ORCHID NAMES 



THIS is a hateful theme. Assuredly I have no 

 prejudice against things Greek ; quite the reverse. 

 I offer myself a victim to all the gods of Philistia 

 by confessing that the story of mankind lost its 

 highest interest for me when Philopoamen perished 

 if he might truly be called ultimus Grcecorum. 

 But that is not the point of view which concerns us. 

 Orchids have been damned by their names. I 

 recollect the words of a friendly editor, credited, 

 above all, with judgment in appreciating the 

 public taste. I had proposed to write some narra- 

 tives of adventure, since published, based on the 

 discovery of certain species. Said he, "Couldn't 

 you hang your stories on some other peg ? The 

 British public hates orchids ! " I had already 

 cause to suspect that it was so, and I asked of this 

 sagacious expert what the reason might be ? 

 " Oh, it's the names, I suppose ! " he answered. 

 Also, traditions not yet dispelled have their 

 influence, no doubt. Orchids are still regarded as 



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