Evening star., 1941-05-31

publishers of two-volume botanical
atlas which is highly regarded.
The bright sunny blooms of the
blackeyed susan are beloved of but
terf1ies, bees, wasps and beetles, for
whom it is a rich storehouse of sup
ply between the months of May and
September.
The MASSACHUSETTS Legisla-
ture paid loving tribute to the Pill
grims by adopting the trailing ar
butus or mayfower for a State
emblem in 1925. This flower was the
harblnger of spring to those who
came through the first New England
winter. Ever since it has breathed
hope and courage with its fragrance.
Its symbolism has been translated
into these exquisite words by Emily
Dickinson:
"A blessed bit Of New Englands
May
am sending to you, my friend,
today,
Pink of the seashell, white of the
SHOWS,
Finer of fragrance than lily or rose;
All the long hours of winter through
1t has dreamed of me and dreamed
of you.
For it knew its message of hope
would be born
In the wondrous light of the spring.
time morn.
So l send to you, for a token today.
This blessed bit of New England's
May"
The SWeet-scented arbutus is also
the subject of a beautiful Indian
legend. Segun, the summer mani
| tou, or spirit, came upon the earth
while it was still in the grip of
Peboan, the winter manitou. Pick
ing some frozen flowers, Segun
breathed upon them and they i'm
mediately flushed into freshness,
giving out a delicate perfume. In
her delight, Segun spoke these
words: This flower is my token
that 1 possess the earth. even though
there is snow upon it. Children
shall find the trailing arbutus and
know that the rivers run and the
air is sweet, for spring is come upon
the land and winter is no more"
The snowy ladyslipper has done
duty in MINNESOTA as State en-
blem since the Legislature selected it
in 1902. 1t is really a country cousin
of the orchid, answering to the aris-
tocratic family name Cypripedium.
In the Indian language the lady,
slipper is the moccaSin flower and
in Greek Venus sock. 1t represents
"capricious beauty" saying in tan
talizing fashion, Win me and wear
me-"
MISSOURI is another State that
has honored its founders in floral
emblem. In 1923 the Legislature
chose the red-fruited thorn or
| downy hawthorn, whose wood made
shuttles for the pioneer women.
Making homespun was only one task
for their busy fingers. The bright
red berries that beautified the haw-
thorn in the fall were put down"
into jelly and ranged neatly on cup
| board shelves for winter fare. The
tree continues to suggest home
building, for it is beloved of birds,
and the fragrant blossoms carry the
message of hope.
The hawthorn also figures in Old
World legends. A crown in a haw-
thorn served as the device of the
first Tudor monarch, HenryVII of
England. 1t is said that at the
battle of Bosworth Field England's S
crown was hidden in a hawthorn
bush. After Richard III, the wicked
"crook-back," was slain, the crown
was recovered and worn by Henry
Tudor.
There is also legend that Christ
on one occasion was covered with
hawthorn. This was just before His
crucifixion and His enemies were
in search of Him. When they had
passed through the wood the swal-
lows, those fowls of God," removed
the hawthorn.
This Is the nth In a series on
foUers of the iStates.)