SUMMER MEETING, 1893. 205 



If he could g-et it as readily as we can in this region, he thought Mr. 

 Thayer would use it for all purposes, rather than pay eight dollars 

 a ton or more for the clover. 



The president then called on Secretary Latham to make a report 

 of his work in Chicago, responding to the sentiment, "The World's 

 Fair. We don't take a back seat." Secretary Latham reported as 

 follows: (This report will be found with the other World's Fair 

 papers. See index.) 



"The Flowers; Nature's Contribution to the ^Lsthetic in Man," was 

 responded to by Miss Emma V. White. "There is a poem which de- 

 scribes God as creating the universe, and, although pleased, he felt 

 that something was lacking-. So he made man to enjoy and govern 

 his creation. He looked upon man and was pleased with his work, 

 but still something- was lacking. Then he made the flowers to 

 beautify and adorn his former creation, and to complete and to sat- 

 isfy the love of the beautiful in inan. And so the flowers came to 

 us as a joy, lighting up the sick room, adorning our grounds, appeal- 

 ing always to our love of the beautiful. We are told to distrust that 

 man who has no music in his soul; that he is fit for treason, strat- 

 agems and spoils. Possibly, this is not too strong a stateinent to 

 make of him who does not love the flowers, and I am glad to see 

 that the young men who are receiving their training- at the Agri- 

 cultural School are not having this portion of their nature neg- 

 lected. 



On an occasion like this, however, it is a witty speech that is best 

 appreciated. While I cannot give you the wit, I can give you, per- 

 haps, that which is better — the soul of wit— brevit*." 



Dr. M. M. Frisselle was called upon to say something of "Our Na- 

 tional Flower; What Shall It Be?" "Flowers have always played an 

 important part in man's life and history. In ancient times they were 

 dedicated to the heathen gods, the cherry to Apollo, lily to Juno, 

 myrtle to Venus, narcissus to Ceres, and the vine to Bachus. Later, 

 in the history of the church, the saints had their flowers, the canter- 

 bury bell was dedicated to St. Augustine, the daisy to Margaret, the 

 crocus to Valentine, the rose to Mary Magdalene. Various countries, 

 too, have their national emblems; in France, the fleur de lis; in Ire- 

 land, the shamrock; Prussia, the linden; England, the rose; Spain, 

 the pomegranate, and Scotland the thistle. Why should not our 

 country have its national flower? There is our maize, indigenous to 

 this country, but that is good for corn bread. The rose is beautiful, 

 but that is England's flower, and has been the cause of bloody wars, 

 the "War of the Roses" cost England many lives. But the flower 

 which I think would be best adapted to our country is the golden rod. 

 It is universal, being found from the bleak hills of New Hampshire 

 to the Gulf. It is a beautiful and a significant flower. There are 

 forty-nine kinds of golden rod, and only five of these belong to for- 

 eign countries. For these reasons, it is most proper as our national 

 emblem. It does not come in early spring or midsummer like the 

 rose, but late in September and October, when other flowers are 

 gone. The frosts do not destroy it, in this it is emblematic of our 

 nation. We have set the example of liberty, and our flower should 

 be an emblem of permanence in our institutions." 



