SUMMEE MEETING. 53 



exuberance of their love and loyalty, she meant to the Greeks all 

 things bright, and fresh, and fragrant. 



A dainty story appropos of the rose is told by Boitard and Des- 

 longchamp, the two French writers who have laboriously culled from 

 classic and Eastern lore the myths, legends and stories concerning the 

 rose, and who have been ruthlessly rifled of their store of sweets by 

 most of the writers who have succeeded them, with little acknow- 

 ledgment and less thanks. There was in Amadan, Persia, an academy 

 whose statutes enjoined much thinking, little writing, and the least 

 possible speech. Into this select society only a limited number of 

 members were admitted. A famous Oriental doctor — Zeb by name — 

 desired to become a member. Upon learning of a vacancy in the 

 academy he made haste to come from his home to obtain his election. 

 In the mean time the academy, like others since, had given away the 

 membership to the most powerful applicant, not waiting to weigh the 

 merits of the candidates. The learned doctor came too late, the last 

 vacancy had been filled. The president of the assembly, covered with 

 shame at having to refuse admission to a member who would cast such 

 luster upon the body, was at a loss what to say. He therefore clothed 

 his refusal in allegory, the polite way of saying disagreeable things in 

 those days. A cup of water was brought in, filled to its brim, so that 

 a single drop would cause it to overflow. The petitioner understood, 

 and quietly turned to withdraw. A rose-leaf at his feet gave him an 

 inspiration; he picked it up and placed it so gently on the water that 

 not a drop was spilled. At this the assembly applauded, and the in- 

 genious doctor was received by general acclamation among the silent 

 academicians. 



Vast rose gardens were planted on the hills near Athens, which sup- 

 plied the flower markets of the day. And in the Gr?ecoRoman colonies 

 of Paestum and Sybaris the culture must have been carried to a very 

 high degree of perfection. Ovid tells us that they were made to bloom 

 twice a year by means of hot water, which — from testimony gathered 

 from the literature of the day — must have been carried in pipes, much 

 as is done in our hot-houses today. Pliny writes, about the date of the 

 Christian era, " It is a flower known to all nations, equally with wine, 

 myrtle and oil." 



When the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra went to Cilicia to meet Marc 

 Antony, she celebrated their meeting by daily feasts. During the first 

 three days the richest tapestry and hangings, vessels of gold and silver, 

 adornments of precious stones, all that the wealth and luxury and 

 refinement of the world could supply, were lavished upon the enter- 

 tainments. On the fourth day, as the crown and culmination of it all, 



