DISRAELI'S PRIMROSE. The True History of the English Statesman's Favourite Flower.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 400, 7 September 1889, Page 3

DISRAELI'S PRIMROSE. The True History of the English Statesman's Favourite Flower.

Lokd Bjsaconsmeld's fondness for the primrose originated when he was living in Highbury, London. He was much attached to a young lady residing in the same locality, who was the daughter ot a gentleman of good property. At a ball given at this gentloman's house the young lady in question wore a wreath of primroses. A discus sion nrose between Mr Disraeli and another gontleman as to whether the primroses were real or not. A bet of a pair of gloves was made, and on the young lady being consulted and the primroses examined, the bot was won by Mr Disraeli. The primro&cs were real primroses, and the young lady gave two or throe of them to the future Piime Minister, which he put in his buttonhole and kept and used to show long afterward. It has been related that the Queen sent a wreath of primroses to Lord Beaconsfield's funeral, and that the flower became hie badge in that way. This is a mere invention. The Queen did nob know at the time that the primrose was Lord Beaconsficld\s favourite flower, and she did not, conseIquently, send a wreath of primroses to his funeral at all. Others have entertained the opinion that the noble Lord appreciated the flower because ho says in one of his novels that the primrose makes an excellent salad. This is incorrect again, and the true history of the way the primrose becamo the noble Lord's favourite flower is recorded above.