ROSE-TIME 



71 



factions of the soul, is one of the least translatable in any known 

 medium of art. Actually it belongs to that category of silent 

 and contemplative pleasures wherein cluster the really rapt 

 moments of life. 



Perhaps, however, in the sincere desire to provide some sort 

 of Rose-time transcript for those who have not yet planted 

 rose-dream seed — for those, in short, for whom this book is 

 primarily written — we may be permitted to set down some- 

 thing of what Rose-time means to rose-lovers. It may sound 

 extravagant or even bizarre, and it will certainly be halting 

 and lame and inadequate; but remember, if you please, how 

 many eloquent voices and hands have sought to transcribe the 

 rose, and succeeded only in dropping faded petals upon their 

 pages or their canvas. 



Rose-time corresponds with the time when all creation 

 focuses to its best. It is the flower-time of the year. It is the 

 time when all growing things reach a mellow maturity. In 

 effect, the word con- 

 veys, as gloriously as 

 it is conveyed by that 

 other word of warmth 

 and fruition and 

 fecundity, the golden 

 word Summer. But 

 there is a larger sense 

 in which the word 

 Rose-time focuses and 

 at the same time be- 

 comes the focal point 

 of the best in nature 

 and in life. For may 

 we not go back of the 

 cyclical round of the 

 seasons and make the 

 tentative suggestion 

 that in a very real 

 sense all the ages ha\ e 

 contributed to this 

 focal point we call 



