Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-30
FaVOrife
Flowers of
Great Poets

men as we'll as men Of poetic genius
have loved flowers, not merely en- masse
as things beautiful, but with individ-
uality and marked favoritism. They
have associated themselves with par
ticular blossoms perhaps more than
have women, nor has 1t as a rule been
the most sumptuous and highly colored
flowers that have won their affections.
Small flowers of distinct individuality
have more often made their way to the
hearts of great men. It is frequent also
that such men have proved susceptible
to flowers scent. In fact, of the per-
fumes of flowers Heinrich Heine wrote:
"They are the feelings of flowers, and
as the human heart feels most powerful
emotions in the night, when it believes
itself to be alone and unperceived, so
also do the flowers, soft minded, yet
ashamed, appear to wait for concealing
darkness that they may give themselves
wholly up to their feelings and breathe
them out in sweet odors."
Mohammed declared the narcissus, or
yellow daffodil, which grows abundant
ly throughout western Asia, to be his
favorite flower, and 1t is related that
concerning it his counsel was; Who
ever has two loaves Of bread let him
trade one for a blossom of narcissus
for bread is nourishment for the body,
while the narcissus is food for the
soul"
Solomon had passion for trees. In
deed, he is credited with being the first
who had transplanted to the home soil
those from other parts of the world
Judea in his day was famous for its
balsam, the favorite plant of the queen
of Sheba, and she, knowing Solomons
liking for transplanting. is said to have
presented him with root of it.
"Violet crowned Athens" has come
down as a simile for a city of flowers,
one of reigning festivities. For, as the
flower of Athens, the violet was greatly
beloved throughout Greece and was
naturally the emblem of Athens. Later
Napoleon chose it for his favorite
flower.
When the sunset of his glory had
come the emperor was walking one day
in the garden of Fontainebleau with
Gen. Bertrand and the Due de Bassano
The island of Elba was the problem of
the future; still Napoleon argued he
might regain both power and liberty.
A child who in the garden had been
picking violets came then and hesitat-
ingly offered him bunch. 1t was ac
cepted by Napoleon. He quickly turned
to his companions and said:
Gentlemen, it seems that by the
flowers 1 have been warned to initiate
the modesty of the violet. Henceforth
it shall be my DESIRE
Gen. Bertrand answered: "Sire, may
the desire be no more lasting than the
flower"
So strongly had Napoleon made his
love for the violet felt that after he
had gone to Elba the flower still spoke
of him. In France it shortly became
then sign of imperialistic sympathy to
be seen wearing it or even to acknowl-
edge that it was held in admiration.
The emperor of Germany has for his
favorite flower the cold looking velvet
like edelweiss, an inhabitant of snow
clad peaks. For the flower perhaps his
preference was unfortunate. Since the
day when he first appeared on an occa
sion of state with a blossom of edel-
weiss in his buttonhole the plant has
been practically exterminated through
0ut it's native habitat. At once it be-
came the fashion, and was so generally
natures supply could not equal the de-
mand. For a long time now in Ger
many it has been artificially grown as
IN important article of commerce.
Edward VII is somewhat tickle in his
ove for flowers and has a way of TAX
ing up one flower after another
and making it fashionable. For the last
two winters however, he has worn in
MS buttonhole single gardenia. In
New York, as well as London, this flow
er has, though his setting of the fash
on. made the correct boutonniere of
men. and through the last season it
mas also been adopted by women. The
AuNLSSS VI OlA SSNGIdl OC-
,asions has been seen wearing corsage
decorations composed of as many as
twenty Of these blossoms.
The king of Italy, it is said. favors
among flowers his nations pride, the
tuberose. Not that he wears it in his
rather he likes the high
slender arrangements of it which
throughout it's season are seen in al
most every Italian home. The scent of
Il there, it would seem, permeates the
whole land.
A sturdy carnation of red, so deep as
% be almost black, is the favorite flow
sr of the president of the United States
and is named in his honor. Roosevelt
carnation.
The great botanist, Linnaeus, had for
mis- favorite flower the fragrant rose
tinted little twin flower. Concerning it
ne is quoted to have answered, whenl
asked by a friend if 1t grew by the
shores of a Swedish lake. May, she
ives not here, but in the middle Of our
argest woods, She clings with her .