The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-27
Bear a lily in thy hand -,
Gates OF brass shall not Withstand 4
one touch OF that mGktc wand.

= \
rhe Easter or annunciation lily IS the
4 emblem OF purity. and innocence In Pic.
lures of the Annunciation, Gabriel s' is
: sometimes represented as carrying o. lily
n branch. while vase containing lilics
stands before the Virgin who Is knsellng
IN prayer. IA 55s. 80
Tradition asserts that II on tho first
Easter eve. while the Roman guard fled
uffrighted into the city. shining leglons
of angels kept watch and ward around
tho rockhcwn tomb OF Joseph OF Arima-
thea over the body OF the sleeping Christ
Wherever their footsteps pressed the lilies
sprang up, and when the sun rose on
the first Easter morning they lifted their
snowy, golden-herated chnllcs. wet with
dewy fragrance, as II rejoicing In the re-.
surrection OF the Lord.
Another legendary association with
white lilies Is referred to by st. James
himself. It relates thattthe rods OF those
who sought the hand OF tho Holy Virgin.
in marriage we're placed In the temple.
After the blessing Of the Lord had been
invoked, the rods were left until the
next morning. when 1t was found that!
Joseph's had been transformed into q
green stalk bearing lily blossoms.
# The origin OF the red lily. or the crown
imperial weaves another link In the
chain OF lily lore that has come down.
through tho centuries. This link makes .
7 powerful appeal to the poetic instincts OF
human mature. I is said that when the.
Z Saviour In Ills hour of agony and trial.
withdraw into the shades Of dark Geth-.
semnne and poured out his soul IN iayer,
that II possible the cup OF death mirht be
taken away from His lips the drops Of
blood7 which started from Els brow fell
upon the lilies at His feet and Grim.
!. soned them forever. their bowed hcaasl
hcnceforth giving mute attestatloniof the
anguish which they involuntnrlly wit
messed and shared. and their flower cups
holding always tear Of sympathy hid.
den In the depths OF their perfumed
a hearts. An ancient botanist gives a
q quaint description OF the crown imperial,
which pictures It perfectly. when he says:
The tloures grow at the top Of the
stake In form Of an imperial .crowno
f hanging their heads as It were bells; IN
color 1t isreddish. with the back side of
x the floure streaked with purplish lines
4 which doth atty set forth the beauty
thereof, In tho bottom of each of these
I bells there is slxe drops Of most clear,
shining water. resembling in shew. faire
orient pearls, the which drops IL you take
3 them away. there Immediately appear the
like; withstanding II they may be suf-
fered to stand stillEi the floure accord
Ing to his own nature, they will never
4 fall away: no. not ,if you strike the plant
until 1t be BROKEN ~
In the Bermudas the lilies are sway
ing to the breezes and giving ont their
sweetness to the kiss OF the sun which
I looks down upon wide lily fields now
in full blossom, Thousands Of tlbsse
will he sent to tile United States for
Easter. They will heap the affairs Of
churches and fill the windows of florists
j. with their grace, their beauty and their
odor Many of them will be bought for
Easter gifts; quantities will be3sent Ia, hos
pitfalls and Weary eyes will brighten and
4 suffering hearts grow lighter at the
sweet presence which Is the emblem OF
Easter and the resurrection season, the
flower, Of which PYciyale>has written;
Innocence shines In the llly's hell
q Pure as the heart In Its native heaven"
The daffodll.. or narcissus Of the Greeks,
which blooms in the Elysian fields, the
lotos flower of the Egyptians and tho
3i sa cred lily of the Chinese are alike va
& rie ties OF the lily family, which have
\ claimed th,s hearts OF humanity and re-
q ceiyed the tribute of the poets song
\ throughout the ages,
n As in the centuries gone by, Easter lilies
will keep watch beside the altar, during
4 t}s hours of darkness, when precede5 the
glow the Joy and the brightness of the
twentieth century Easter,
AS In the radiance of The first Easter
morn. when Mary came bearing sheaYes
al,A a, n