 1893-12-14

80 varieties growing in the United
States. This flower is presented by
Mrs. Gray OF Kansas.
Cotton. Charming as decoration, as
we'll as representing utility. This flower
Is presented as candidate by Mrs.
James Phean of Tennessee.
A garland, com posed OF all the state
flowers. This combination of flowers is
in coneonance with the genius oil our
institutions, and carries out the idea OF
'E Pluribus Unum," and is similer to
the wreaths already placed upon our
coins. This idea OF the garland OF state
flowers ia original with, and ia presented
by Mrs. Harriet w. II. Strong of Gal
iiorna.
Mrs. Norah Gridley. 30 College place,
Chicago, ILL.,, is secretary. The honor
ary members are: Mrs. Grover Cleve-
land. Mrs. u. s. Grant, Mrs. James
Garfield, Mrs. Jefferson Davis, Mrs.
Robert e. Lee.
From the Inter-Ocean of October 10th
is taken the following, which is the
plan that supercedes all others, having
aforementioned. The wife of the state
botaniet, Mrs. J. g. Lennon, is the
delegate for California.
the following paper before q meeting OF
ladies at the Pennsy lvanis building,
worlds fair:
To the National Floral Emblem Society of
America:
After the experiences OF the past few
weeks we all appreciate the ease with
which state flower can be chosen, and
the difficulties attending the selection OF
national flower that shall express the
loftiest sentiment of great people, that
shall combine cultivated taste and true
fitness, that shall symbo our highest
national thought and deepest under
standing of the spirit OF our institutions
referring to our past, yet hol ing US to
more glorious future, and, withal, one
acceptable to all sections.
| Referring to three candidates already
presented, would say that the Valley
Forge arbutus OF revolutionary fame may
be said to represent all that could be
desired of patriotic sentiment as reiates
to the past. It's a thing OF beauty, a
| symbol of hope, a life-inspiring fra
GRANGE, AN honored flower. The next is
the an.ithesis OF the arbutus-Indian
corn. Its leading idea is material wei.
fare, life-subsisting elements-the bread
OF life, in short. Yet "man cannot live
by bread alone" 1t represents
the highest utilitarian idea OF life.
Its claims, verified, expressed, crystalize
into money. 1t represents food for ami
mails and food and drink for man. Com.
ing between these two extremes, stand
ing as representative combination of
beauty and grace, with utility of an
other sort, is the majeetic pampas, the
king of grasses. Ready every day in
/ tho fnp ruioa olI foatsun
sions, beautiful, adapted to the use ci
both gentlemen and ladies, already en-
ployed by the farmer for several years
as the national emblem, assisting in the
election of two presidents, prominent
in the great floral festivaie of the west
and parades of the east, popular in
Europe, though grown in America,
pampas will always be favorite.
While recognize and deeply appre.
ciate all the qualities OF these and many
other claimants, permit me to suggest
that we may be unduly measuring the
value and Importance of the emblem
simply as an emblem. Are we not re.
peating the mistake of bringing gift
to our countIy's altar to honor that
altar? We have the matchless exam
pie that it is not the gift that elorifief
the altar, but the altar that sanctifef
the gift.
Our country'a altar is before US, clean,
unadorned, yet inscribed with memor-
able words selected by the protectors oi
that altar, the defenders of our flag, e
pluribus unum. These words have
never been eymbolized, never visibly ex.
pressed. Let me suggest to you thai
nothing could be more fitting than a
suitable expression OF these words al
this time by the wives, the mothers and
daughters of our country.
The chief of one of the great depart.
ments, which includes Horticulture, said
to me the other day: "Our national
flower should come by inspiration u
Ladies', is there no inspiration for this
hour. this occasion? Let us be sure that
we have flowers; simple flowers, Gods
gift to US. There is sentiment, there is
religion in q flower. ''Its still small
voice is as the voice of conscience. Seas,
suns and systems bear not the impress
of his mighty power in characters more
legible than he has written OIL
the tiniest flower whose harebel
bends beneath the dewdrop's weight
We have a great opportunity that af-
fords inspiration OF the truest character.
Our country's altar is before us. Let us
each, in the sisterhood of states, bring
our state flower and lay it upon the
altar OF our country, there entwine
them in garland, beautiful floral
emblem, q Hymbol of our united state
hood. a garland that will speak for al
time OF our numbers and our unity this
memorable year OF jubilee. One out o.
many. A circlet without beginning OF
end. A wreath for the brow of the
Goddess of Liberty. A floral garland oi
our coins, a united siaterhood. In
brief, shall we not present the one ex.
preston OF our motto, "E pluribus
unum." voiced by our choicest and
best?
United by new ties, new clasping Of
hands. a new bond of peace. union OF
| hearts and of flowers, we again stand,
Zone and indivisibie. now and forever. u
HARRIET w. r. STRONG.