The times., 1901-03-24
FLOWERS HAVE THEIR RANK.
Sentimental Regards for Floral
GIories in the OrNnt.

(From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat.)
With such titles as ten thousand times
sprinkled with gold, and disheveled hair
in morning sleep fresh in his memory.
and coming from "a land where the ar
rangement of flowers is part of the edu-
cation, it must be something of a shock
to the Japanese visiting this country to
hear the prosaic names we bestOw on our
chrysanthemums and TO find how reck-
ieSSly Americans arrange bouquets he
appreciates that as nation We are much
less fond of flowers than are his people.
and how little they mean to us in life be-
yond the pleasing sensations produced by
their beauty. In Japan the arrangement
of them is pursued as an art, being pro-
fOundIy studied by men of rank, philOsO-
piers and priests. besides learned and lit
erary men, ladies of the aristOcracy are
allowed to practice the art as being likely
TO inspire such estimable virtues as gen.
tleness, self-denial. forgetfulnesS of care
and spirituality. A lifetime is indeed
not too long for the japanese, either man
or woman, 70 devote to an understanding
of the subtitle meaning conveyed by flow
ers, and the rigorous rules necessary to
observe in producing with them the best
artistic results.
In Japan the peony, although acknowl-
edged to be the royal flower of China, is
still the favOrite of the upper classes. 1t
is given on occasions of Importance the
position of honor on the dais in the prin-
Cipal recess; never is IL placed in the CEN
ter of the room, nor on a shelf, and no
other flower is allowed to come near its
royal presence. Sometimes art dictates
that two black tWigs shall be grouped
behind it, the thought being to enhance
by contrast its abundant life and beauty.
The lotus flower also is conceded to have
royal national rank, and is called the
King of Indian flowers. on festive days
the japanese never use il, as they asSO-
ciate it entirely with the spirit of the
dead The royal flower OF Japan, OF
course, is the cherry blossom The Idea Of
floral rank is one to which the Japanese
are very sensitive and the established
laws of precedence must be closely ad-
hered to in the arrangement of their flow
ers. To an American il seems perhaps
inexpliCable that they should have placed
the purple wistaria high above the white,
which they mostly exclude from their
compositions
Irises stand very high in rank but are
regarded as difficult Of arrangement. and
therefore the most arbitrary rules have
been evolved in their composition With
one large flower, but three leaves are al
lowed; with two flowers. seven or fifteen
leaves are used; three flowers are given
thirteen leaves. and five flowers are fur
niShed with eleven leaves
So deftIy are thoughts conveyed by the
arrangement of flowers in Japan that
often verbal messages are unnecessary.
In November the cOquette sends to her
lover leaf. or branch, of maple. Like
it," he translates, her love has changed
ON farewell occasions those called re
turning flowers. because they bloom
twice a year, are used 10 Subtly express
the hope of safe return. Before people
that are i'll. blossoms of a sturdy, vigOr-
Gus growth are placed that health and
strength may be suggested Only very
gay flowers are Strewn in pTOfuSIon when
suppiications are made for those in af-
fiction Prayers for rain are accOmpan-
led by large floral pieces so arranged as
10 point from right to left that the east
wind bringing rain may be honOred. and
very naturally the reverse order typify-
| ing the west wind is employed when fair
weather is desired
Border of the thin mist; shades OF the
evening sun: waves in the morning sun;
companion of the moon: snow on the leaf
of the bamboo: moons halo; Spray-capped
wave: starlit night, beacon light; the SKY
at dawn; the first snow, and golden dew
are among the many imaginative and pref
ty names the Japanese bestOw on their
chrvsanthemums. these flowers which
appeal so strongly to their poetic natures
| In the arrangement of them they are very
careful and guard against seven faults,
| their stems must not be of the same
| length, Ii single blossom must not turn
| its back nor present its full face; three
| flowers must not appear TO form trl-
angle they must not be hidden by leaves;
| nor must they be arranged in the way or
steps: an open full blossom should never
| be placed at the base of the composition
and one odd one should not fan between
1 two others alike in color