Flowers.Thelove of flowers seems to be universal; even children admire them, and to form a bouquet seems to be almost as natural as to put food into the mouth. The Indians of Mexico, barbarians as they were in many things, were passionately fond of flowers. Even to this day you may see, in the city of Mexico, the Indians, reduced to a state of poverty and degradation, still retaining the passion which marked them in the days of Montezuma. In their stalls where they sell fruits and vegetables, they seem almost smothered with flowers, which are every day renewed.But there is an interest in flowers beyond their mere beauty. However graceful their forms, however charming their colors, or sweet their perfume, there is still more pleasure to be derived from the study of them in respect to their botanical characters, their formation, their mode of propagation, &c. A person, in looking over a meadow, might fancy that all was confusion, but if he will investigate the subject, he will soon discover that all these various plants can be grouped into certain families, bearing the most curious and interesting relations to each other.We cannot, therefore, too earnestly recommend the scientific study of plants to our young readers. It is not only an innocent and pleasing pursuit—it not only leads to much useful knowledge, but it lifts the heart in admiration to that great and good Being, who, in providing for the wants of his creatures, has mingled beauty and pleasure with almost every cup of life.A perfectorchestra consists of eighty-two stringed instruments, twenty-two wind instruments, and one hundred and forty-six voices; in all, two hundred and fifty, with an organ.
Thelove of flowers seems to be universal; even children admire them, and to form a bouquet seems to be almost as natural as to put food into the mouth. The Indians of Mexico, barbarians as they were in many things, were passionately fond of flowers. Even to this day you may see, in the city of Mexico, the Indians, reduced to a state of poverty and degradation, still retaining the passion which marked them in the days of Montezuma. In their stalls where they sell fruits and vegetables, they seem almost smothered with flowers, which are every day renewed.
But there is an interest in flowers beyond their mere beauty. However graceful their forms, however charming their colors, or sweet their perfume, there is still more pleasure to be derived from the study of them in respect to their botanical characters, their formation, their mode of propagation, &c. A person, in looking over a meadow, might fancy that all was confusion, but if he will investigate the subject, he will soon discover that all these various plants can be grouped into certain families, bearing the most curious and interesting relations to each other.
We cannot, therefore, too earnestly recommend the scientific study of plants to our young readers. It is not only an innocent and pleasing pursuit—it not only leads to much useful knowledge, but it lifts the heart in admiration to that great and good Being, who, in providing for the wants of his creatures, has mingled beauty and pleasure with almost every cup of life.
A perfectorchestra consists of eighty-two stringed instruments, twenty-two wind instruments, and one hundred and forty-six voices; in all, two hundred and fifty, with an organ.