Delphinium granMorum. Natural Order: Ranunculaccce—Crowfoot Family. 
^IBERIA is the native country of two of the prettiest species of 
these plants, and they are consequently very hardy. All the 
varieties were much neglected a few years ago, but recently a 
, great deal of care has been taken with the double ones, some 
of the shades of blue being very choice. Although the flowers 
bloom in spikes, which render them unsuitable to the modern 
style of bouquet, florists have overcome that difficulty by detaching 
each blossom, giving it an artificial stem of broom-straw, or some¬ 
thing similar, secured by a bit of thread or wire, and arranging 
them as desirable. The perennial varieties are superior in every way 
to the annual ones. It is called Delphinium from a fancied resemblance 
of the flower in shape to the dolphin, and grandiflorum because of 
its large flowers. 
TAUGH not too much; the witty man laughs least: 
For wit is news only to ignorance. 
Less at thine own things laugh; lest in the jest 
Thy person share, and the conceit advance. 
j\ jl ETIIOUGHT it was the sound 
' Of riot and ill-managed merriment, 
Such as the jocund flute and gamesome pipe 
Stirs up among the loose, unletter’d hinds. 
— Milton. 
—George Herbert. 
GOME, sisters, cheer we up his sprights, 
^ And show the best of our delights: 
We ’ll charm the air to give a sound, 
While you perform your antic round. 
— Shakespeare. 
P'ARE to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt; 
^ And every grin, so merry, draws one out. 
— Dr. Walcot. 
T7ILL the bowl with rosy wine, 
A Around our temples roses twine, 
And let us cheerfully a while, 
Like the wine and roses, smile. 
Crowned with roses, we contemn 
Gyges’ wealthy diadem. 
182 
Today is ours; what do we fear? 
Today is ours; we have it here; 
Let’s treat it kindly, that it may 
Wish at least with us to stay. 
Let’s banish business, banish sorrow; 
To the gods belongs tomorrow. 
— Cowley. 
