204 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:5— May, 1918 



political composition was a golden violet. The fair founder of 

 these games whilst undergoing a weary imprisonment sent her 

 chosen flower, the violet, to her knight that he might wear the 

 emblem of her constancy and thus the flower became a symbol 

 of faithfulness. It has now come to embody two more virtues 

 those of love and modesty. The violet — "stands first with most, 

 but always with the lover." 



The Romans, also were extremely partial to the violet and 

 cultivated it largely in their gardens. A favorite beverage of 

 theirs was a wine made from the flower. 



It was formerly believed in England that when violets and roses 

 flourished in autumn, there would be some epidemic in the ensuing 

 year. In Worcest ;rshire, the safety of the farmers' young broods 

 of chickens and ducks is thought to be sadly endangered by any- 

 one taking less than a handful of violets and primroses into his 

 house. Pliny had so high an opinion of the medicinal virtues of 

 the violet as to assert that a garland of violets worn about the 

 head prevented headache or dizziness. However absurd we 

 may think these superstitions in our time, nevertheless we must 

 sympathize with the ancient's use and reverence for the flower. 



Not only with the ancients has the violet won distinction, 

 because it is and has always been in high favor with the French, 

 and is now the recognized badge of the Imperial party, having 

 become identified with the Bonapartists during Napoleon the 

 First's exile at Elba. What very interesting tales of the violet 

 ancestors might we know, were we but versed in flower language. 



In the time of Charles II, a conserve called "violet-sugar" or 

 "violet-plate" was recommended by physicians to consumptive 

 patients. Even in our own war times it might be well, should we 

 look into food conservation in this way Who knows, but that 

 in a few years "violet sugar" may be a daily sweetmeat. 



The violet more than most flowers has impinged upon the 

 imagination of the poets. They have loved them and sung in 

 varied strains of their fragrance and lowliness; however, blue violets 

 will go on living their own lives in their own way, maintaining 

 their modest beauty, quite unmindful of the' poets. 



"The violet in her greenwood bower, 



Where birchen boughs with Hazel mingle, 

 May boast itself the fairest flower 

 In glen or copse or forest dingle." 



— Sir Walter Scott. 



