The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-24

And save aud Jacobs line,
Shall speak to Charlie in the bush,
Like Moses lang syne.
Fa
THE RED FLOWER.
| The Daimio Yoritomo has been dead and
buried for centuries. His castles are either
shapeless ruins or else inhabited by the
descendant of strangers. His wars and
victories, his wealth and splendor are for
| gotten. All that remains of the great
prince Is vague memory. Even the mem.
DRY Is preserved not by reason Of his great.
ness, but by beautiful flower and the
| story of girls love.
Daimio Yoritomo had, In common with
| all great princes, q passion for flowers
His gardens were famous for their beauty
and at the flower show his plants and bios.
| SONS easily excelled all others. In the No.
tional competitions at Kyoto he had car.
ried of the chief prizes Ii times consecu.
lively. A shrewd poet wrote poem in
his praise, calling him 1.-THE Lord of Flow.
| ers.
The verses were not overexcellent, but
tho appellation SO pleased the prince that
he enriched the author and made him the
| poet Of his court.
While Yoritomo loved all flowers his
idol was the chrysanthemum. In his gar.
dens he had more than hundred yari.
cites Of this royal plant. In fact, he had
every kind that was then known in Japan.
There was delicate Evening Star, silver
and gold, which, backed by its dark foil
age, looked like heavenly constellation.
There was the Silk Cloud, which is so fine
that it seems ready to float away, and so
glossy that 1t outshines the finest tissues
of Osaka.
There was the SNOWFALL, the Flame of
Gold, and many other rare kinds which
are SO common nowadays that they have
lost their names altogether
In these floral treasures the prince took
unspeakable pride and pleasure. So deep
were his feelings that If any other lord had
surpassed him in the beauty and variety
of his Chrysanthemums he would have de-
clared war, committed hari kari or done
something else equally insane. Yet,
though he was applauded the length and
breadth of the land for his Horticulture he
really did not deserve a particle of credit.
Outside of the battlefield and the camp he
was slow and indolent, and beyond the
education which every daimio must pos.
sess he was ignorant and unprogressiye.
He knew nothing Of the florist art, and
never dreamed that the beauty and variety
of the domestic flowers were due to infinite
patience, lifelong labor, careful study and
strict performance of duty. Still less did
he think that his many successes In the
flower shows were due to the ability and
fidelity of his head gardener Matsuda and
the assistant gardener Nomori Yet such
was the fact.
Matsuda came of distinguished family
of horticulturists, as, of course, did No
mort, who was second cousin. The two
artists, for artists they were in the highest
sense of the word, had been born in the
profession, had mastered its principles and
secrets in their youth, and after being ad-
mitted into the guild, had dedicated their
lives to becoming masters of their craft.
This they had already accomplished
Matsuda was universally esteemed as the
first florist In the country and Nomori the
third. The second was gardener named
Maruki, of whom we will soon hear more
Matsuda was fine looking man of so,
whose face seemed to reflect the joyous ex-
preston of the blossoms over which he
worked. Nomori was but IS, tall, hand
some youth, with @ complexion like old
gold bronze.
The two were deeply attached to each
other, and the attachment was not lessened
by the fact that Nomori was affianced to
Matsuda's pretty little daughter O-San.
They were a very joyous trio and lived
happily together in the gardener s house in
the middle of Yoritomo's garden. The
wedding was set for a year off, and all of
them took delight in procuring the num-
berless things which are required at all
well appointed nuptials.
There is no fair sky without q cloud,
although we may not see it at the time,
and the cloud on the sky of this happy
household was the florist Maruki. He
was extremely skillful in his calling, and
was very learned, but was devoured by the
demon of envy. He envied Matsuda be-
cause he was head gardener and greater I
florist than himself. He cnvied Nomori |
because he was young and handsome be- |
cause he was close rival and because he |
was to marry O-San
He enyied O-San because she was inno-
cent and beautiful and because she loved
Nomori. He knew that If he could ever
excel Matsuda, even but once, be would be
richly rewarded by the daimio, and proba-
bly, receive the formers place.
Inspired by this idea, he toiled early and
late. His work was of the best and many
were the variations and improvements he
produced in favorite flowers. But he never
surpassed Matsuda, try all he could.
He was discouraged, but not cast down,
and kept on experimenting and expert
menting in the fond hope that some day
he would achieve something which would
make him realize his jealous desires. His
own thoughts preyed upon his body.
Though not over 40, he looked 70 years
old. But where age should have brought
dignity, mental calm and spiritual repose,
his face and form became gaunt and SIMS
ter, ungracious and repelling. Neverthe-
less something did occur which was nine
days wonder. Ono morning Maruki left
his house, carrying large pot of flowers
carefully covered over with silk cloth,
and proceeded to the royal court He told
The doorkceper that ho had new flower
which he desired to present to the daimio,
and which no other eye had ever seen.
He was admitted into the audience
where sat YOritomo, surrounded
by his courtiers. The florist bowed hum
bly,, advanced toward the prince, bowed
humbly again, and then proudly withdraw
ing the silk disclosed red chrysanthe-
mum.
The entire court, regardless of etiquette,
broke into murmurs of surprise. There
could be no doubt of 1t, although it had
never been heard of before. 1t was q red
,hrysanthemum-not pink nor orange, nor
3urplish, but a dull bronze red 1t Was
not a handsome color.
1t was the hue you see on some poison
Jus serpents, or, as the court poet said,