The Van Buren press., 1900-06-09
Our Floral Emblem.

Tho following paper, bearing upon the ques.
ton Of the state flower. 10 from the pen Of Mrs.
Jesse Turner, OF Van Buren. president Of the
Columbian Club:
1t was a very great surprise to the Literary
(Ladies) Club OF Van Buren whom twas an.
nOunced at tho regular meeting Of the 10th ult,
that movement was on foot To change the state
flower Of Arkansas--not only surprise but 70.
gret was expressed, and as q result OF this
feeling the club. with only nine absentees out
OF constitutional membership OF thirty, passed
unanimously q resolution to instruct their dole.
gates TO the State Federation OF Woman's Clubs
TO vote and use their influence for the retention
flower emblem. Tho matter Of selecting q state
flower came up before the Columbian clubs and
tho state director Of the Worlds Fair The
PASSION Tow,t Tas selected py !nese my noales
directory Of the Worlds Fair Senator Adams, OF
Jefferson county, introduced senate bill l85 on
February IS, 1898, recommending ethe Passion
Flower for the states adoption a. its emblem.
Just pride a. they call to mind the beautiful and
graceful floral decoration Of the Arkansas build.
ing-tho trailing Passion Flower, with its sacred
cross and crown within its purple CUP. II was
recognized and esteemed as our state flower by
tho Worlds Fair visitors, to whom the Arkansas
building was revelation In more senses than
one. IN looking over some mcmentoes OF the
Worlds Fair hnd some newspaper correspond.
Passion Flower was held to be ths state flower
Mary Virginia Keene, OF Buffalo, writing Of
the Arkansas building, among tho many com.
aSS has h n. T1yS
ank tho upper gallery with trailing masses Of
the Passion Flower. which is tho state flower OF
Arkansas." Again ! and a long article from
Catholic Code regarding tho 'ioyeliest Of ell ne
state buildings, the Passion Flower state build.
Ing" Speaking Of the walls covered with.
canvass painted In oils by Mrs, Mary Trivot Of
Cincinnati; Her work is exquisite, merely. o
June blue :and. white eloud9d say and Wind; nd
petal, tho Passion Flower tho states emblem
Some OF this work IA hnc as any work IN tho
exposition and for ono small spray In the arch a
New York nrm has offered 9l00."
nnd also that the Passion Flower was painted
on cards and attached to tho states souvenirs
by whlto and lavender ribbons and sent 70 tho
high officers OF the fair, with an Invitation 70
tho dedication OF tho Arkansas building. An
acknowledgment from Mrs, Potter Palmer for IN an
search.light upon this question q our state
flower. Hor acknowledgment shall speak for
Itself
ut gives mo much pleasure 70 acknowledge
the interesting medal which displays 0 picture
Of thu. Arkansas state building, and also the
beautiful Passion Flower which acc ompanied H.
4 buhll kTuutly Vuivy biN W
my collection, and bog that you Will accept my
sincere thanks for the Kind thought which
prompted H. With klndest regards and best
wishes. Most cordially yours,
BERTHA H0NoRE PALMER"
II cannot be denied that wo have gone before
the whole world as the Passion Flower state,
and II will be sad aud humiliatlng for this
beautiful 0nblom 10 b. cast aside, aud its sacred
legend TO nnd no response IN our. Christian
hoartA. Unfortunately tor tho champions Of our
state flower senate BILL lSs le not recorded, but
tho clork Of tho senate, Mr., GincOohi, Miss Scott
jAforn,s mo, declared to her II WAS . concurrent
bill In tho hles OF tho "Gssette, / am informed
BY Miss Fannie Bcott there 10 Official !tAtomont
oI the passage Of senate bill iSh ! have said
that thii bill Il not recorded, but appears 40
an lnformod) that in searching the 'yournar' II
was found, Five bills were recorded that never
passed aud three bills which did pass were not
recorded.
decorgtions OF the AfkAntas building, aud that
sentiment was embodied on canvass moi. on
walls doomed 10 deMeucuon, removable, V nnd
o place In tho old hlseosic building, efatwhile
spot once devoted 70 the practice of war tactics,
but now In thiA closing OF the nineteopth cen.
tury q blessed home Tor culture tsAts and the
NEE place OF high thinking. Let us keep
our pAEliop Flower, We besccch you.