WILD FLOWERS RED 
who roam the woods in the springtime, not to admire 
and study Nature, but to gather wild flowers thought- 
lessly and without discretion for the mere sake of a 
bouquet. From the very nature of their surroundings, 
these plants are not always deeply and strongly rooted 
and as their stems are firm and wiry, the entire plant 
is likely to be uprooted with the flower when it is roughly 
plucked, and then, of course, it is left to perish. The 
early wild flowers seem to have selected the Columbines 
for their reception committee, and to have stationed 
them along the rocky balconies of woodland ridges 
during their spring festival, to extend a hearty welcome 
to all strangers who happen to pass within nodding 
distance of their abode. If this should be true of the 
Columbines, it is certain that they fulfil their social 
obligation gracefully and without fear or favour, 
greeting old friends and acquaintances here and there 
with cheerful nods and bows, or courtesying with 
becoming dignity, this way or that, to new callers, as 
occasion requires. They seem tireless in their delight- 
ful efforts to make one feel at home, and they are 
always found extending the right hand of good- 
fellowship to all visitors alike. Perhaps this has some 
bearing on the recent discussion regarding the selection 
of the Columbine for our national flower, for we know 
that Uncle Sam has always welcomed the immigrants 
from every clime with the same impartial hospitality 
and goodwill. Popularly the common name, Colum- 
bine, is not far removed from Columbia, the Goddess 
of Liberty and “the gem of the ocean,” when standing 
II 
