The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-28
, ATRIcIAs Thanksgiving chrys.

anthemums looked bit de-
II jected and somebody remarked
upon it. She said IT only got
them because they seem to be
considered Thanksgiving flowers. They
are SO utterly devoid of sentiment that
take no interest in them and only
take care of them as I would sweep
or dust. They have but one quality
that appeals to me, their decorative
value. I could love paper flowers or
lamp shades quite as easily and I al
ways chafe under their reign and feel
rather relieved when their flamboyant
heads disappear"
You have sympathizer.' said
Ursula. ITO me they are the cold
est, most repellant flower that grows,
and 1t Is only their harmony with
their season of popularity that gives
them any interest. Their aggressive
natures seem a defiance to the blustery
days with which winter opens
II think there is another reason
you" Miranda put in. They are pre-
eminently an outdoor flower and
don't seem appropriate in any other
environment than the late autumn
garden. There one is delighted to
come upon their brilliant masses and
their sturdy blossoms are suited to
their environment. The garden
in size or color as the dollhouse va
rieties, but I have long noticed that
they share with other naturally grown
flowers a love that few If any dis
eliminating people give to hybridized
greenhouse varieties. The garden
chrysanthemums fill an important
place in the garden calendar and when
people become better acquainted with
the hardy varieties and cultivate them
In their gardens, as they can do east
1y. this stunning flower will find many
of its admirers transformed into low
ers."
Don't you think that the fact that
flowers are dollhouse grown and
forced into showiness explains our
lack of strong affection for a good
many flowers?" said Melissa in gen.
eral Interrogation which she evident
ly answered in the affirmative for her
self. / think an air Of artificiality
always repels and our greenhouse
favorites are those that can be approx
mated at least under natural condi-
tions. Roses are florists standby
and, while they grow to a perfection
under glass that Is scarcely possible
anywhere else, they are not essentially
different from the garden roses Of
favoring chimes and the deep-seated
affection we feel for them is the ac-
cumulated sentiment of generations
who have known and loved the rose
as nature made It, ;.
IF one were of speculative turn
of mind said Cornelia. "one might
take up the question Of how much
newness has to do with our slight
heart interest in the chrysanthemum.
Now, | shouldn't wonder If in Japan,
where they have long been conspicu-
Gus floral treasure. they may be re-
garded with the same sentimental at
taohment we feel for the rose.'
'I wonder how many flowers really
have any special meaning for us,
said Melissa meditatively. II mean
how many we love for their own sakes,
that we would choose to comfort our
selves with or to convey a subtle mes
sage OF sympathy and regard for a
friend who could understand. think
every woman has her own special
flower that means more to her than
anything else, but she also may have
an affectionate regard for all flowers
that seem to her expressive. "ts-
1--WE none Of us need to be told Me-
lissa's flower" said Helena, ''tor
don't suppose one Of us ever sees a
delicate, slender pale pink rose with
petals just unfolding that we dom
instantly think of our dear little ar
list and her shrine In which her pink
rose hreathes it's fragrance as steadily