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Show The Pli.eapple In England. Pineapples, wjiich t Londoners can now buy at tho cheapest rate within living memory, first reached Eugluud In tho latter part of tno seventeenth century. Tho fruit was thus a novelty to Sir Christopher Wren's generation; but ho soon recognized its valuo as an architectural ornament, and ctfpper pineapples about five feet high figure prominently on tho towers of SL Paul's. So highly did Wren esteem tho flno proportions and enriched sur-faco sur-faco of this fruit that his original design de-sign for St. Paul's shows an enormous pineapple in tho placo ot tho domo. Happily his maturor thoughts saved us from that appalling spectacle Since Wren tho pineapplo has been as much at homo in our architecture as on our dinner tables. It has descended even to cast Iron, and is frequently found in old-fashioned streets. Queen Victoria treasured a soal given by her husband on which a pineapple was engraved, togothor with the motto, "Sa glolre n'est pas sa couronue." Pall Mall Gazette |
