Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-27
THE FLEETlNG SHOW.
Some of It's Facts and Fancies.
Written for the JOURNAL. AND COURIER I
UNNoTED BEAUTY.

UNNOTED BEAUTY.
It is not given to every eye to note the
beauty in common things, still less in
those that are minute or that lack the at
traction of conspicuous ooloring. The
beauty that lies in symmetry, In the ex-
auisits adaptation of the part as in plants,
to the work 1t has to do, is hidden from
the careless observer and revealed only to
the trained and loving and appreciative
eye.
No one but an artist would have noticed
the suggestions of Gothic architecture in
in the seed-poda of flowers, as has George
D. Leslie, R. A., and not every artist could
have written his observations in q style 30
charming and picturesque. Mr.. Lsslie's
"Letters to Marco" recently published re.
cord the life, the growth, ths ways of the
commonest plants and creatures, and show
how much we mics who are blind to the
little marvels all about us. There are
more, indeed, than we have time to OBJ
serve, but at least we should not allow
ourselves to be entirely ignorant of them.
Tho passage on "Ssed-V Vessels" quoted
here, may be considered somewhat unssa-
sonsble. But, "when you have found q
good thing make haste to share 1t with
Others" ia good rule to follow, so, in sea-
son or out, 1t shall not be withheld from
those who may enjoy 1t.
HAS it ever struck you, as an artist,
that there is more picturesque architec
tursl structure display cd in the seed and
it's case than in all the rsst of the plant
and its partsi Flowers are very beautiful;
but the colored petals of which they are
usually formed possess not half the ar
ohitoctnro1 ku Of fha oaoA rooay,taola
Take, for instance, a poppy-head of seed.
with its cup and ornamental little roof
top, beneath the caves of which are the
little windows, through which the seeds
fall out when ripe. The flower, when in
bloom, is but a tumblsd mass of Ioveliness
compared to this compact and neat ar
rangsment, which may be considered as q
regular little house with Thousands of little
lives within 1t. Look at the wonderful
combination of strength and lightness dis
played in the walnut shell, the pictur-
esaueness of the covering of the horse
chestnut, or the quaintness of the winged
seeds of the sycamore. How different
| they all are, and how artistic.
The seed-heads of the lily tribes, again,
| are extremely full of artistic interest.
Most of the spring Towering sorts have
dropping or bent-over flowers, which sr.
rangement serves to protect the pollen
from spring winds aud rain. The crown
imperial and fritillariss in general, the
snowdrops, the dsffodil, and most of the
early blooming lilies are examples of thie
but 10 the seed-hsads ripen they strsighter
themselves up, and in this position gel
more warmth and light. All these seed
heads have great character, reminding on,
of the beauties of Gothic architecture snt
resembling knights maces or beautiful
vases or chalices with quaint lids t,
them"
| "a. L. o. E."
How many times, as children, we WHIT
are children no longer have carried hom
from Sunday School library book whicl
bore upon its title-page the mystic letters
"a. L. o. E." Who "Aloe" was, and VII,
she, CT possibly he, wrote the name alway
in capitals with periods between, we di
not know, but usually we found the book
very pleasant and helpful reading thong
very serious and always of . religion
character. This used to be distinctly
feature of Sunday School books: It is nc
now, any thing that Is worth reading ct .
being considered suitable for q Sunda
School library. A pleasing story, with Il
D moral teachings suggested rather than oil
= truded, il now the choice of Sunday Scho
q book committee, and perhaps they a
right. There is, however. much to be sal
upon the other side of the question
n A. l. o. Els books hold their placs yet
!. most libraries to which young people ha'
% access, but whether they are carried hon
2 a. often, or read with as much interest
). they were few years ago, is doubtful.
When We leared that "A. L. o. {" v
to be interpreted. "A Lady of England
"a We were still more mystifed. "Aloe"
u liked and respected, but A Lady was ali
gether too vague q personality. Possit
= our interest in her stories wsned after Il
n discovery.
A. san later, We learned that her name '