OLD-TIME AND MODERN II 



points of superiority in the higher grades, and 

 is led on to other indulgences. 



THE NARCISSUS OF OLDEN TIMES 



That narcissus, the ancient, small cupped 

 and cluster-flowered sorts, were prized be- 

 fore history was recorded, is evidenced by 

 wreaths of their flowers being unearthed from 

 tombs made hundreds of years before the 

 Christian era. That the popularity of nar- 

 cissus increased with civilisation is indicated 

 by old Greek and Roman writings. It is 

 nearly 2000 years since Virgil's "Empurpled 

 Narcissus" was penned, and about 1,500 years 

 ago that Mohammed said "He that hath two 

 cakes of bread, let him sell one of them, for 

 bread is only food for the body, but narcis- 

 sus is food for the Soul." Ovid, about the 

 year I, poetically crystalizes an ancient legend 

 of the birth of Narcissus, the substance of 

 which is as follows: Narcissus, a beautiful 

 youth, was so impervious to the loving ad- 

 vances of Echo and other suitors that Nemesis 

 answering their prayers for vengeance, caused 

 Narcissus to pine away in silent admiration of 



