INFLUENCE OF FLOWERS UPON NATIONAL LIFE. 131 



floriculture, the curious structures in orchids, or the beautiful 

 varieties of roses, are collected and arranged in order to please 

 and instruct tJie people, cannot fail to give an impetus to all the 

 departments which contribute to the best welfare of a nation, 

 whether educational or commercial. 



Those who sailed near the coast of Japan, even before its ports 

 were opened for trade with the United States, marvelled at the 

 beauty of the islands. The}' described them as looking like one 

 beautiful mosaic, dotted here and there with the brilliant green. 

 Japan has copied man}' national improvements from us. Her 

 social discipline is such that she has thus far adapted herself 

 easily to these changes. Have we not something to copy from 

 her? Flower culture has always received the most careful atten- 

 tion there, and flowers are found in ever}' house. Scholars are 

 taught the art of arranging flowers and cultivating them too. 

 Although in some parts of our country we have not as favorable a 

 climate for flower raising as that of Japan, }et cannot we endeavor 

 to make of our nation a people whose love of flowers shall not be 

 excelled ? 



In the early and unsettled days of our country, there was not 

 much time for the cultivation of flowers. Grievous wrongs were 

 to be redressed and rights had to be established, and in those days 

 of our poverty, no purchasers of flowers would have been found ; 

 yet, when Washington passed through Trenton, on his way to 

 New York for his inauguration, the young girls strewed flowers 

 before him as they sang, and flowers enough were found to decor- 

 ate the houses in the streets of New York through which he was 

 to pass. Thus early did flowers lend their aid in honoring our 

 nation's hero. Washington himself said that the impressions of 

 these scenes could never be effaced from his memory. Who can 

 measure their influence upon his guidance of the nation ? The 

 years have rolled on and our nation has greatly extended its 

 limits. We have had time to listen to the teachings of the cour- 

 ageous arbutus of the Eastern shores, and have gathered strength 

 therefrom to go onward and onward until we have reached the 

 " Sunset Land," so full of floral as well as golden treasures. 

 Shall we not, as a nation and as individuals, receive the influence 

 of the flowers, or "' Smiles of God," as the poet expresses it, 

 wherever found? Given a love of flowers, our country will be 

 prospered, and the national life itself will be exalted and perpet- 

 uated. 



