"SWEET SUMMER BUDS" 159 



with hues of animating pink; either flower, white 

 or red, being alike symbolical of glowing, youthful 

 passion." 



In the East the rose gardens have been famed for 

 centuries. The flower is said to burst into bloom at 

 the voice of the nightingale. The poet Jami says: 

 "You may place a handful of fragrant herbs of 

 flowers before the nightingale, yet he wishes not in 

 his constant heart for more than the sweet breath of 

 his beloved rose." It is said that an Arabian doctor 

 discovered the recipe for rose-water in the Tenth 

 Century; but the perfume may be older than that. 

 The Rosa c en ti folia is the blossom used. The In- 

 dians and Persians have known how to make their 

 attar of rose for centuries. 



A large volume would be required to chronicle the 

 romance of the rose, for it is the flower of love, 

 beauty, and poetry. It is dedicated to Venus, and 

 Venus is frequently represented as wearing a crown 

 of roses. Her son, Eros or Cupid, is also wreathed 

 and garlanded with roses. Cupid gave a rose to 

 Harpocrates, god of silence hence the rose is also 

 the symbol of silence. "Under the rose," a saying 

 that expresses silence and secrecy, is derived from 

 this legend. A siren holding a rose stands among 

 the sculptured ruins of Psestum. Roses and myrtle 



