Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 188, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1918 — War of the Roses. [ARTICLE]

War of the Roses.

The war of the roses that never ends is a war to vanquish beauty with greater beauty. For long ages, since history began, this has been going on. Japan and India, Serbia and Persia cheered on contestants a dozen centuries before Damascus gave to the Crusaders the damask rose for occidental culture. “Decisions” have only temporary significance. For example, as Paris gave Venus the award of beauty, his namesake city gives southern California the gold medal, the prize of honor at the Bagatelle competition. But California must meet world competition in years to come and must maintain her form or get out of the running. Rose culture is a progressive art. As for the Germans, we believe they were not represented at Bagatelle. That does not matter much. In this, as in their science, the Teutons are rather imitators than originators. True their Duchess de Mecklenburg, their Cornelia Koch, their Felenberg and particularly their Princess de Sagan, with its rich maroon and crimson loveliness, have attracted English attention. But these are all modifications of French types, as the Kronprlnzessln Victoria Is a modification of the Bourbon rose.—Brooklyn Eagle.