116 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



To specify, we "would name a fine design of Chrisanthemurn , 

 •with center of Fucias, by Mrs. N. Lyon. 



Harp of a Thousand Strings, composed of a variety of most 

 beautiful flowers, Eoses, Verbenas, Geraniums, Smilax, &c, 

 placed upon an easel of cane, produced a fine display, being the 

 work of the Montebello Floral Society. 



The Warsaw Floral Society furnish a Floral Scythe, remind- 

 ing us of Father Time, the great destroyer; the entire scythe and 

 snath was gilded, and the blade covered with white flowers, and 

 the snath with a fine bouquet of flowers ; altogether a thing of 

 beauty. 



Mrs. Umshler furnished a fine design, composed of fruit, 

 flowers and vegetables, very artistic, from fresh specimens. 



A most beautiful wreath of flowers, composed of forty-two 

 varieties, to represent the national emblem, the elegant work 

 of Mrs. Lamonte, was presented to the Society in a happy and 

 most eloquent address by Mr. C. N. Dennis. 



All of which is most respectfully submitted by your committee, 



A. L. Hay, 



W. H. Greene, 



Henry Speer. 



Mr. Hay — Ladies and gentlemen, standing on this platform in 

 the presence of these assembled fair ones, and looking at these 

 flowers and flags, and all the beautiful things gathered here it 

 seems to me that the most beautiful of all is that grand old flag. 

 I wish now as I stand here before it to speak a word of praise for 

 the thousands of fallen heroes who gave themselves that that flag 

 might be preserved to us. I will say that there is not a person 

 here whose heart is not wrapped in that flag, and we believe that 

 the stars in its bright blue sky shall continue to come forth until 

 there are one hundred of them, and one hundred and fifty millions 

 of happy people shall live under it. As to those decorations 

 of flowers, it is not possible to do them all justice. The 

 names of many of those who brought them are not attached 

 and your committee has no means of knowing to whom 

 our thanks are due. This magnificent harp is the work of 

 the M. F. S., and if the ladies of that Society have as many 

 strings to their bows as has this harp, they are in good luck. 

 Here are various collections of flowers, fruits and vegetables, 



