180 



PARSOXS OX THE ROSE. 



Paris, which gave a decree in favor of the inhabitants of 

 the place, by which it confirmed to them all the ancient 

 customs of the fete of La Rosiere, of Vy'hich the Lord of 

 Salency Avas ordered to pay all the expenses. 



The ceremony of La Rosiere was suppressed during 

 the excesses of the Revolution, but was reestablished 

 when the times had become more quiet. The celebration 

 takes jDlace in June, and would be well worthy the at- 

 tendance of foreig^n travelers. 



"VVe have mentioned this custom very much in detail, 

 as it is one of the few ceremonies still existing, in which 

 the Rose occupies a prominent position, and is made alone 

 the reward of merit. Other festivals of the Rose, similar 

 to those of Salency, were established in several other vil- 

 lao'es of France and the neio:hborino; countries. When 

 Louis XVIIL was staying at Blakenbourg, in Germany, 

 during the years of his exile, he was invited to assist at a 

 festival of La Rosiere. "When he had placed the crown 

 on the head of the young girl who was designated as the 

 most virtuous, she said to him, ingenuously, " My Prince, 

 may your crown be restored you." 



There exists a touching custom in the valley of Enga- 

 dine, in SAvitzerland. If a man accused of a crime is able 

 to. justify himself the same day on which he is liberated 

 from prison, a young and beautiful girl offers him a white 

 rose, called the Rose of Innocence. 



It is somewhat singular that, although the Rose was in 

 tliese instances employed as the emblem of virtue and in- 

 nocence, it has been considered, at other times and places, 

 as a sim of diss^race and dishonor. 



The synod held at Xismes, about the year 1284, order- 

 ed the Jev>^s to wear on their breast a rose, to distinguish 

 them from Christians, in order that they might not rex3eive 

 the same attentions. At one time, in certain German 

 provinces, a crown of red roses was the punishment of 

 immorality. 



