The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-11
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC ,. HAsKIN, Direcaor.
Washington. D. @.
wANTED-A NATIONAL FLOWER

WANTED-A NATIONAL FLOWER.
Washington, D. c., Sept s.--An inn
portant defect in the structure of
American civilization has been
brought to public notice again. This
great nation. SO complete in most re-
spects, has no national flower.
There is no blossom that the po-
litical candidate can stick in his but
and to which he can point with pride
as the living symbol of his high ideals
There is no flower than can be carved
into public buildings about Washing
ton to remind the government worker
of some inspiring tradition. When the
president chooses flower for his
coat or his wife selects decorations for
a state dinner. they must ponder the
entire list of flowers in the White
House conservatories. No national
blossom comes instantly to mind as
the emblem which ffttingly represents
indefinitely. The nation simply has
no national flower.
Generally such things are arranged
for a country thru accident. Some
gallant leader takes to wearing inte'
battle the flower beloved by his lady
and his cohorts follow suit Eventual
ly the nation is saved by the hero and
he attributes everything to the charm
of the flower Popular sentiment is
aroused. The story of the flower that
saved the country becomes tradition.
Gradually the flower becomes the ma
tional flower without any arguments.
England acquired the rose as its ma
tiQnal flower thru a series of romantic
instances each of which deepened the
Significance of the flower. The thistle
really saved Scotland when a moar
filled with thistles prevented the
enemy from reaching an Important
fortress. The lily became the badge
of Louis VII of France when he
started on his crusade to the Holy
Land and all France accepted the
kings choice.
But early American Heroes were
strangely negleetfuI of this matter.
They spent much time planning suit
able seal and flag. But they never
bothered to snatch up a sprig of gold
enrod or snapdragon when they went
out to fight, and their great. great
grandchildren are suffering today as
a result.
In the recent war when the scarlet
Flanders poppy became so poignant a
symbol of Americas sacrifice the ma
tional flower seemed about to appear.
planned by horticultural experts, was
a weed in France and to introduce it
into the garden of this country would
be mistake. So the poppy remains
only a memory except for the arti-
fetal specimens that occasionally
Daisy Is Proposed.
Now, Representative Kissel, of New
York, has introduced bill in congress
which would raise the humble daisy to
the official post of the national
flower. A purely aesthetic bill about a
| daisy has as much chance of receiv-
ing serious consideration now as a bill
to make all representatives learn the
Star Spangled Banner would. But
I A1 t. Kill -
legislation, and people are interested
in it from that standpoint. Repre-
sentative KfssePs bill has aroused q
number of inquiries, and expressions
of protest and approval.
Some people think that the national
| but a blossom thar can be cultivated
and cherished. They want something
handsome that will do the nation
credit. Others applaud the sweet sim
plicity of the daisy, but believe that
| we should choose flower that is
more capable of historic association.
Others read into the dairy a fitting
| symbolism for national use. The heart
of gold, the whiteness of pure ideals,
the green stalk suggesting fruitful
| ness of earth are pointed out.
1t seems to be especially important
to link up a complete set of associa-
lions with a national flower if it is to
| D9 l6SlSldLoQ INTO existence.
The columbine. for instance, which
was persistently pushed in a hot race
for the national flower some years
ago. is said to be deeply significant.
| The name suggests Columbus and
| Colum bia. All three are, in fact, from
the same Latin word, meaning dove.
The dove, it was pointed out, is de-
sirable symbol for any country, sug-
| costing as it does peace and mtldneSs.
! Moreover, the columbine grows wild
! over the greater part of the country,
and blooms in adverse circumstances.
| It grows in a variety of colors, among
them red, white, and blue.
Back in 1895. when interest in this
matter was widespread, a columbine
society worked untiringly to have its
favorite flower adopted by the nation.
The governor of North Carolina called
| a National Flower convention to
which representatives from every state
came. They drew up resolutions set
ting forth the qualifications for a ma
tional flower. After that they con
| cluded that the columbine was the
only flower among those proposed that
measured up to the standard.
What a National Flower Should Be.
| The coIumbine is practically forgot
\ ten as a candidate for the honor now
| but the standards are still interesting
1t was decided that the national
| flower should be native of this coun-
try; it should be a flower not already
| claimed by some other country; il
should bloom on at least one national
| holiday and lend itself readily to
floral decoration; it should not, be a
weed or harmful to health; it should
be suitable for decorative design
that is it should be capable of recog-
milton independent of color if used in
a conventional way-and it should
possess, if possible, some patriotic as
| ISOLATION.
The MayfIower has since had quite
| a following. particularly in the east
| This was the first flower that greeted
| the Pilgrims after their hard winter
in Plymouth. Unfortunately, however
it is a blossom of our eastern coast
and is scarcely known to other Sec
lions of the country. 1t can not be
| ira usnIa MED successfully nor culti-