West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-11-06
A STATE FLOWER.
Vest Virginia is Without Floral
Emb en-.
A Sistersville Correspondent Suggests
Timely Things In Selecting One
Favors the Laurel.


children of the state to vote on their
choice of flower for an emblem
for the commonwealth much interest
has been awakened. Miss Margaret
Lynne Waddell, of Sis,ersville, in a
letter to the News, discusses the
question in an interesting vein.
She says in part;
within the last few years a mum.
Der of states have adopted a state
flower, or state tree, or both, as
emblems to be used on state station
cry, letter heads, programs, etc.
Although the subject has been agitat-
ed in West Virginia number Of
times and various flowers and trees
have been suggested nothing has
been decided upon.
"If Kansas can naunt her sun
flower, California her poppy, Maine
the pine cone, Kentucky her blue
grass and Florida the orange bios
SONS, should not West Virginia arise
in her pride and widely varied fora
which Mother Nature has bequeath-
ed to her, floral emblem that equals
if not surpasses in beauty and
significance that of any state in the
union1
"Various flowers have been sug-
gested but very few of the suggestion
have been accompanied by reasons
why they would be representative or
symbolical. West Virginia's floral
emblem should be, as nearly as
possible, common to all parts of the
state. 1t should be West Virginia
floral, not Brook county flower or
a Mcdowell county flower common
to any one section Of the state.
'frhe suggestion of the state sup
erintendent that the pupils in public
schools decide by vote upon the
floral emblem is an excellent one
but unless the teachers take up the
subject in their schools and study
and compare number of the most
appropriate and suggestive flowers,
and not only arouse an interest in
the subject but inspire the pupils
with the spirit of fair and unbiased
judgment, the result will not be
satisfactory. Each pupil will vote
for his or her favorite flower with :
out considering why.
"When go back to my school ii
is my intention to place the matter
before my pupils, suggest number
of flowers, study and analyze their
names, learn their habits, have draw
ing made Of them and lead my
pupils to discuss the reasons why OF
why not each flower is entitled to
first place as floral emblem for the
state.
"Among the flowers l suggest are
the daisy, goldenrod, columbine
and rhododendron. All of these
are common to almost all parts OF
the state and each have some EN-
blematic value.
"The daisy with its silver crest
and golden eye, might we'll be con.
sidered first, since it is probably
batter known than any other flower
in the state. What school girl has
not forecast her future by counting
the snowy petals of the daisy1 II ]
may be allowed to say it, my own
choice, first, last and all time is the
rhododendron, commonly called
laurel. No daughter of Mother
Nature has more interesting OF
romantic history than the laurel.
alt is said that Apollo while wand
ering in the forest beheld beautiful
nymph by the name of Daphne, the
daughter Penens, the river god. He
fell in love at sight, but when ne at
tempted to speak to her and tell her
his love she becam. frightened and
fed. He pursued her with all speed,
calling TO her all the while and en-
treating her to pause if only for a
moment, promising TO do her no
harm. She was so terrified that she
paid no attention to his voice, but
dashed on ustil her strength began
TO fail and she saw that he was gain.
ing on her and would soon overtakc
her. As she rushed down to the
rivers brink she called upon hei
father for protection. When sh,
reached the waters edge her feel
seemed rooted to the ground. Hei
father had changed her into laure
and when Apollo rushed up with
outstretched arms he clasped tn,
rough bark OF a rugged laurel.
what fairer floral emblem could
we choose than the laurel, the EN-
b.em Of victory for ages untold Fot
have we not won countless victoriei
since West Virginia became a state
Are we not constantly winning new