ARE YOU A MARGUERITE OR A DAISY?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1937, Page 20

ARE YOU A MARGUERITE OR A DAISY?

Flower names for girls are becoming increasingly popular, especially the more uncommon ones. I have met personally, among many others, 1 a Primrose, a Snowdrop and a Petuniaall three unusual and attractive names. It is rather a good idea for those girls who are lucky enough to possess one of these "flower-names" to adopt that particular flower as a sort of badge, or distinguishing mark—a notion that can be applied to as few or as many things as one may please. Are you, for instance, a Marguerite or a Daisy I The name Daisy is frequently used as a diminutive of Margaret, as well as of Marguerite, though the former name has really nothing to do with the flower, but means a "pearl." We all know, however, that the tall and beautiful marguerites of our gardens, the favourite wild marguerites or "moon pennies" of the hayfields, and th& pretty pink-tipped little daisy all belong to one and the same family, and in thiu adopting your name-flower as a badge you will only be following the example of several famous historical characters. That unhappy queen, Margaret of Anjou, wife of the poor, weak Henry VI. chose the daisy 'as her emblem' when quite a girl, and the nobles and courtiers used to wear it in her honour. Marguerite, Queen of Navarre, was another who adopted this flower, whilst the good French king, St. Louis, also had it engraved as a device on his ring together with the royal lilies, of France, out of compliment to his wife, another Queen Margaret.

Now, for any Margaret, Marguerite, or Daisy who may care to adopt this idea also, here is a simple little design, which if you are moderately good at drawing is easily copied, and if you are not, is equally easy to trace off on to any article by means of a piece of carbon paper. The whole design would look well worked in silks on a nightdress or handkerchief sachet, or just one single flower could be embroidered in the corner of a hankie, whilst a row of these single blossoms worked along a length of green ribbon would provide an attractive hatband for a white, floppy garden or country hat. Indeed, the possibilities of the badge are numerous and can be adapted in various ways to your own needs, and in the making of little gifts to your Daisy and Margaret friends. It could be used, for instance, as ornamentation on the back of a blotter, writing pad, or book cover, and could very well be traced on to a front page of any favourite bofks, after the manner of a bookplate.

The little daisy has always been a popular flower, its very name bearing a quaint significance, meaning "dav'seyej" for it is a plant that is highly sensitive to light, opening its petals with the first morning sunbeams, and folding them again at dusk or on dark, wet days. It was dedicated to St. Margaret, that "Maid Margarete, that was so meeke and mild," atid our AngloSaxon forefathers used to say that spring had not really come until a man eObld' cover nine daisies with one foot.

, Whatever flower name you may have it would not be difficult for you either ta draw for yourself or adapt someone Rise's drawing of your particular flower. A bold, simple drawing make 9 the most effective and useful sort of badge. An embroidery book would probably contain suggestions helpful when working out your own design; in fact, you might even find a design in the book which yon could use for the purpose just as it is. Among your friends you are almoßt sure to know a Rose, or Rosa, an Iris, a Lily or Lilian, or a Violet. A most effective flower badge for any "of these could easily be worked out. When making, a birthday present it would be rather a happy complement to work a badge design on your gift, a design which your friend coyld adopt for her very own, and use in other ways.