The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-17

tInguisned people, especially to operate ana rn--
atrical favortes. Some times these floral presenta-
tons are made to the "dlsf inguished' actress BY
her lrends--are 0Ofsd H6e presentations, some
times even genuine surprises; but occaslenaily
they are rank humbugs, and are ''preserteu 70
the distinguished actress Dy herself, being paid
oat OF her own pocket Sometimes they are PAID
for by the manager and the srar" "Jointly !; anu,
alas there been cases In which they have not
been paid for at AL
made in this city was huge basket OF flowers
standing over six Ieet IN height, presented TO MISS
Pauline Markham by two OF her asnonan Vi N aa
York. Tnis "trDuteu cost the donors about $500
and remained in bloom about week
In more recent times Christine Nilsson and MISS
Nelson have been favored recipients OF moran
tributes. The former lady has received, II Is call
culated, over 900 IN flowers from her admirers,
male and female, while the latter lady mas been
honored with some exquisite floral testimonials,
costing each over 500.
long ago, it distinctly stipulated that the mana.
ger was TO see that certain specified NUMBER o.
'.starn during her engagement, and a row trans
pred behind the scenes' one night because the
manager had not complied with this engagement.
In another instance In which che ''star" had
made arrangements for her own ''foral testlmo-
mails" nc, the ''star'' decamped without paying
her bill, leaving her poor aorist in the lurch.
Fashionable parties are all in florists way, and
one house has something sold over Slo0 worth OF
flowers on one OF these occasions TO different in
vited guests, independent OF the floral adornments
OF the hostess aud her residence.
The love OF bowers, however, Is well difTused,
and the poor buy them as eagerly as the rich,
though In less quantities. There are dover stands
and shops on the east side, patronized by mechan-
les and their sweethearts, which do quite thrlv-
And men buy more flowers, or. at least, are
more liberal patrons OF the norlstS than women
ms, perhaps, Is to be expected under the crcuni
stances, as men are made ITO give presents" and
no presents are more acceptable 70 the iair sex
than flowers.
me items OF Moral expense In young "swelps'
account are often quite large. One lucky fellow.
sthe OF a rich man, lately iquidated bill at
his florists amounting to 1851 81, incurred be-
tween the rst days OF January and OF May the cur
rent year: being at the rate OF over 1000 per
aunum Tor flowers alone.
A FLORAL PRICE LIST.
The price OF MOWERS Is, OF course, very uncer-
tain thing as 1t necessarily with the season
OF the year. The rose Is the most popular fower
and sells from ten cents for tea rose up 10 81 Tor
VlOlets come next to the rose in general pOpu-
larity. bunch Of these modest beauties rat eS
at about ten cents. Lilies OF the valley are next
in demand rating at from fifteen TO twenty tive
cents spray. delotropes are In demand rom
five cents upwards. Carnations are frequently
called for at about the same rate. Cameias when
In season, range from twenty-five to fifty cents q
piece Tube roses are held now at ten cents each,
| and the list could be indefinitely extended.
| The dealing in flowers requires IN It's details a
good deal OF taste and even OF manual deXterity,
SO as to be entitled almost to rank as "skied
| laDor.n For, even alter the flowers have been
| sown and grown and cut and brought to town, a
/ good deal Of delicate manipulation and skill is
arranging them in. bouquets, &c. me arranging
| OF flowers in artificial forms, such as crosses,
ancnOrS, WredJllS, SHIPS, &C., Is also quite
serious and care-demandlng Item OF the business.
But perhaps the most lnteres ting features OF the
trade IN lowers TO the phiianthropist and humans
tartan are those little creatures iamilarly known
as
FLOWER GIRLS.
One Of these little ones earns about 81 day
from her Innocent tralic, and supports Ded-r1d-
den mother and a little brother thereon. Another
flower girl, little older, sold in the month OF De-
cember last S38 worth OF flowers; but then this
was hacyon peri0d--''the holiday season.n
These GoWer girls purchase tlelr stock al the
street stands and have tolerably welladhered-to
scale OF prices. They sell what cost them five
cents for ten, q ten cent bunch Is sold by them
for fifteen, &C., and they have of late acquired q
dim idea OF trade union, Tor little girl VINO some
time ago sola f1ower under price was 'set upon'
by her companions I'm the buslnessn and severely
beaten for "undersellng."
Some OF the class called "nower girls" are
simply scampS, frauds, thieves and elackmaiers,
\ with whom the selling OF flowers is merely d
tblind,' VINO are skilled In the IN famous mysteries
\ OF downtown dens; others are merely tranps and
| beggars. Many such cases are known TO tile
/ police. But not lew OF the sisterhood as In
| nocent, II not always as sweet as their own
| flowers.