Page:Frank Owen - The Wind That Tramps the World (1929).djvu/72

 Yuan Shi Kai paused and gazed languidly about him at the beauty which his splendid mind had caused to materialize. But presently he continued speaking in the same soft tone.

"Flowers," he said, "are much like beautiful women. They can appreciate the wondrous things of life. They recoil at the horrible and grewsome. They are influenced by the surroundings in which they grow and are capable of deep affection for one another. Think not that I am wandering on the brink of madness for scientists have proven all of these things. In fact they have even witnessed the heart-beat of a flower. Bees are attracted to blue flowers and would never approach red roses, for they are color-blind where red is concerned, were it not for the exotic perfume breathed forth by the flower which acts on the bee like a drug, like a web that draws him to it against his will. Science is only in its infancy. It cannot be great until it recognizes and admits the spiritual in nature. Come I will show you flowers that are truly divine."

Thus speaking he led the way down that wondrous hall, though because of the green radiance it appeared to be a hall no longer. It lacked estimable dimensions, it seemed to go onward in limitless sway. Occasionally the brightness intensified and they came upon a lovely flower growing in that lush warm atmosphere. There were myriads of flowers, some species that Ras Orla had never seen before, besides which were many lovely blooms that are peculiar to China such as peonies,