New-York tribune., 1907-06-23

or were both named after the dove? From writers
above mentioned we learn that while the columbine
received that from resemblance Of the
flower to "A group Of doves. Columhne. from the
sweetness OF her character, was called originally
colUmbna, a pet name FOR ones sweetheart ionE
current in Italy, and signifying little dove Inc
fact that coumbines were held 10 be under tho
dominion Of Venus and that they were widely
known by folknames meaning flower Of perfect
love- may perhaps have influenced the choice of
name for the beloved lady. but as to this We have
no conclusive evidence There seems scarcely
room for doubt however. that folly IS never char
acteristc Of the conventional Columoine, although
she may be vivacious and bewitching rs possible
She would seem to be. rather, the only one or the
pantomine in whom folly would be out or char
acter. Whatever relation there may he between
the sweetheart of pantomine and the flower whose
she bears II is surely significant only OF the
peculiar lovelness OF each.
Your correspondent further says: "The colum-
bine is frivolous flower. 1t has no perfume. and
grows only on rocks-especially down steep cliffs.
where it mods its head in very light and airy
manner I sincerely hope that she will not he
content with this suggestion OF friyolity' as the
best she can in the columbine. our poets have
shown It to be capable Of arousing far higher feel
ings. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:
A woodland walk.
tyild rase or r6cs- loving columhine
ssIve my wounds.
Elaine Goodale finds IT
skirting the rocks at forest edge
with running flame from ledge TO edge
or swayng deeper in shadow Eooms.
snoldering fire in her dusky blooms:
ard moulded by wind md sun,
with gypsy beauty f,l and fine.
\ health the crimson columbine!
Among all our wild flowers none have more fire.
quentIy or more worthlly inspirei American poets
than the coiumbine
In patriotic suggestion the coiunbino is incom-
parably superior. One example only OF its power
TO arouse such thoughts must here suffice I quote
from NJ. Sears Brooks, Of Madison. Ind, who was
one Of the first TO suggest the columbine Tor our
national flower In 1881 he wrote:
Whenever flower has been adopted by any it
has been because symbolic meaning Not merely
some historic event or exhitod some qua
ity We have such flower in the Wild columbne- First
sb S m eEfr s TefIn @ ot our 3b % S m % G91e at While
in this locality it is with golden interior typical It
would of the blood and expended
Columbne' derived the Latin word is tho
name Of Columbus. the discoyerer ana OF Columbia,
which nation rightly bears.
Rotsnically. coumbine belongs 10 the genus
the eagle ever regarded as the emblem Of dignity and
might and adopted national emblem. From these
coluInhinc to which no other flower can pretend
In its typical character that 1t and thrves
the most adverse circumstances Il just
gayly the with visible sustenance
sun and air In the highly cultivated garden its only
within another 10 sound the praises Of free and glorious
country II has all the delicate beauty and power of e
durance beonsns to American womanhood ell the corr
age and hardihood OF Americas noble Even IN de
there is shabbness. trumpet shaped petals fall
sngy. one By one beautiful the last leaving the cen
Graceful pose. under no circumstances becoming
noxioua weed wearing air OF prosperity it swings
Its tiny bells rocks.
can be said of flower the emblem American in
dependence and thrift?
Your correspondent says. Furthermore of coum-
bnes that I'm the South they do not exist" and
expresses preference for some flower that cannot
re found growing wild in Europe that is found
in every state in the Union If she will consult
any botanical work giving the ranges of our native
columbines she win find that Adulegfas have been
found growing Wild In every state except perhaps
those bordering on the lower Mississippf which
nave not been thoroughly explored No other ma
hVe Hover can be found which grows wild over an
extent OF territory at all approaching the range of
the columbine, unless be weed unfit for our
national emblem In DR. Gray's ''SyaopticaI Flora
OF North America" thirteen native species of
coinmbine are given. none Of which grows wild In
Europe The number Is certainly an interesting
coincidence in view OF the thirteen original states
synibohzcd by the stripes of flag II NAV he
stated confidently that while no one has ever
heard Of Hover precisely meeting Gertrude Les
hes requirements, the columbine does so essen
tially, and is the only flower which would have
any chance Of acceptance when tested hv her
standards. We hope. therefore 10 welcome her and
an others favoring the adoption OF the colunbine
as our national flower 10 membership I'm the Coln-
blne Associations steadily increasing hand ~
workers ior the cause in all parts OF our countss