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

the nominal dignity OF the King Of
France was claimed for one OF its
sovereigns; and on that occasion the
feur-de-lis was omitted from the
French arnorial bearings. 1t had a
changeful history in England until
the time Of George III. when it was
dropped and the rose was substituted
During the French revolution II vas
prescribed and any one seen wearing
it was condemned to death. The
frenzied mob destroyed all decora-
tions and sculpture on which the
flower figured. Napoleon substituted
the bee In it's place. but that later
disappeared and the heur-de-lis step
ped back again, and has ever since
graced the French arms. A con-
spicuous example Of French sculp-
ture left standing is the statue Of
Jeanne dare In Rouen. upon the base
Of which are scuIptured fuers-de-lis,
with this inscription:
Beneath the maden's sword
The lilies safely bloom.
The Japanese. the artistic lovers of
flowers, celebrate the fete Of the iris
in June. The most important dis
play is at Horokiri, near TOXIC. where
the arrangement of the plants pro-
duces wonderful color effect. Dur
ing the celebration the hot water in
the public lighthouses is perfumed
with the iris, or orris, root. They
make 1t custom TO send flowers
upon all occasions, and iris Is In de-
mand for events requiring congratu-
lat!ons. except at weddings
~
THE Egyptians, some thousands Of
i years ago, introduced the flower
in their architecture. It was placed
upon the brow Of the sphinx and
upon the scepters Of their rulers as
the symbol Of eloouence and power.
Shakespeare has recognized it in
his different plays. He, no doubt,
cultivated It In his own garden. and
saw Il many times each spring in
Ann Hathaway'A when he walked
along the path to her cottage. In
the "Winter's Tale" Perdita asks for
flowers with which to make a gar
land:
Bold Oxlips and
The crown Imperial, Lilies of all kinds.
The Flowerde-Luce being one!"
The king speaks to the Princess
Katherine In Henry v, But Kate,
dost thou understand this much Eng
lish. canst thou love me?" Her reply
Is, II cannot tell" In reference to
her French extraction the king says
What sayest thou, my fair flower
de-luce?"
In the first part Of Henry VI a
messenger enters and exciaims:
Awake, awake, English nobility!
Let not sloth dim your honours new-begot;
Cropp'd are the Flower-de -Luces in your
/ OF England's coat ne-half is cut away.
York and his army Of Irish enter
in. the second part OF the Same play
with drum and colors:
From ireland thus Gomez York to claim bic
And pisei til. crown from s.ea. Henri.
A sceptre shall have. have I soul
On which III toss tie nower-de-Luce Of
France.
There are now more than 40 va
rieties OF the plant. 1t is adaptable
and grows In almost every country
on the earth, and in all manner OF
soil, although its hollow stem shows
that II prefers to b near the water.
Few farm houses are without clusters
grouped near the dwellings, and
often close TO porches.
Our Observation-Disclosures called II
the nag, still the common name In
country places. Often remote from
medical assistance, they utilised It's
pedals to lay on bruises to draw out
discolorations and restore tho skin
to its natural hue. It was also used
to cure ''spleenA" coughs. snakebites
and other Ills. Children were given
the root to cut their teeth upon, and
many wore the beads made OF the
root around their necks az ornaments.