The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
The Flower show.

The chrysanthemum shows given by the
florists of Indiana for several years in sue
cession were always attractive. The mod
ern chrysanthemum is marvellous flower,
with its variety Of shapes, sizes and colors
and mere curiosity and a common interest
in plant life were sufficient to bring crowds
of visitors to gaze upon the blossoms. But
while these blooms of Chinese and Japan
csc origin have their uses and their charms
there is a place with fower-lovers that
they do not fill. They have beauty. but not
soul. One may admire, but not love, the
chrysanthemum. 1t is put in a vase or
bowl where all may behold its gorgeous
ness; it is cast away without pang when
it is faded. No tender associations hover
about 1t, so far as the majority of persons
are concerned. Its withered petals are not
hidden away in memory Of some happy
day; it is not laid between the pages of a
book to recall the beloved giver on day
long after. 1t is simply triumph of the
florists art, no more.
1t is not so with all flowers. The art and
skill Of the growers have wrought wonders
with other blossoms, but with all the
changes they have not altered the charac-
ter that belonged to them when they were
simple dooryard posies. The rose that
grows on a single stem and is sold at a
fabulous price with a dozen of its COM
panions to some fond and foolish man for
his sweetheart's pleasure is sweet but not
sweeter than the "old-fashioned roses that
grew by the garden gate and made fra
grant the June nights of hong ago. 1t
means as much now as then, whether it
adorns the bride or is laid within the fin
gers of the dead. This is true also, of the
violet, whose fragrance is never forgotten
by those who have known it once. The
violets shown by the florists are larger
than the old ones; their petals have
doubled, but they are violets STILL and dear
to the hearts of all who love flowers. The
sentiment that belonged to them once is
theirs by right still. They have not been
spoiled by being made known to all the
world; the world is better to have become
familiar with them.
The carnation is, apparently, just coming
to its best. 1t, also, is a flower with a
soul. flower that one may cherish and
associate with sacred things Hitherto it
has not been a fashionable" blossom.
though innumerable people have regarded
it with favor. Many men have shown a
preference lOI IT, IItSlutIl AlCNlllltS
among the rest. There is room to suspect
that this liking grew out of the reminder
it gives of the ''clove pink of the grand
mothers gardens. 1t is not quite the same
nothing can equal that spicy fragrance
but the carnation suggests it, And it is a
beautiful flower, with its many shades of
pink and white and red. 1t is to be dis
played this week in all its glory, and indi-
cations are that it is to become a fashion
able favorite; also, it is to be feared, a
costly one such favorites are wont to
be. But there is a wonderful delight and
fascination about all such flower displays,
and because of the unusual variety prom
Used for the exhibit this week the pleasure
will be intensified. What nature, aided by
art and science, can do affords a more inn
pressive sight than exhibits of mans han
diwork.