FLOWERS 



222S 



FLOWERS 



adopted as the emblem of the United States, 

 as not yet has tradition made any Sower espe- 

 cially significant. 



The following is a list of national flower 

 emblems, the countries being arranged in al- 

 phabetical order: 



The story behind the adoption of the corn- 

 flower, or Kaiscrblume, as the national emblem 

 of Germany, is a very pretty one. When 

 Napoleon's army held Berlin, Louise, the 

 queen-mother of Emperor William I, taking 

 refuge outside the city, comforted her children 



by weaving for them garlands of cornflowers 



/ * Canada Maple Leaf 



from the wayside. After that the cornflower china Narcissus 



was the favorite of William and the German Egypt Lotus 



people. England Rose 



While marching to battle against an English J rance Fleur-de-lis 



Germany Cornflower 



army m A. D. 640, the men of a Welsh army Greece Violet 



plucked leeks to place in their caps to dis- India Lotus 



tinguish themselves from the enemy. They Ireland ; . . . Shamrock 



were victorious that day, and the leek was \ ta}y " e L " y 



' Japan Chrysanthemum 



Mexico Nopal Cactus, or Prickly Pear 



Mexico has chosen the nopal cactus, or Persia Rose 



prickly pear, as its emblem, and Canada, the Scotland Thistle 



leaf of the sugar maple, remarkable for its "I Pomegranate 



Switzerland Edelweiss 



beautiful coloring m autumn. By popular vote, united States Goldenrod 



the widely-distributed goldenrod has been Wales Leek 



Language of Flowers 



Bishop Coxe said, in his The Singing of Amaranth Immortality 



Birds Anemone Anticipation, Frailty 



Flowers are words * pple f S f SOm Admiration 



Which even a babe may understand. 



Brier Insult 



Throughout the years, and in all nations, cer- Buttercup Wealth 



tain flowers have always signified a certain Camellia Illness 



. j. ... Calla Magnificent beauty, Pride 



sentiment, owing to individual properties or candytuft Indifference 



special characteristics, as the amaranth for im- Cornflower Heaven 



mortality, because it lasts so long ; the poppy Cowslip Youthful beauty 



for forgetfulness, because stupefying opium is S 5 ^ 6 ?^ Death 



, ., , . , . ... Daffodil Unrequited love 



made from its seeds ; the brier for insult, be- Daisy Simplicity 



cause of its thorns. Dandelion Coquetry 



Poets and peoples of all nations have at- Evergreen Hope 



tributed meanings to many flowers, and so Everlastings Undying affection 



- , Fern Forsaken 



originated a custom of expressing one's Five-leafed Clover .... Bad luck 



thoughts and feelings by means of flowers. Forget-me-not True love 



Among the Greeks and Romans the language Four-leafed Clover . . . Good luck 



of flowers was in vogue, and all events of inter- Fox &l ve Insincerity 



. j , , _,, Gentian Virgin pride 



est were represented by flowers or leaves. The Geranium . . . . Deceit 



olive was the token of peace ; the bay was Goldenrod Encouragement 



the poet's crown ; the myrtle was the crown Heather Loneliness 



for beauty, and the oak was the patriot's He i lotr Pe Devotion 



A , , , , , Hepatica Anger 



crown. A laurel wreath marked success and Honeysuckle Fidelity 



high achievement. Tender messages were con- Hyacinth Sorrow 



veyed by lovers through beautiful flowers, and Ivy Trustfulness 



to some extent that custom still exists. A **- UTel Fame 



. , ,, T , Jt Lilac Fastidiousness 



single red rose means "I love you" ; the moss- LIly Majesty, Purity 



rose bud is a confession of love ; a white rose Lotus Forgetfulness 



signifies happy love. Marigold Contempt 



The following is a list of flowers whose mean- Moss or a dry twig - Old a ^ e 



11 .* ur u j *u u A u Myrtle Wedded bliss 



ings are well established through the poetry Narcissus Vanity 



and usage of nations: Oak Leaf . . . .Power 



