THE WELCOMES OF THE FLOWERS 1 47 



remains close within its pocket, and the pollen 

 is thus retained. 



What startling disclosures are revealed to the 

 inward eye within the hearts of all these strange 

 orchidaceous flowers! Blossoms whose functions, 

 through long eras of adaptation, have gradually 

 shaped themselves to the forms of certain chosen 

 insect sponsors; blossoms whose chalices are lit- 

 erally fashioned to bees or butterflies ; blossoms 

 whose slender, prolonged nectaries invite and re- 

 ward the murmuring sphinx-moth alone, the floral 

 throat closely embracing his head while it at- 

 taches its pollen masses to the bulging eyes, or 

 perchance to the capillary tongue! And thus in 

 endless modifications, evidences all of the same 

 deep vital purpose. 



Let us then content ourselves no longer with 

 being mere " botanists " — historians of structural 

 facts. The flowers are not mere comely or curi- 

 ous vegetable creations, with colors, odors, petals, 

 stamens, and innumerable technical attributes. 

 The wonted insight alike of scientist, philosopher, 

 theologian, and dreamer is now repudiated in the 

 new revelation. Beauty is not "its own excuse 

 for being," nor was fragrance ever " wasted on the 

 desert air." The seer has at last heard and inter- 

 preted the voice in the wilderness. The flower is 



