Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-23
A NATIONAL EMBLEM.
CONSPICUOUS BY ITS ABSENCE IN
THE LAND OF THE FREE.
A Flower Suggested That Would Rsmiad
Us OF the Eternal Trinity OF Our
National Coiors-Others.
InwrY. Va. April ~, 1893.

IRwIE, VA, Aprii ~, 1888.
To ne Editor of TIE Dispatch:
As nation it is strange We havc no en-
blem or shibboleth by which 70 distin-
guish the Ephramtes from tho Gileadites.
Stranger still-we. az o sober people, full
of prido and progress. should wait for
natural outbursts Of great feeling in or
der that something might crystalize and
take form.
1t IS true in the matter OF national song
tho Narseillaise" and Yankee Doodle"
flashed up like an extra burst when France
and America were heaving with equally
potent disturbing forces of advancement.
Such should be the exception and not tho
rule.
The rose OF England, tho shamrock of
Ireland. tho thistle of Scotland, are not
half SO apt or suggestive as the following,
though not indigenous to the soil of tho
States, which IA growth common TO the
Isthmus OF Tehauntepec. which changes
its color three time day independent OF
adjacent influences and in harmony with
distinct law OF its nature. In the morn
ing 1t IS white. noon red, at twilight it -
blue. Only at high noon does 1t give out
any perfume. This flower il well known
10 the natives, and. while do not remem-
Der its name. the Federal Government,
through It's varied botanical and floral re-
sources. could procure the same. and by
proper cultivation develop II into most
desirable growth. such as We would DO
proud of reminding tho soldier upon the
field of combat Of the eternal Trinity and
our national triune col0rs as well.
THE ROSEMARY.
Another emblem, the rosemary. would
not be out Of place. It has always been
synonymous with fidelity. 1t is common
to Italy, China, France. Spain, and other
warm countries. So with tho mistletoe
and the ivy. Tho former was originally
brought from merry old England, from
whence tho New York 400 import il for
their festal occasions. Like the ivy, 1t Is
common in the South. Our Virginia
mountains supply the northern markets
with thelvy by the carload.
The chaparral Tor liye-osk) would be q
fitting emblem. Tho liye-0sk l have IN
rly minds eve is the same that grows on
the gulf coast of Louisiana, and - an ever
greon of meagre growth, but inherent IN
toughness In Virginia the liye-oak grows
10 very large and outrageous dimensions;
the smallest that now occur TO me are
those within tho campus of Fort Monroe,
possibly of the ohaparral genus. The
original liye-oak of Virginia was an i'm
portatlon in the days of Sir Christopher
| Wren.
JERSEYS FLOWER.
The morning glory, not the least OF en-
blems. In growth 1t IL on tho excelsior
order. n good trailer. over climbing, very
ambitious. unlike the golden-rod, which
IS not pushing, but gets there all the
same" | see that the state Board OF
Horticulture Of New Jersey has adopted
the latter "a their State flower. IN Il can
vass in which tho pansy, the rose. and the
violet were contestants for the honor.
The FsiU de as Of France. which - tho
white iris or flag. This iris may be grown
out of doors. unlike the wedding iris or
England, which is the giant of the genus
IRIS. and Is found wild on the east coast OF
Australia, far away from the habitat OF
any other iris, and pfospers mostly when
treated TO sub-trOpicsl conditions.
Tho tulip. daitOdil mountain laurel. im-
mortelleg. or the modest lily Of the valley,
! all of which are indigenous to this coun-
try. and as en- molems. including tho morn-
/ lng-glory, might be selected from with
| great taste and appropriateness: These
can be worked up INTO national art Tor
( ornamentlng IN architectural designs,
| frleZes. &c. l.. III. LIVELY.