Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-01-03
FLOWERS AND FASHION.

Flow els and fashion are closely
connected and il is at this season
of the year that there is, often
run" upon flowers. In France
the first days of November are
fiourishing times for the florist.
The Cd being the feast Of the dead,
everyone deposits an offering of
some kind on the tomb Of their
dead, and, necessarily, the gifts
are all either Of immortelIes or
flowers. Violets are in great de-
mand; they are a favorite decora-
ton all over France, are to be seen
in gentlemen's button holes, at
ladies' waists, in the loops Of ball
dresses, at the feet of the successful
singers, as we'll az on the graves Of
lost friends and relations who are
so easily forgotten among our
tickle neighbors. Henri Murger
aas left, however, a faithful heart
behind him. His tomb in Mont
marte cemetery is ever decorated
with one single bunch Of violets.
Every week the faded flowers are
replaced by fresh ones; and no
one has yet seen his grave uD-
marked by this token Of fond re-
menrbrance. AT the time of the
Empress Eugenie's fete day last
Saturday number OF flowers
were crossing the channel for her.
In the window Of florists shop
on the Boulevard DIES Capucines,
hard by the Grand Hotel, mag
niflcent boquet was exhibited for IA
day or 50. 1t was composed of
violets in the center Of which was
an +, formed in rosebuds, and
bordered with white lilac that
stood out marvelousiy from
the dark ground Of violets.
Iu the Faubourg Saint Honore an
other boquet, made up Of canelias
and violets, was exhibited also
before it was despatched to Eng
land, to be laid in front of
the dead emperor's tomb. All
the offerings of flowers reached
the empress last Saturday
there were many--were instantly
taken to the little church where
lie the remains Of the man who
once swayed the destinies Of Eu-
rope. They were appropriate, for
he had an almost poetic love for
violets and | have often read OF
him that even when he was little
fellow, and his mother asked him
what he would do if he were poor,
he invariably answered, Il would
pick some violets, and sell them
punches, like the little boy at the
< tie ofthe Tulleries." How varied
experiences through which the
great man passed from his moth
er's arms in the Tuileries to his
fiower-strewn tomb in exile.
Before leaving the subject of
flowers | may describe a curious
industry that is carried on in
Paris. a band of men-fo formed
into small societies-are ever on
the lookout for fitting occasions
on which to present bouquets.
They read the list of persons about
to marry, that are posted on the
doors of the Mairies they dis
cover the latest additions to the
roll of the legion OF honor, and
they carry bouquets TO the favored
ones, who, of course,in the expan-
sion of the moment, give the
bearer gratuity, and very often
a handsome one. This little bust
mess has been doing
very well, and has only recently
been revealed, because of ii quar-
rel between the societies.
The amount Of money spent by
women Of fashion in these days
for flowers wherewith to decorate
ball dresses and dinner dresses is
fabulous. At the great Paris re-
ceptions the magnificent skirts of
the great ladies are literally mass
ed with real flowers with real
camelias and roses and lilac and
violets while brides of no ordi-
nary rank will have nothing but
real orange blossoms on their
wedding robes~-w ich fashion is
very pleasing and poetic in idea,
but is carried out in a spirit of the
most practical description.