The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-17

given us only the bowling of the winds
for music and buzzards for birds and dog
fennel for flowers. The love of flowers
is close akin to the love of children
Mandam de Stael said that music was the
only thing upon the earth that we would
find in heaven, for it was common to
angels and to man. but she didn't know.
If there are beautiful mansions and
golden streets and gates of pearl and
trees whose leaves are for the healing
of the nations, why not flowers? Spencer
in his "Farie Queen" says: And is there
care in heaven and love in heavenly spir-
its for the howers?''
Wadsworth says:
cit is my faith that every flower that
blooms
Enjoys the air it breathes.''
The more uncultured and unrefned a
man Is the less he cares for flowers and
music and birds. Cowper says he would
not number on his list of friends the man
who would usclessly tread upon worm
shakespeare says the man who has no
music in his soul is fit for treason,
strategems and spoils Some years ago
! was trying to sell cottage home to a
rough man who wanted to buy, and l
pointed out the beautiful roses that
adorned the front yard. He turned away
carelessly and said: Il don't care any
thing about them sort of things. If
buy your house you needn't add airy cent
for blossoms" The poet says, .The
humblest flower that blooms gives
thought too deep for tears" But there
arc folks who care no more for beau
a
"A primrose by the rivers brim
yellow primrose was to him,
And it was nothing MORE
The poets in all ages have paid tribute
to the flowers One of the most beauti-
full poems ever written is the lode to the
Flowers" by Horace Smith 1t is among
the classics Of old England
"Your voiceless lips are living preachers
Each cup pulpit and each leaf book.
Floral apostles that in dewy splendor
Weep without woe and blush without
crime"
Mrs. Hemans says:
"The flowers whisper the all fostering
love
That clothed them into beauty"
Longfellow says:
"They teach us by persuasive reasons
How akin they are to human things.
''Eynblems of our coming resurrection,
Emblems of the bright and better land"
But Mrs Hemans sings the most fasci
mating songs to fowers-when she tires
Of other subjects she takes rest on
flowers
Bring howers-fresh flowers for the
bride to wear,
They we're born to blush in her shining
hair
Bring fowers-pale flowers Ger the bier
to shed.
y A crown for the brow of the early dead
Bring flowers to the shrine where we
kneel in prayer,
They are natures offering-their place is
there.
Bring flowers to the captive's lonely cell,
They have tales of the joyous woods to
tell"
Shakespearo had a great heart for
flowers. and he knew them like a botan-
list. There is not a common or familiar
one that he does not bring to pleasant
use in some OF his plays. How pathetic
ally he laments the death of Imogen:
sad grave,
Thou shalt not lack the flowers mat
like thy face,
pale primrosc-nor TIE azurd harebell
like thy veins-ror the leaf of eglan-
tine that outsweetened not thy
breath.
There was q long time ago ballad
about two lovers for whom two flowers
were named, Margaret and Sweet Will
liam. We have margarets among the
flowers now. and sweet williams are very
common. What became of the lovers is
quantity told in the old time verses:
Margaret was buried in the lower
chancel.
And William in the higher:
Out of her breast there sprang rose
bush,
Ard out of his a briar
They grew till they grew to the church
top,
And then they could grow no higher;
And there they tied true lovers knot
Which made all people admire
AS stern and solemn as was Moses the
lawgiver, he was not unmirdful OF the
beauty of flowers. for when he planned
the first sanctuary that was set up in the
wilderness lie directed that his cunning
workmen should ornament the golden
candlcsficls with carvings Of flOWer6-