The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-19
Observation-Disclosures.

OF II NAllONAl LOW tis
Now that the American people have
settled political affairs for at least a
brief season. it is well for us TO take
,ip again the momentous question Of
the national flower.
A few years ago one Of the biennial
bursts that sweeps over Iowa like a cy-
clone. bore upon its impctuous gale a
beautiful being named Butler, and land
ed him in the House Of Representatives.
After rubbing his eyes and staring
around this gifted statesman conceived as
his public life's work the establishment
OF a national flower AMI he selected the
pansy. The stars on the flag were arr
ranged in the shape of the modest flower,
and great stacks of gorgeously tinted
prints were piled on Buffers desk.
Day after day the dainty miniature
cards with their distinct ordor Of miXel
paints. glue pots. and machine oil. en-
blazoneG with all the varicgatcd colors
of an oriental sunset, were sent iiuttor-
ing about the legislative han like tine
myriad Of brigNt-winged butterflies that
revei above the foral opulence OF the
Haide.
Postage stamps were cut out Ike the
pansy leaves. and few pansy stick pins
were scattered about in the decolletto
costume Of the goddess OF liberty while
a shirt stud decoration for Uncle sam
blusned in all the hues known to Tyrian
dye shop.
But other work came on and Congress
grew a trine chilly toward Butler even
under the constant shower Of his fervid
colors and glowing rhetoric. and with
the close Of that session Butler and the
pansy wiltcd.
We are again. however, confronted with
the grave question. and this time our
esteemed contemporary, the Central Pres
byterian, comes TO the front with tho
columbine. The paper credits the Ashe-
Vile. y. c.. flower show with the sus-
eesHon. and then weaves about it the
delicious aroma of poesy. by quoting the
following enhancing couplct from Miss
Ingolow:
90 columbine. open your folded wrap
per.
Who're two twin turtle doves dwell"
This is argument enough FOR us, and
we can be put down for columbine right
now This is purely sentimental ques-
ton and 1.-TWO twin turtle doves" suits
US TO a dot Some extreme sentimental
lists may clamor for three twin turtle
doves. or even four. but you cannot ex-
pect a whole brood of turtle doves in one
folded wrapper" and we do not pro-
pose or demand a monstrosity even in
national flower.
The Central Presbyterian says:
The climbing vine Is always beautiful
to us. Its confession OF weakness. its
avowod dependence. Its upward aspira-
tions. its lofty ambitions. its unstinfod
giving itself 10 cover the homely things
and make beautiful all 1t touches; we
would bc like the vine that covers the
old tree, or clusters abOIt the stained
column.
We must confess that we 10 not on
thuse over a perpetual plea of guilty. and
we are not strong on covering up Old
trees. nor do we advocate the disuse OF
soap and water. and believe in covering
mp stained columns. md hiding cyoscres
beneath pretty vines. but its upward
aspirations" catch us about right. and
we vote again for columbine.
OF course Ophelia says:
"And Columoine there's rue FOR YOU.
We may call it herb Of grace o. Sunday"
But OpheIia was crazy. and then she
is dead now. and then. too. she had never
heard. poor thing. about those two twin
turtle doves"