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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
92
A
FEW
NATIVE
ORCHIDS
AND
THEIR
INSECT
SPONSORS
In
a
previous
article
I
discussed
the
general
subject
of
the
fertilization
of
flowers,
briefly
outlining
the
several
historical
and
chronological
steps
which
ultimately
led
to
Darwin's
triumphant
revelation
of
the
divine
plan
of
"cross-fertilization"
as
the
mystery
which
had
so
long
been
hidden
beneath
the
forms
and
faces
of
the
flowers.
In
the
same
paper
I
presented
many
illustrative
examples
among
our
common
wild
flowers
possessing
marvellous
evolved
devices,
mechanisms,
and
peculiarities
of
form
by
which
this
necessary
cross-fertilization
was
assured.
Prior
to
Darwin's
time
the
flower
was
a
voice
in
the
wilderness,
heard
only
in
faintest
whispers,
and
by
the
few.
But
since
his
day
they
have
bloomed
with
fresher
color
and
more
convincing
perfume.
Science
brought
us
their
message.
Demoralizing
as
it
certainly
was
to
humanity's
past
ideals,
philosophic,
theologic,
and
poetic,
it
bore
the
spirit
of
absolute
conviction,
and
must
be
heard.
What
a
contrast
this
winged
botany
of
to-day
to
that
of
a
hundred
years
ago!
The
flower
now
no
longer
the
mere
non-committal,
structural,
botanical
specimen.
No
longer
the
example
of
mere
arbitrary,
independent
creation,
reverently
and
solely
referred
to
the
orthodox
"delight
of
man."
The
blossom
whose
unhappy
fate
was
bemoaned
by
the
poet
because,
forsooth,
it
must
needs
"blush
unseen,"
or
"waste
its
sweetness
on
the
desert
air,"
is
found
alone
in
that
musty
hortus
siccus
of
a
blind
and
deluded
past.
From
the
status
of
mere
arbitrary
creation,
however
"beautiful,"
"curious,"
"eccentric,"
hitherto
accepted
alone
on
faith--"it
is
thus
because
it
is
created
thus:
what
need
to
ask
the
reason
why?"--it
has
become
a
part
of
our
inspiring
heritage,
a
reasonable,
logical,
comprehensible
result,
a
manifestation
of
a
beautiful
divine
scheme,
and
is
thus
an
ever-present
witness
and
prophet
of
divine
care
and
supervision.
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