IN AN ALPINE GARDEN 151 



climb, the more intense and profuse becomes the 

 blue of their flowers (in the same way as it is 

 fascinating to be able to think that the sweetness 

 of flowers increases with the altitude, and that 

 hives give a heavier yield of honey in the Alps 

 than in the plains). Few will dispute what appears 

 so obvious — that the blue of the Myosotis and the 

 Gentian, and of Eritrichiiwi ncnuim, ' King of the 

 Alps,' the highest and brightest of all blue Alpines, 

 is unmatched by any blue m the plains. And 

 then, if red is also so predominant in these high 

 altitudes — well, even here the mystic may have 

 his word. He may say that red stands for the 

 vigour of life, and that for due and proper worldli- 

 ness it is possible to have too much blue ; and he 

 may quote as instance the unhealthy state which 

 a thus-far perceptive world knows as ' a fit of the 

 blues.' He may argue that, because of this, and 

 because of the abundant blueness of Alpine 

 circumstance, it is only proper that an abund- 

 ance of red should exist to keep the healthy 

 balance. 



And more, in like strain, the Mystic might argue 

 — if he were allowed ! But he must not labour 

 the subject here. We shall content ourselves 

 in hoping with him that Dr. Groom and 



