Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-11-13
Flower Selling in New York.

"The flower business Is a rather curious
one, and little more complicated than one
would ct first suppose" said an old florist.
as he deity twined spray of smla1 in and
around bunch of roses, so that lines OF
delicate green separated the rich colors.
"How so ?"
"Why in keeping a stock on hand which
will CRAFTY variety of tastes. 1t 10 easy
enough to have an abundance of the fash
ionable flowers, even though the fashion
seems to change in flowers Just as it does in
dress. The fashionable flowers are used, Of
course. in receptions, lunches where each
lady has bouquet placed at her plate, and
in funerals. But when you come to ind-
yidual tastes, when ladies want flowers to
harmonize with their dresses or with their
china, and when people want their favorite
flowers. which perhaps have gone out of
fashion. why you can never tell what kind
of flower is going to be asked for-and
that's where the complication comes in.
Some people wear flowers simply because it
is fashionable. Others love some particular
kind Of flower, and want it whether they
wear it or not. Then, if you haven't got the
flower they get displeased, and when they
have big reception they go to some other
florist so, you see, we have to watch the
private tastes Of our customers. These buds
here were all the rage two years ago, and,
although they are all out Of fashion now, We
have to keep stock on hand for certain
customers who call for them every day al
most"
How do ordinary baskets of flowers
sell ?"
"Oh, from Sj TO S2j. Sometimes they
run much higher. We sent one out not
long ago which cost $50. You can have no
ldea how the custom Of sending flowers has
grown All the young people buy them
when they can afford it. and Just now the
wealthy Young men are beginning to pour
IN and get flowers TO send to their Young
lady friends who have just gotten in from
the summer resorts. Whenever Young
man takes Young lady TO party or to the
theatre. nice bouquet IS one OF the neces-
sary accessories. Flowers go ahead of all
other gifts in winning woman's heart, and
every young gallant knows that"
why SOP"
''Well, nearly all women love flowers, and
there is something SO delicate so much IN
said vet suggested in flowers that the simple
gift OF one IS always appreciated BY woman
not to speak Of the different sentiments
that are associated with different kinds of
flowers. II IS very interesting to note how
differently people regard flowers. Why.
can tell almost the moment a wumen enters
whether she is fond Of them Women who
love flowers always have sweet faces, soft
ways and gentle dispositions. One of that
kind rarely asks for the fashionable flower
because it IS fashionable. She loves flowers
for their own sake, and consequently she is
almost sure to call for her fayorites, wheth-
er in fashion or not. The woman who cares
for flowers simply because they are SAshion-
able IS generally one of the cold, naughty
airy kind. She will look around critically,
seize some flower and pull it out of a bunch,
sometimes breaking off leaf or catching
one OF its thorns IN another rose and tearing
the petals. That's the difference. YOU see
The other lady handles them with a gentle,
caresslng touch almost as if they were hl-
man.
did you know that the ladies use flowers
for perfumery? In France it is very com
mon, and il IS getting quite usual in Ameri-
ca. They take bunch of violets and place
them in the bosom OF the dress No manu-
featured perfume can come up TO the odor
Of the flowers, YOU know, Every morning
rain or shine, an old doctor comes in here,
gets bunch of vioet,, uubuttons his vest,
places them next TO his heart, and walks out
| often wonder if he does it for the per
tune. guess l. Is 4 Ease Of ..e,.,s---4.,
however.
The florist sees plenty Of pretty little ro-
mances. Very often young man has flow
ers sent TO certain house in this city ever,
morning. Then there comes a big order {;
the marriage. YOU know. and then they
dwindle down he comes less and less often,
until finally he ceases altogether. The Old
tale, you know. Last spring used to notice
a couple going BY here, fine. manly Young
fellow and gIr pretty and dainty. with
lovely brown hair and dark blue ewes. They
didn't know each other, bu, when the Young
man went 10 business the girl was sure to be
somewhere around where she could see him
She lived right round the corner, and she
used to come in here and pretend to be ex-
amlnlng the flowers as he passed Then she
would look up and watch him a. he wen;
down the street. One day as he went hy
she looked up and said to me, Oh, wha, a
funny hat !. and then caree,sly, as she be
gan picking among the flowers, Il won!-r
who he is?' came very near laughing, for
tn. previous day the yoans fellow hal becn
IN 10 ask me VII she was. and hal sent ner
some flowers. About a week afleru ards she
came in with friend, and | heard her tell
ing the friend how somebod, had been send
ing her flowers every morning, and she did
wish she could FIND out who il was. Vel
the best part of It all can. aterw ird. On
morning he came IN aS usual and the garden
er took him back into the conservatory
While he was there the gir. entered aud
stood near the counter looking toward the
winiow Presently he returned, and, a he
started for the door brsk,y, ne said. we.
send those flowers usual up to 24--
street Neither knew the other was near,
and, hearing the number Of her house men
toned, she turned around and they met face
10 face. Well | never saw such an embar-
rassed couple in all my days. She had a big
Jacqueminot near her face, and 1t would
have been hard 10 tell which was redder, the
rose or her cheek. She turned to the fow-
ers, and he passed out. They didn't come
any more, but not long ago saw them go
ing by together. rney both looked in and
when they saw me ne laughed and she
blushed."