240 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



his presence, the host was compelled to have his fountains playing rose- 

 water. In the repast itself roses found place in the form of a rose 

 pudding. 



The Sybarites slept on beds studded with rose leaves ; the tyrant 

 Dionysius bad his couch tilled with them ; Verus would travel Ti^ith a. 

 garland on his head and round his neck, and over his litter he had a 

 thin net with rose leaves intertwined. Antiochus luxuriated upon a 

 bed of blooms even in winter days and nights, and when Cleopatra 

 entertained Antony she had roses covering the tloor to the depth, it 

 is said, of an ell. 



We are told that Heliogabalus supplied so many at one of his 

 banquets that several of his guests were suffocated in the endeavor to 

 extricate themselves from the abundance — victims of sweet odors. 



Doubtless the immoderate use of roses by the ancients led in 

 after days to their being relegated to their proper sphere in the garden, 

 for, although we have had the war of the roses in our modern times, 

 the flowers were only plucked as a symbol. First and last the rose haa 

 been the theme of countless poems ; there is no poet worthy of the 

 name who has not consecrated it to verse. 



BAG AXD BASKET. 



St. Peter, from the door of heaven, one day 

 Sped two young angels on their happy way, 

 For the first time to see the world in May — 

 Both bearing baskets. 



They were to bring back flowers more fragrant far 

 Than budding rose and blooming hawthorn are ; 

 They were to bring the praise of all the star 

 Back in their baskets. 



The Angel of 'I'hanksgivings, full of glee. 

 Donned a huge hamper half as big as he ; 

 But the Collector of Petitions— see ! 

 With a small basket. 



When they returned, St. Peter, as before, 

 Sat with his golden keys beside the door ; 

 But each appeared to be in trouble sore 

 About his basket. 



The Angel of Petitions bore a sack 

 Cram full, and bound uncouthly on hie back ; 

 Yet even then it seemed that he had lack 

 Of bag and basket. 



