VIOLET. 
[Modesty.) 
“ The violet is for modesty.”—B urns. 
IOLETS, considered by some as typical of modesty , 
by others are deemed emblematic of faithfulness, 
and the latter have the support of one of 
Shakspeare’s contemporary poets : 
“ Violet is for faithfulness, 
Which in me shall abide ; 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it slide.” 
“The violet was as proud a device of the Ionic 
Athenians,” says a well-known author, “as the rose ot 
England and the lily of France. In all seasons it was to 
be seen exposed for sale in the market-place at Athens, 
the citizens being successful in rearing it in their gardens 
even when the ground was covered with snow.” 
The Greeks called this flower “ Ion,” and it was said 
that Jupiter caused the first violet to spring up in the 
grass, when the unhappy Io, metamorphosed into a 
heifer, bent her lips to eat. 
Perdita, when wishing for flowers to give her guests, 
in the “ Winter’s Tale,” thus speaks of the beauty and 
perfume of violets : 
