102 FAMILIAR GAUDEN FLOWERS. 



mortal life, when bitters are bitter indeed. It is a fact, 

 for wliioli there is abundant book evidence, that tansy- 

 was sold as athanasia, and it acquired that name from 

 the supposition that a plant was employed by the gods 

 to render favoured mortals immortal, and fit society for 

 the celestial highnesses by whom human destinies were 

 governed. King Jupiter said to Mercury, "Take away 

 this Ganymede ; give him a draught of athanasia to render 

 him immortal, and bring him back to serve here as cup- 

 bearer." You will find the story in Lucian. It is only 

 necessary to knock out the first letter, and the name is 

 seen to be fully prepared for degradation ; in fact, that 

 small change starts it on the journey down the steep sides 

 of Olympus into the smoky valleys where mortal men are 

 to be found. The botanical name Tanacetum is quite 

 modern, and gives one the idea of a great mass of tansy. 

 Thus with the name of the plant we are quite out of the 

 region of common sense. 



For garden use, tansy ranks with golden rod and other 

 such second-rate plants. Nevertheless a mass of tansy in 

 flower is a fine sight in its way even in a garden ; but when 

 met with by the seaside, or in some half-wild waste where 

 it has been long undisturbed, it may be described as noble, 

 for the foliage is peculiarly rich, wliile the golden buttons 

 glitter gloriously in the sunshine. As a garden plant, how- 

 ever, the tansy rises high above the commonplace, for it has 

 enjoyed a degree of fame in connection with the so-called 

 " leaf bedding " that has been in fashion of late years, 

 since its delicious tone of green gives relief to the purple, 

 bronze, and golden leafage of other and less hardy plants 

 that are in request for planting in masses. The common 

 tansy answers for this purpose fairly well ; but a variety 



