LORD BEACONSFIELD AND THE PRIMROSE.
[To THZ EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Flowers have from the earliest period been regarded as the totems of men and parties, and it is often interesting to trace the way they have become so. The primrose was Lord Beaconsfield's favourite flower, but how this modest "firstling of the spring" became his lordship's cognisance is clearly a mystery to your correspondents. I have the secret in my possession, and I now gladly give it, "without money and without price," to your many readers. His fondness for the primrose originated from the time when he was living in Highbury, London. Here he was much attached to a young lady residing in the same locality, who was the daughter of a gentleman of good property. At a ball given at this gentle- man's house, the young lady in question wore a wreath of primroses. A discussion arose between Mr. Disraeli and another gentleman 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 bet was won by Mr. Disraeli. The primroses were real primroses, and the young lady gave two or three of them to the future Prime Minister, which he put in his buttonhole, and kept, and used to show long afterwards.
Some have thought that because the Queen sent a wreath of primroses to Lord Beaconsfield's funeral, the flower became his badge in that way. This is a mere invention. The Queen did not know at the time that the primrose was Lord Beaconsfield's favourite flower, and she did not, conse- quently, send a wreath of primroses to his funeral at all.
Others have entertained the opinion that the noble Lord appreciated the flower because he 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 became the noble Lord's favourite flower is recorded above in the
early part of my letter.—I am, Sir, &e., LUDOVICUS.
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