East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-06-21
THE ROSE IN ROMANCE
AND IN HISTORY.

From its close association with the
drama of human 9history, the rose
has a peculiarly intimate place in the
affections of the race. Moreover,
this is "A blossom which endears itself
to the heart-no tender nursing, but
vigorous. sturdy outdoor creature,
which generously breathes its fra
GRANGE out upon the air to bless all
mankind. In the remotest wild
places the tender blossoms of the
wild rose uncurl to the sun and the
fragrant brier filings its dainty pink
banners to the breeze
Romance and history cluster
around the fragrant rose. For 80
years in England during the fifteenth
century the rose was a symbol on
both sides of war-bloody, cruel war
every Lancastrian with his red
rose, and every one of the York side
wearing a white rose in his bonnet
There is a gracious tradition that
when the war was at last ended by
the marriage of Henry VII of Lam
caster to Elizabeth of York, a rose
bush which during the conflict had
borne roses of both shades now bios
somed forth which had petals of
mingled hues. Such rose is known
today and bears the name of the
York and Lancaster rose.
If, as suggested, the Romans car
ried the rose of cultivation into Eng
land and perpetuated there a custom
of the planting the rose over the
nf hai
Dol of immirtality, the rose was
even then freighted with wealth of
tradition.
A Roumanian tradition, as told in
Dyer's Folk Lore of Plants" Gu
riously accounts in this way for the
origin of the rose. One morning, just
at the peep of day, when the sun
came up, he stopped to gaze upon a
bautiful princess sporting in the
laughing waters of the sea. He was
entranced at her beauty, covered her
with kisses and forgot his duty.
once, twice, thrice night advanced to
take up his scepter and rule over the
world, and still the sun occupied the
sky. Then the lord of day changed
the princess to a rose, and this is why
the rose always hangs her head and
bushes when the sun gazes on her.
The two flowers which are from
are the lily and the rose, and these
| emblemS are used in this connection
in the earliest statuary.
The institution of the ceremony of
the golden rose is one of the oldest
| observances of the Roman Catholic
church, which is still followed. This
| ceremony dates from the year 1049,
under the pontificate of Leo TX.
This pope. wishing to establish his
right of patronage over the monas-
| terry of the Holy Cross in Alsace, eX-
acted from 1t every year q golden
rose. This custom still exists and
the rose iE blessed by the pope on
the fourth Sunday in Lent. Former
ly in the solemn papal procession of
the day the pope carried it in his
left hand while with his right he
blessed the people. 1t is usually
presented to the individual or the
city which during the year has best
| deserved the favors of the holy see.
| The rose weighs two ounces and was
| formerly colored red to typify the
blood of the Redeemer shed for his
people. 1t is now made only in pale
gold. The gold, as the noblest of
metals, is intended to represent
Christ, and the fragrance of the rose
refers to his resurrection.
The republic of Venice, which was
the birthplace of several popes, pos
sessed five of these roses in the
treasury of st. Marks church, but
during the wars they were lost OF