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310 LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS, 
SCARLET GERANIUM. 
STUPIDITY. 
Madame de Staee was always angry whenever 
any of her acquaintance attempted to introduce a 
stupid person into her company. One day, one of 
her friends ventured, nevertheless, to bring to her a 
young Swiss officer of the most prepossessing ex¬ 
terior. The lady, pleased with his appearance, was 
very lively, and said a thousand flattering things to 
the new-comer, who seemed at first to be struck 
mute by surprise and admiration. When, however, 
he had listened to her above an hour without open¬ 
ing his lips, she began to suspect the cause of his 
silence, and put to him such direct questions that he 
could not help answering. Alas, for the visiter! 
his answers were extremely silly ! Madame de 
Stael, vexed at having thrown away her time and 
her wit, turned to her friend and said : “ Indeed, sir, 
you are like my gardener, who thought to do me a 
