SOCIAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 43

SOCIAL TOPICS.

By Cigarette.

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.

None of us can realise how much the world is beautified by flowers until we have been without them for any length of time. After a long sea voyage, when our eyes are weary with gazing at a waste of waters, bow sweet the first bunch of violets seems that greets us on another shore. There is an indescribable charm about flowers which belongs exclusively to them and to nothing else. It makes them always welcome and nowhere out of place, for the humblest abode can be made bright with flowers, and the most luxurious mansion is enriched by them. They comfort the sick and cheer the aged ; they laugh round the feet of little children, and tinge their earliest memories with beauty ; all through our lives they speak to us of Heaven, for surely nothing shows the loving kindness of the Creator more than this — " that He made the flowers."

And one of their greatest charms is the faafc that they are nob useful. It is so so pleasant to think that they are here just for us to delight iD and to mike the world beautiful for us to live in. We may cultivate them or not as we please, bub wherever we go we shall find them springing up about onr feet and shedding their loveliness upon us. The spirit of beauty hovers round them, and is inhaled into our souls with the perfume of flowers, bringing a refining influence into our lives, and an atmosphere of sweetness into our homes.

Poets have never ceased to »iug the oharms of flowers from the time of Chaucer until now. Painters have tried in vain to match their glorious colours ; while as for novelists, if it were not for flowers they could not exist. How many declarations of love do authors cause to take place in the conservatory, where the hero breaks the ice by presenting the heroine with a flower. " A faint odour of lilies " is the proper perfume in which a passionate love scene should take place, and " a solitary rose at her throat " is the favourite ornament to vie with a blushing maiden's cheek, while forget-me-nots and withered rose leaves are among the precious keepsakes of all the unfortnnate lovers — in books ; " old-fashioned flowers," too, are wonderfully fashionable in the gardens of society novels, and even sweetsmelling herbs sound well when the meeting is made to take place in the kitchen garden. Onions, of coarse, are ignored for obviouß reasons, and cabbages and cauliflowers never appear in the love scenes. If a novelist wishes to describe a neglected room, he is sure to place a vase of withered flowers in it ; and if he wishes to make bis heroine particularly fascinating, he gives her a " flower-like face."

People who love flowers for their own sake care nothing about their meanings. Each special blossom has a value of its own, and is loved for its beauty, whether it is a rare orchid or a common ragged robin ; but there are others who like to know what each flower signifies, so for their benefit we shall strive to interpret the mystic language of Flora. In eastern lands they talk in flowers,

And they teli in a garland their loves and cares ; Each blossom that blooms in their garden bowers,

On its leaves a mystic language bears. To begin with the rose, the queen of flowers, evmyone knows that the rose signifies love ; but supposing that someone gives you a rose and you are not quite sure where to wear it, remember this, that if you wear it in your hair it means caution, on your breast friendship, and over your heart love. If you wish to flatter a man give him a "bit of rhododendron — it says, " I shall never look upon your like again ; but if you wish ;oreprcach him for " inconstancy " give him a sprig of wild honeysuckle. The French marigold means "jealousy," so give it a wide berth ; but the tuberose may be accepted gladly, for this flower say?, " I have seen a lovely girl." The lilac means " forsaken," but the heliotrope signifies " devotion." Don't wear a lettuce leaf for a buttonhole, however much you may feel tempted to, for that signifies coldheaitedncs* ; but if you want to be thought " fascinacing " wear a fern The shamrock means " lightueartedness," so no wonder it is Ireland's emblem. " Melancholy " is expressed by a dark geranium, aud a " melancholy lover ' should adorn himself with a bit of weepipg willow. The nasturnium signifies "pi'rioiiscu, 1 " tlie laurel " glory," and the olive " peace." The anemone means " sickness " aud the cypress " sorrow and death." Buttercups signify " riches," daisies " innoceDce." Heath meaci. "solitude," and the ice plaiil. hays "You freeze me." Everyone knows that lilies mean 11 puritj " and violets " humility." Ivy means "fidelity in friendship" and baohe'oro' buttons mean " single blessedness.," so be sure to avoid them. Kosemary tbiivea only where the " grey mare is the better horse," so if you want to know who " rules the roost" at home plant a bit of rosemary in your gatden and you will very soon see.