Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-01-15

mortal capacities, it.ally adapt
, ed for distinct disk and its 90 d.
en- circle of clear, e.owing IA. s.
a flower that a child can d. aw
On a slate, a woman can work in
silk, or man can carve on SION
or fashion in clay; and
Whereas, This flower has to al
Kansas a historic symbolism,
which speaks of fonti r days,
winding trails, painless pail s,
and is full of life and CORY of
the past, the pride of the pres
ent, and richly emblamatic of tn
majesty of a golden future, anu
is a flower which has given Kal
sas the world wide name 1.-THE
Sunflower State": Therefore.
Be it enacted by the legislator
of the state of Kansas:
J Section l. That the helianthus
or wild native sunflower is here
by made, designated and declar-
ed to be the state flower and
floral emblem of the state of
Kansas.
Sec. 2 This act shall take
effect and be in full force from
and after its publication in the
statute book.
Published June l, 1903.
Senator George P. Morehouse
was the author of the bill. The
suggestion for the formal legal
adoption of the helianthus as
the state flower came out of an
incident at Colorado Springs in
1901, though, of course, many
were in favor of the idea from
the time that Prentis first Of
fered it twenty-three years be-
fore. At Colorado Springs the
tourists in 1901 had Missouri
day." and they all wore badges
labeled "You II Have to Show
Me-" A week later the Kansas
contingent had their "day."
Several thousand Kansans all
blossomed out wearing big sun
flowers. Someone suggested that
agitation to have the sun flower
adopted as the states floral en-
blem be started anew and kept
up until the legislature should
take active interest.
At the time of its adoption
Senator Morehouse said: "It
was only tardy recognition o.
the noted flower so intimately
woven with the name of Kansas.
This native wild flower is COM
mon throughout our borders, an
is always hardy and conspicuous.
1t lifts its head in triumph along
our most beautiful and classic
valleys, amid mingles its cheer
full light with the verdure of the
expanding prairies. The seasons
have little effect on its coming,
for it flourishes in time of
flood, and the drouth or amid SUI
mer, adds to the multitude of
its blossoms. 1t is of definite, III
varying and striking shape, ev-
er faithful, whether grazing the
beautiful gardens of the rich or
lingering near the humble hab-
itations of the poor. Wherever
reproduced, whether in color or
canvas, worked in iron or chisel-
ed in stone or marble, its iden-
fifty is ever present. It has
marked the position of Kansas
in many an imposing pageant.
This flower has to every Kan
san a historic symbolism. 1t
speaks eloquently of frontier
days, when buds and blossoms Of
civilization were not numerous,
and when we were deprived Of
many of the refinements we
low enjoy. The sunflower re-
calls paths and winding trails,
and we are reminded of its gold
en- lines of beauty, at times max
ing their graceful turns over hill
and vale, and breaking the dull
monotony Of many a prairie
scene. 1t is not a blossom lingel
ing a few brief hours, but lasts
for a season. 1t gracefully nod
to the caresses of the earliest
morning zephyrs. Its bright face
greets the rising orb of day,
and faithfully follows him in his
onward course through the blaz-
ing noon time, till the pink tint
ed afterglow of sunset decorates
the Western sky and marks the
quiet hour of eventide. Few can
recall all the state favOrites, but