Violet. 
261 
These games, discontinued during the French Revolution, were 
revived in 1808, and, although necessarily shorn of much of 
their ancient glory, are still celebrated with considerable splen¬ 
dour: they attained their 558th anniversary this year. 
“ The Golden Violet ” prize was the theme of one of poor 
L. E. L.’s pathetic stories. She tells us she deemed that 
“No flowers grew in the vale, 
Kissed by the dew, wooed by the gale— 
None by the dew of the twilight wet, 
So sweet as the deep blue violet ” 
And expresses the wish that 
“ When the grave shall open for me— 
I care not how soon that time may be— 
Never a rose shall grow on that tomb, 
It breathes too much of hope and bloom; 
But there be that flower’s meek regret, 
The bending and deep blue violet. ” 
Whilst the first Napoleon was in exile, this little blossom 
was adopted by his followers as an emblem : he was styled 
Le Pere la Violette, and a small bunch of violets hung up in 
the house, or worn by a Frenchman, denoted the adherence of 
the wearer to his fallen chieftain’s cause. 
The White Violet, which is not invariably scentless, as is 
sometimes erroneously presumed, is emblematic of candour , 
although some authors adopt it as the representative of inno¬ 
cence. 
Caroline Bowles, speaking of various sorts of violets growing 
in her garden, says, 
“ The more fragrant white, 
E’en from that very root, in many a patch 
Extended wide, still scents the garden round.” 
