been transformed into beasts. The 

 lily-of-the-valley has had many em- 

 blems conferred upon it, all of which 

 are equally appropriate. Thus, in 

 reference to the bright, hopeful season 

 of spring, in which it blossoms, it is 

 regarded as the symbol of the return 

 of happiness, while its delicate per- 

 fume has long been indicative of 

 sweetness, and its snow-white flow- 

 ers of purity. Old Gerarde sayeth, 

 " Flowers of Lily-of-the- Valley being 

 close stopped up in a glass, and put 

 into an ant-hill and taken away a 

 month after, ye shall fmd a liquor in 

 the glass which, being outwardly ap- 

 plied, helpeth the gout." It is a mat- 

 ter of speculation what the ant-hill 

 had to do with distilling the liquor. 



In Japan, where flowers have rank, 



white flowers are the aristocrats. In 



Maud's garden white lilies bloomed, 



and Landor writes, "I like white 



77 



