The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-31
A DAY AMONG TEE FLORISTS.
Floral Customs Among the Ancients and Me-
dieval Ages-hodern Culture of Flowers
Progress and Growth OF the Trade in This
City.
Flowers have been fttingly designated the smiles
Of the earth. And SO they are and smiles OF beauty
and
a thias Of beauty
Is q 10y forever

thing Of beauty
Isa JOY forever
Yes mowers are a joy, and they always have been
and always will be. They are joy as the outer
expression OF all that is most beautiful earth, and
as infinitely SURPRISING In delicacy OF formation and
exquisite shades Of coloring the finest fabrications
Of highest genius and art; they are Joy as difusng
sweet-scented odors, to which the aroma Of the most
enhancing perfumes is but clumsy aspiration OF the
finite after the far away and unattanable projections
OF the infinite; they are Joy as expressive OF any
variety Of human sentiment, from the commonest
interchanges OF everyday friendship to the tenderest
emotions OF the most passionate love, or from the
fantest shadow OF ncipient dislike to soul frenzed
with fierce and undying hate. They are joy as
giving mute but touching revelation OF holy and I'M
fading remembrances OF deceased loved ones.
Flowers and the uses to which they have been de-
voted in the successive ages OF the worlds history
present subject interesting it is attractive
and Instructive Anacreon in his odes speaks OF the
custom of encircing the head neck and breast with
crowns and garlands OF flowers. This custom passed
from the Greeks to the Romans, and 1t also existed
among the Hebrews, who probably borrowed 1t from
the Egyptians or Babylonians. For the adornment
OF tombs and burial places the Greeks en-
ployed generally the myrtle and the amaranth,
but the Romans gave the preference to the hly the
saffron plant and, above oil, the rose The ancients
were careful 10 renew the plants which were placed
around their sepulchra urns, TO give them as nearly
as possible the appearance OF a perpetual spring
time Of flowers The Romans considered this pious
care agreeable to the spirits OF the departed that
wealthy citizens often bequeathed entire gardens to
be reserved for furnishing their tombs with flowers.
In Turkey females that died unmarried had rose
sculptured at the top OF their monument. Some OF
the ancient heroes well as heroines Of whom we
read spent upon Moral decorations lavish sums.
Cleopatra, not satisfied with having prepared
for her first meeting with Antony
hall whose walls were covered with purple
tapestry interviewer with gold, and all the
roses OF solid gold, enriched with precious stones,
had the noor covered with roses to the depth Of
eighteen inches Whether association with the cratic
and luxurious Queen OF Egypt begot in her noble
sutton and slave passion for flowers he did not
possess before history does not inform us; but 1t is
matter OF historical record that when after the bat
tie OF Actium he thrust himself through with his
sword for fear he might fall into the hands Of
Augustus, he with his dying breath, requested Cleo
patra not to forget his tomb, but while she lived
scatter over IL roses. When Nero-he who played
the violin at the burning Of Rome-gave his
celebrated fete In the Gulf OF Baria he expended
upon flowers alone four million sesterccs or about
100000. rs expressed In modern greenoack cur.
rency, Some OF the OF Nero quite
luxuriantly extravagant upon the SUBJECT Of flowers
| Lucius Aurellus vores had couch made on which
very thin net and nlld with leaves Of roses Hello
| goabus was not satisfied with the natural scent OF
| nowers but invented process OF crushing them so
| as to intensity their perfumes. 10 was universal
habit among the wealthy at tins time u scatter roses
violets the yacnth The narcssus and other flowers,
not only on their conchcs, but through the halls and
even the porticos OF their palaces Gallius would
never sleep except n rose arbor. Among the an
| clients, and even through the medieval ages
| Mowers were conspicuous on all grand .oc-
| casions and at public and private Jetes.
The Greeks and Romans surrounded the statues OF
| Venus, Ilebc and Flora with garlands Of roses.
They had their spetia floral festivals, at which the
| statue Of the Olympian queen was covered with
every variety OF n0a products. In the festival OF
| Hymen at Athens the youth OF both sexes adorned
| with the richest md rarest flowers, mingled In
dances intended to represent the innocence OF pr-
| meval times At Rome In times OF public rejoicing,
they strewed the streets with MOWERS Inc
nower held In highest repute among the
ancients was the rose. Mythol ogical fable
the Goddess OF Flowers. II il stated that having
found the dead boiy OF one Of her fayorte nymphs
she impiored the aid OF all the Olympan deiiies to
aid her in changing IL into flower, which oil others
should acknowledge TO be the queen. Apollo lent
the vvifying power OF his brains, Bacchus bahed "
In nectar, Nertumlus gave IL perfume, Pomona Ns
fruit and Flora herself gave Its diadem OF MOWERS.
Persia and all the countries OF the orient are tu on
| interesting Legends in connection with flowers. we
| might trace out these legends and follow out the
! more assured history OF more modern times, out
we must hurry on TO the present era, and more
espcpially the present floral epoch. always coming
, Win the holidays, in our own time and clty.
| Dismissing other couDtriea. France. ltaly, Eng