FLOWERS LOVED BY GREAT MEN 



275 



miles from Paris. But Xapoleon, in his 

 almost ehildisli delight over getting the 

 flowers^ galloped all the way to Malmaison, 

 carrying the precious violets with him. 

 Josephine was deeply touched that the 

 master of all Europe should journey miles 

 just to place in her hand the flowers she 

 loved best. She never forgot the lover- 

 like act, nor he her rapturous delight. 

 Sorel}' he tried his consort's forgiveness 

 later, but he never from that time on failed 

 to shower violets upon her on her birthday. 

 Even when he had divorced her, that he 

 might marry the daughter of an emperor, 

 he sent her the accustomed violets. The 

 heart-broken woman shuddered. ^^Take 

 them away !" she implored. "They have 

 bloomed above a grave ! I cannot wear 

 them r 



In after days the violet became the 

 symbol of sympathy for ^NTapoleon in his 

 misfortune. Loyal Frenchmen drank to 

 the health of "Corporal A^iolet," and wore 

 violet watch-guards, and loyal French- 

 women wore violet dresses and violet rib- 

 bons. In the hard days of imprisonment 

 at St. Helena the chained lion found his 

 only solace in planting and tending his 

 violets. They were the loved flowers of 

 Josephine, who would have died for him, 

 and whose heart he had broken. Who 

 knows what memories those flowers 

 brought up to this miserable man, or what 

 voices of other days? Years after Na- 

 poleon's body was removed to Paris. From 

 the moment the cortege touched French 

 soil his coffin was literally hidden beneath 

 violets, the nation's ofi^ering. - 



AV 0 0 D - 



By Annice 



OUT 'neath the forest trees, 

 Sweetest of monodies 

 Known by the western "breeze, 

 Grow the wood-violets.. 

 Melodies heaven taught, 

 "Waking our happiest thought, 

 By these sweet flowers caught, 

 Modest wood-violets. 



Time ever fleeting on, 

 Day, night, again the dawn, 

 Forever the years roll on, 

 Violets, violets. 



V' I 0 L E T S 



Bodey Calland 



Fair years, fair changing years, 

 Latticed with hopes and fears, 

 Spangled with smiles and tears, 

 Violets, violets. 



Teach me thy faithfulness, 

 Teach me thy loveliness. 

 Why you all things do bless, 



Violets, violets. 

 "Learn, then, the secret mine- 

 Love, let thy love entvdne 

 All, and sweet peace is thine," 

 This say the violets. 



