of blossoms which decorate the earth 

 have entered into politics : the rose 

 in England, the lily in France, the 

 chrysanthemum in Japan, and lastly 

 the violet, which was more closely 

 associated with one man than with 

 the country. Following the lead of 

 their illustrious kinsman, the Bona- 

 parte family adopted it as their 

 emblem. 



After Napoleon's banishment to 

 Elba the violet became more promi- 

 nent than ever, and his adherents 

 spoke of him among themselves 

 as "Caporal la Violette," or "Papa 

 la Violette," as significant of the 

 fact that he would return in the 

 spring. 



These hopes were realised : the 

 violets bloomed and he returned. As 

 he re-entered the Tuilleries on March 

 20, 1815, after his escape from Elba, 

 where he had hurried, from the coast 

 58 



