The record-union., 1897-07-04
The Battle of the Roses.


delegation of flowers met in convention;
10 elect fair queen it was their inten-
ton;
In the shade of the trees a sweet haven of
rest,
Where soft zephyrs the cheeks of the
flowers careSSed,
At the earliest dawn with their jewels
yet on
While birds of the wildwood We're awaken
ing to song.
There were many aspired this great honor
to win,
And their gayest attire they We're all ar
rayed IN.
A gallant Larkspur rang out a pretty Blue
The right time to come, Floras kingdom
to tell.
Tall Hollyhocks hurried on to get front
Dressed in bright flaming colors. thus hop
ing TO beat.
Old Bach'lor Button was sitting by Mari
gold;
Miss Columbine and Sweet Briar thought
they were bold.
There Mr.. Sunhower sat by fair Marguer-
ite,
With some demure little Daisies, prim and
so neat
Perriwinkle said: Look there is old Dan
delion,
Whispering his nonsense to the Misses
Woodbine.'
Now, all dressed in white, came the Misses
Lily; so pure,
Gladiola spoke up, "rhey will get the
vote, sure.
The Misses Iris We're there, with Chrysan-
themum,
And Johnny Jump-ups came with the Miss
Red Geranium
The Misses Thistledown now kept up such
a futter,
That SnoWballs and CrocuseS began to
''Just look at the snapdragons with all
their hoods on
Sitting beside the stately Lady Washing
ton;
And see, there is Mr. Cactus and some Old
Man,
For Fuchsia are trying to get votes if they
Now. old Cactus leaned over. his thistles
Z stuck in
The shoulder of the right charming Miss
JeSSamine;
The tulips, they Uttered, and Miss Hya-
cinth laughed out;
The Chairman Camelia hammered his
gavel about;
Then a dear little Daisy arose to explain,
And great Dalhia shouted the nomi-
nee's name.
A star-eyed purple Pansy said: II nomi-
nate
The California Poppy. the flower of
State"
Then sweet Miss Lilac, smiling, named
And China ASter sang out, Carnations,
we hope"
The Miss Jonquil Miss Mignonette and
Said that they and Miss Phelox thought
Miss Poppy would do
Sweet Violets and Buttercups. said, "Our
vote goes
With the Forget -Me-Nots for the beauti-
full Rose"
Then Sweet William as one of the tellers
was named;
Now, the flowers worked hard, but Vio-
let's perfume
And Buttercups shining ways won all in
the room.
Then the ballots were counted and il was
found
That, the beautiful Rose had won the
bright crown;
And that she by her sweetness was worthy
to be
Crowned by all Flora's kingdom as her
majesty
Now, Morning Glories and the Ferns he
gan dancing
With the -Four Oclocks, to sweet music
enhancing;
Then they all Joined hands and their sweet
fragrance they blent,
And so a-whirling around the throne they
all went.
The fair Roses in love then threw their
sweet petals,
Which smilingly fell as pure snow in bat
tie
They rollicked and frolicked in joyous con-
fusion,
The Queen waved her scepter and said. in
conclusion:
Now, my dear loyal subjects, will YOU.
one and all.
,
And one day of each year, in the spring
time, will meet
And give of your beauty and sweet frag-
rance fete?"
Our Most Gracious Sovereign, your good
pleasure is ours,
And long, long may you reignt" thus said
those sweet flowers
I'm the land of the olive, the fig and the
vine
We will come at your bidding and kneel at
your shrine
Then they all sang in chorus-the air was
sublime
Where the forces of Nature all beauty
combine,
The City of Angels. where the people are
bleSt,
The sun kisses the earth and holds her in
careSS,
Where the orange trees bloom, and the
birds ever sing
Their glad notes Of welcome, our tributes
We'll bring
Lizzie Cross Peckham, in Los Angeles
Times