frequently than' any other flower, and 

 always as the syrhbol of what is lovely 

 and fair. On every occasion, whether 

 of joy or sorrow, this lovely flower has 

 a place. 



,' , The luxurious Greeks and Romans 

 crowned themselves with roses when 

 they feasted; they bound these flowers 

 about their bowls of wine ; they scat- 

 tered them upon the table. The 

 lavish Cleopatra decked her banquet 

 hall with roses for a feast and did 

 not consider .what we would call a 

 thousand dollars too much to expend 

 on their frail beauty. Nero " the Ter- 

 rible" spent a hundred times that 

 amount for garlands and rose wreaths 

 for a single dinner. Not content with 

 the roses themselves, this same Nero 

 showered his guests with rose-water, 

 and when he in his turn honoured a 

 noble by dining with him, the host 

 was compelled to have the fountains 

 107 



