The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
FLOWER LORE


tracted into "feur de luce" and still
later In TO the present form "neur de
lis" 1t was Incorporated into the
arms OF France and used In the decora-
tion of the crown itself Charles VI
reduced the number of fleur de lis used
in emblazoning the French arms to
three, supposedly In recognition of the
holy trinity.
Edward III claimed France as be-
longing to the English crown, and
added the French lily to the English
coat OF arms, and It took many bloody
battles to make the English renounce
the claim, but in 1901 the lily disap-
peared from the English shield.
During the revolution the fieur de lis
was prescribed, and any one wearing
1t or having 1t In his possession was
put to death, and where IL was conspic-
uous in decoration or sculpture 1t was
destroyed by the frenzied mob.
Upon the base of the statue of Jeanne
dare, in Rowen, are sculptured fieur
de lis with this inscription:
Beneath the maidens sword the
lilies safely bloom"
JAPANESE HAVE PERFECTED 1T
The Japanese, with their extravagant
love for flowers, celebrate flower fes-
tival every month. According to their
calendar the "Fete of the Iris or Hama
Shobu, occurs In June In contrast to
the riotous carnival of the cherry bios
some, the iris fete is very dignffied
garden party.
In Japan the flower has been brought
to perfection that the French never
dreamed OF. Purple, yellow and white
are the principal colors, with some
shades of blue. The most important
display is at Horikiri, near Tokyo and
the plants are arranged to produce a
wonderful color effect. During the
celebration the hot water In the public
bath houses is perfumed with iris root
and the public conveyances are dec
Grated with garlands of the flowers
1t has long been the custom for the
Japanese, on the 5th day of June, to
hang punches of sweet flag under the
caves of their houses, to warn off evil
spirits, and to prevent misfortune COM
ing to their homes. Sometimes beds of
Iris were planted on the thatched roofs
Of the cottages to ward off pestilence.
This custom is accounted for in an
other manner. Once there was fam
inc in Japan, and no one was allowed
to plant anything in the ground that
could not be used as food. The pow
dered root of the iris was used by Jap
anese women as a cosmetic and as a
powder to whiten' their faces, so the
little ladies all planted gardens of iris
on the roofs of their houses and in
many of the country places they are
still there.
1t is customary In Japan to send
flowers upon all occasions, and the iris
is in great demand for all events re-
quiring congratulations, except at we'd
dings, when it is undesirable on ac-
count Of it's purple color. Japanese lit
erature has many references to the
flower. One of their poets has written
these lines:
The iris grown between my house and
the neighbors
Is just furnishing in its deepest color
and glory
I wish that some one would come and
see 1t
Before it withers away and returns to
the dust
The French poets naturally have
made their national flower a theme of
frequent verse, and the earlier English
writer's have numerous references to II.
Chaucer and Johnson both seem to
have been familiar with it. Spenser
includes 1t in his Shepherds Calen-
dar." Shakespeare often refers to it in
his historical plays and Milton numbers
it with the flowers of Paradise. In
Paradise Lost" he saays:
Iris, all hues, roses and jassamin,
Reared high their heads and wrought
mosaic.