A NATURALIST WHO CONSIDERS MANY SUBJECTS 113 



A BLAZE OF GLORY OF A DOUBLE ROSE. 

 Photographed by Mr. Nathan R. Graves. Rochester. New York. 



"Is the most famous double rose 

 really finer than the healthy simple rose 

 after all ? By the gods I do not know ! 

 Sit down by the side of a wild rose bush 

 — and not vulgarly close, for it has tan- 

 gible dignity indeed. It keeps one at 

 an aristocratic distance until he has 

 loved it enough to understand it. When 

 ■one has loved the wild rose enough to 

 ■take the trouble for really understand- 

 ing it he is then at liberty to hold its 

 finest flower in his hand, to press the 

 soft petals against his cheek ; to drink 

 the royal clear pink into his color soul, 

 and to enjoy the fragrance that is not 

 for the careless passer-by, but only for 

 liim who seeks it affectionately, and 



who finds it as a reward. And then the 

 unfolding bud ! There is exquisite mod- 

 esty in its diffident advancement from 

 the sepals which protect, even as the 

 wise mother guards her beautiful 

 daughter until the tender heart can 

 bear the glance of a powerful but kind 

 and generous sun, which might unwit- 

 tingly do it harm. 



"If I may have the choice between a 

 wild rose and a double rose upon my 

 grave, give me the sturdy wild rose that 

 combines its colors with those of early 

 morning sunlight in jewels of a thous- 

 and glimmering dewdrops, when the 

 robin and the woodthrush are making 

 the welkin ring with songs of life-joy 

 and of praise for the coming day." 



