The Lover's Baedeker and Guide to ArcadyWells, Carolyn
General
The Lover's Baedeker and Guide to Arcady
Wells, Carolyn
Love
Farther on a shaft of moonlight falls on Juliet’s balcony, and beyond
rise the towers and turrets of the Castle of La Joyeuse Garde. Primrose
Path leads to Fool’s Paradise, but turning off to the West the traveler
may stroll through Paradise Alley to the Elysian Fields. This beautiful
spot is always fanned by south winds, and among its flowery arbors may
be heard the songs of larks, nightingales, and turtle doves. Beyond lies
the Forest of Arden. Here sturdy oaks covered with clinging vines
abound; but the tree most frequently seen is the Trysting Tree. These
trees are interesting to visitors because of the symbols carved on their
bark. Here one may notice the entwined initials of Aucassin and
Nicolette; there the true lover’s knot of Orpheus and Eurydice, or the
overlapping hearts of Abelard and Heloise. Crossing a stile we wander by
the brookside, or pause for a while at the old Ruined Mill to count the
Shooting Stars.
FLORA
The flowers in Arcady are perennial and bloom all the year round. There
are roses for every stage of the game, from the blush rose to the Bride
Rose. There are moss roses for those who love old-fashioned flowers, and
the Last Rose of Summer is a variety much admired by Romanticists. There
are many old-fashioned gardens in Arcady, and here may be seen Bleeding
Hearts, Forget-me-nots, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Pansies for Thoughts, and
Rosemary for Remembrance. There is also Heartsease and Rue. There are
lanes of lilacs and orchards of apple bloom. There are daisy fields and
groves of orange trees in blossom. Wild flowers grow everywhere and
mistletoe is indigenous. In the flower-shops may be bought orchids or
violets in wealthy effects. In the Souvenir Shops one may find pressed
or dried flowers, and these are much in demand. Poppies grow wild along
the banks of the Lethe River, and the moon-flower flourishes in many
gardens.
THE ARCADIAN LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
ASTERS—I am very wealthy.
STOCK—I have been successful in Wall Street.
PHLOX—I shear lambs.
RUBBER PLANT—I love to look at you.
DAISY—You’re it.
BURR—I’m stuck on you.
OYSTER PLANT—Will you dine with me?
MINT—Do you live in Philadelphia?
ANISE—Cordially yours.
COSMOS—You’re all the world to me.
MARIGOLD—I mean business.
POPPY—May I speak to your father?
ORCHIDS—I am extravagant.
PALM—Will you accept my hand?
TUBEROSES—May you die soon.
BLUEBELL—I will telephone you.
MOCK ORANGE BLOSSOMS—I am only flirting with you.
MOON FLOWERS—I’m just crazy about you.
BOX—Will you go to the opera with me?
HOTELS
The hotels in Arcady are excellent, with large and well-kept gardens,
rose-embowered lawns, ivy-hung turrets, and all requirements of Romance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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