Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15

And cowslips and king cups and loved lilies;
The pretty paunce
And the cheYisaunce
Shall match with the fayre houre de'ice.''
-. Edmund Spenser.
TRADITIoN tells US that Louis
VII of France chose the pur-
Il pie iris as his heraldic en-
blem when he set out on his
romantic crusade to the Holy Land
in 1887. Shakespeare has recognized
1t in many places in his plays. The
Egyptians introduced the flower in
their architecture. It was placed on
the brow of the sphinx and upon the
scepters of their rulers as tho symbol
of eloQuence and power.
The population OF Washington has
its interest aroused, in the esthetic
sense, by outdoor exhibitions Of this
and other flowers. Civic conditions
are to be improved by the cultivation
of yards through the efforts of a Dis
trict Of Columbia Garden Club, or
ganized last September. This club
will appeal through its different
branches to all citizens who own
small plots Of ground.
Now that the spring flower season
has arrived. we realize that it IS an
annual surprise that never grows
old. Early in the season appear the
narcissi and daffodils in their dresses
OF yellow and white. They announce
the spring show. The rapid success
sion of strikingly beautiful blooms,
delicate in coloring, to harmonize
with the feathery light green shades
os. their background Of shrub and
tree forms is at times overwhelming.
The iris. guarded by its swordlike
leaves, now with us, has served many
purposes. Honored in art, archi-
lecture and literature, the part the
flower has played in history is by far
the most interesting. AS an act Of
atonement for q barbarous deed at
Vitry, Louis VII of France, after ex-
communication by the Pope, his coun-
try being laid under an interdict, an
swered the appeal of the celebrated
Saint Bernard to take up the cross.
He chose the purple iris as his heral-
die emblem, and charged the es-
cutcheon with neur -de-lis without
number. He then led the Christian
forces on the second crusade to the
Holy Land.
* j: * Z.
nut Louis was not the first king to
ID use the flower. AS early as the
hfth century Clovis. king Of the
Franks, carried a shield adorned with
three black toads. He was not al
ways victorious, a grief to his Chris
tan wife. Clothiide, who believed
that her husbands failures were the
result of his pagan faith. When he
set forth to battle she spent much
time In constantly praying for his
success. After he had won a victory
for France at a critical moment his
gratitude was such that he embraced
Christianity. 1t was then that an
angel appeared to an aged hermit
confined In prison, flooded his cell
with light and held out to him a
napkin on which were laid three
beautiful deurs- de-lis. The angel
commanded the hermit to give them
to CIothiIde. She presented them to
her royal husband. who substituted
them for tho three black toads on his
shield. Thereafter he was every
where victorious.
Tho youthful monarch. Charles vi.
about the year 1881, while hunting
one day, captured an enormous stag.
which would not suffer itself to be
taken by the dogs. After the adven-
ture he dreamed one night that he
r,as carried through space on a wing
"a stag. He was so impressed by his
dream that he added two winged
stays for supporters to the arms of
Francs, and reduced the number OF
iris 70 three on the royal arms.
England had the flower added 70 its
ems BY EdwNrd III in 1910, when