n8 PICTURING MIRACLES 



the camera down to two minute intervals and by 

 nine the next morning they were withered and gone, 

 dejected little wisps of a departed splendor. On the 

 screen it takes just as long to see the opening and 

 closing as it does for me to tell about it. 



The next night I made a close-up of a single bud. 

 The lights were placed rather far forward on either 

 side. When it first opened it was like looking into a 

 dark cave, all sides of which were lined with anthers. 

 The opening petals and anthers allowed the light to 

 shine in to the center of the flower, which now more 

 than filled the screen. The effect was startlingly 

 beautiful. 



The following evening we were invited to Mrs. 

 Damon's beautiful home on the "Island." There 

 were a few acres, her home in the center, built all 

 open in Chinese style, paths leading in all directions. 

 There were literally thousands of the great Cereus 

 blossoms in the trees fifty feet above the ground, 

 others on the ground or anywhere they could find a 

 place to cling. They looked like great snowballs after 

 a wet, clinging storm. It was a moonlight night- 

 Fairyland was the only way to express it. Early the 

 next morning we went there again and persuaded 

 that dear lady who has done so much, especially for 

 the Chinese in the Islands, to pose, holding some 

 blossoms. They were almost as large as her head. 



