184 STARLIGHT AND SUNSHINE. 



gold, without alloy, having long ago sentenced our only two 

 black sheep to Europe in exile. 



" We belong to a noble order known as the Composites, which 

 means a unit composed of many, each of my golden stars being 

 composed of many flowers; and our immediate family are called 

 Solidago by your prophets, which name, as one of them affirms, is 

 'derived from solidus and ago, to draw together, to join, to make 

 whole.' 



"Am I not indeed Columbia's true emblem ? My being is a 

 harmonious assemblage of individuals with hearts that beat as 

 one; and since those far ages when 'America' received her primal 

 christening E pluribus unum has been my motto." 



If the golden -rod has not been nominated by acclamation, it 

 is because its claims have not been appreciated. In its selection 

 no sectional jealousy will be aroused. It will certainly be a sur- 

 prise to most people to know that the genus is practically con- 

 fined to the American continent a rare botanical phenomenon 

 and that of the nearly one hundred American species, seventy- 

 eight are found in the United States. The two sole European 

 species, unlike hundreds of other floral immigrants, never have 

 been seen here, much less naturalized. 



Considered in the abstract, its conspicuous beauty alone is a 

 sufficient champion ; its recommendations of color, grace, stately 

 ornamental symmetry being self-evident, lending itself to all man- 

 ner of art treatment or conventional decoration. Moreover, if we 

 are to be consistent in our choice; if we are to regard the inher- 

 ent attributes of the contending flora, it is the composite flower 

 that must typify the union. And such a flower should be a true 

 child of the sod. Among all the native composite, the only two 

 genera between which there is the slightest ground for rivalry are 

 the golden-rods, with seventy-eight species, and the asters, with one 

 hundred and twenty-four. But who would hesitate a moment as 

 between the former and the royal group that wears the "purple?" 



No, I repeat, the question is not " What shall be our national 

 flower?" The Solidago is our national flower and ever will be, 

 even though it continue to cry in the wilderness. 



