Lord Beaconsfield's Flower.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 906, 12 July 1889, Page 4

Lord Beaconsfield's Flower.

It is a popular idea that the late Lord Beaconsfield was particularly devoted to primroses, and on the 18th of April many Englishmen still wear the bright little * firstling of spring' in memory of the famous statesman. The fact is, however, he cared no more for primroses than for dandelions ; the gardenia, if anything, being his favourite flower ; and a Mr Escott tells us that one day, as he was strolling with Lord Beaconsfield through the lovely grounds of Hugbenden, he happened to remark that the peacocks had pecked away the roots of the primroses, at which my lord said, ‘Yes, it is sad ; but, to tell the truth, I prefer peacocks to primroses.’ How, then, did the blossom come to be associated with his name ? It is said to have occurred in the following manner : On the day of Lord Beaconsfield’s funeral, the Queen sent an immense wreath of primroses to be placed upon his coffin ; and on a card attached she wrote, • His favourite flower !’ This tribute of royalty with the accompanying inscription naturally attracted much attention, and was the beginning of the primrose craze. But the truth was, her Majesty was not thinking about Lord Beaconsfield at all when she wrote the words, but had the Prince Consort in her mind, as he was really extremely fond of primroses, and it was his predilection she was remembering rather than that of her distinguished subject.