THE ARMY OF FLOWERS. 289 



We will now lay aside this image of darkness, the curse of all the 

 centuries, and turn our faces to the light and view with more com- 

 plaisant satisfaction the beauties of nature's handiwork in its de- 

 velopment as exemplified in the formation of the great "Army of 

 Flowers." 



One who is infinitely wiser than we hath said, that Solomon, 

 when at the height of his glory, could not afford to dress so rich nor 

 clothe in such royal splendor as one of these humble privates in 

 Queen Flora's imperial army. It will be interesting for us to pass in 

 review and note the movements of this great army as they march 

 along. Look out upon the landscape on every side, and you will see 

 a very different picture from the one first introduced, a picture more 

 bright, more cheerful, more refining, more lovely, one that brings 

 happiness and joy to its possessor, a picture of the liveliest and 

 brightest colors, drawn in such endless variety and profusion, a 

 picture that no artist's pencil could follow in all its delicate mark- 

 ings. 



You may well ask, whence comes this lovely picture? It was 

 drawn by the hand of the God of nature. Who is the God of nature? 

 Can you tell ? Without the circling seasons and revolving day, this 

 earth would be a lifeless mass of inactive matter. Whence have the 

 flowers their distinctive individuality, in all the beauty of shade and 

 exquisite markings? The sun darts its rays upon them and paints 

 the spring in all its gorgeous colorings, with breath perfumed flowers 

 the essence of the garden, and casts their fragrance to the breeze and 

 fills our senses with feasts of luxurious delight, a feast that never 

 cloys the appetite and in its indulgence is incapable of excess. Mel- 

 ancholy could scarcely exist within the atmosphere of flowers. 



We first started out to review this great army, but fall back in 

 astonishment and are lost in admiration at the vastness of its num- 

 bers, the endless variety of uniforms and perfect discipline in the 

 order of marching. Scarcely are two columns brought into action 

 at the same time, but column after column in regular succession, 

 without confusion or breaking of ranks. 



The flag (Iris) under which they march is restricted to the 

 white and the blue ; white being the emblem of love, peace and purity, 

 and the blue signifying truth, loyalty and faithfulness. You will no- 

 tice the red, which is a part of our own national colors and may be 

 called the representative of blood, is left out altogether. 



When the lines are formed for action the Snowdrop is foremost 

 of all the lovely train, breaking her way through ice and snow at the 

 moment the command is given. The next column to move forward is 

 the Crocus, proceeding more cautiously and with some timidity, lest 



