Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-13
THE RED FLOWER.

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:
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
ory 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, 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 ma
tional competitions at Kyoto he had car
ried off the chief prizes Is 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
the 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 vari-
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 it's 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 it 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 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 unprogressive.
He knew nothing of the florist S 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 a 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 80,
whose face seemed to reflect the joyous ex.
preston of the blossoms over which he
worked. Nomori was but 25, a tall, hand
some youth, with a 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 tt
Matsuda's pretty little daughter O-San.
They were a very joyous trio and lived
happily together in the gardeners house in
the middle of Yoritomo's garden. The
wedding was set for year off, and all Of
them took delight in procuring the mum
berless things which are required at al
well appointed nuptials.
There is no fair sky without a cloud
although we may not see it at the time
and the cloud on the sky Of this happy
household was the florist Maruki. III
was extremely skillful in his calling, ant
was very learned, but was devoured by thu
demon Of envy. He envied Matsuda be
cause he was head gardener and greater
florist than himself. He envied Nomor
because he was young and handsome, be
cause he was close rival and because HI
was to marry O-San
He envied San because she was limo
cent and beautiful and because she lovet
Nomori He knew that if he could eve
excel Matsuda, even but once, he would b.
| TlCuly IcWdISlCA Wy UIlO uclllAO, esAlu pAOOtA
bly, receive the formers place.
Inspired by this idea, he toiled early ant
late. His work was Of the best, and man.
were the variations and Improvements b
produced in favorite flowers. But he neve
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 da.
! he would achieve something which woul'
make him realize his jealous desires. Hi
own thoughts preyed upon his body.
Though not over 40, he looked 70 year
old. But where age should have brough
dignity, mental calm and spiritual repose
his face and form baDame gaurft and SIMS
ter, ungracious and repelling. Neverthe
less something did occur which was min
days wonder. One morning Maruki lef
his house, carrying large pot of flower
carefully covered over with silk cloth
and proceeded to the royal court. He toll
the doorkeepcr that he had new fowe
which he desired to present to the daimio
and which no other eye had ever seen.
He was admitted into the audienc
chamber, where sat Yoritomo, surrounde
by his courtiers. The florist bowed hum
bly,, advanced toward the prince, bowe
humbly again, and then proudly withdraw
/ ing the silk disclosed a red chrysanthe
mum.
| The entire court, regardless Of etiquette
, broke into murmurs Of surprise Their
could be no doubt Of 1t, although It ha
} never been heard of before. 1t was a re
rysanthemuln--nOt pink, nor orange, no