Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1884 — Origin of the Pansy. [ARTICLE]

Origin of the Pansy.

This modest little flower, one of the favorites of the florist, that dons the purple almost unaware, has very appropriately been called the Cinderella of the sisterhood. Lilies may wave and smile in their stately grace; but “them flowers that have faces’*—pansies for thoughts—are the admiration of the country. From the humble heart’s-ease, or three-colored violet, has sprung one of the most popular flowers known in floriculture. Half a century ago there flourished on the banks of the Thames, a lovely garden; the owner of it, seeing the interest his daughter manifested in the work, gave her a share of the ground for her own. One of the heartshaped flower-beds this lady of the Thames filled with pansies, wisely selecting the choicest plants from other parts of the garden for her especial culture. Soon this little mound of purpleheart began to attract the attention of professional -florists, and the pansy r -na longer an humble foiget-me-not, blossomed into royal favor. No flowers are more companionable and life-like, and none perform their part more worthily in the Work of floral ministration. Its simple legend, “You may occupy my thoughts,” is one of the most beautiful testimonials of love or friendship in the language of flowers. While in Europe, Professor Silliman called on Madame Ag ssiz, the mother of the great naturalist. His account of the brief interview closes with the touching incident: “She was grieved . when she learned that oiir stay was very brief, and would hardly be denied that we should become the guests of her house, Or, at least, that the senior of the party should accept her hospitality. The next morning she came walking alone a long distance in the rain, to bid us farewell, and parted evidently with deep emotion and not concealed, for we had brought the image of her favorite son near to her mental vision again. She brought for Mr. Silliman a little bouquet of pansies, and bid. us tell her son pensees were all lor him.” Thus our thoughts go forth in messages of love and gratitude through the heart-reaching dialect of flowers.