The sun., 1885-06-07
NEW FORK FLOWER GIRLS.
Uaattrscsivo as = nu,s-nie Its asa hsr
0uies, Eccentrie Ways.


There is nothing particularly picturesque
about the flower girls Of New York. They havo
grown greatly In numbers within tho past two
yoars. but they are se!dom pretty. usually rag
god. and often careless and boistcrous In man.
ner. There are. OF course, n few exceptions
but In the main the flowor girls Of New York
have not yet learned how much personal ap-
pearance has to do with the sale OF flowers. In
the lobby OF many Of tho theatres OF Now York
thero arc flower stands. and ono of them Is pre-.
sided over by quantity dressed. quiet. and
solemn little French woman. She wears
brightly colored shawls. and is tidy and neat
At another theatre a compact littlo German
woman. who always displays q vast amount OF
soiled llnon in tho way OF caps. aprons. and tho
like. materially auRmonts her sales by her
Jolly. good -humored ways.
Perhaps tho best known OF all the flower girls
OF New York is a gigantic and tranquil woman
known as Dig Liz She generally appears on
Broadway at O'Clock in the 8fterno oon and
from that time until In the morning she
wanders about at tho night resorts OF upper
New York selling flowers and chuttering with
her cronios. Big Liz Ia conversationaly in
olined. She Is known to every rounder. broker.
and club man In New York, and she treats them
all with uniform listlcssncss. Apparently tho
only things that Lizzie. rs sho Is iamiliarly
called In the oarly hours OF the morning rcnlly
cares for is to express her views on current
topics. Her anxiety to sell flowers is never
apparent. and she imrresses those who have
known her longest as being rather fond OF
mems society in a strictly proper way. and rs
using her flowers ms much for IL pretoXt to be
about as anything else.
She must be nearly six feet in height, and licr
weight certainly tops 200 pounds. She usually
wears straw hat slightly bedecked with rib
oons. q long shawl and a dark dress. She is
comfortably clad in all weather. On her left
arm hangs a basket which would be large for n
woman of less ample proportions. 1t is filed
With small hnmaaets sho stros about With VI
not to say listloss look. She is familiar siuht
ty-seyenth streets. at all hours in the
mornins. and she Is usually standing
the utmost gravity to the remarks OF the half
dozen night hnfkmon eus,erei around her. or
y liz LIZ LIZ las hS oor shs no ne hen
thoughts with long fore finger and pump
handle Gesture Gt the arm., She neyor smiles.
stories Of hor friends. 1t Ia observed BY tho
way. that Lizzie draws u sharn distinction be-
never familiar with tho FOUNDERS. but she is on
tho most intimate terms with the hackm the
tSstnurant sLa Rssness; the policemen. tho gam
About II % 2'ei"ck at night. when little choG
mousse on lwenty-Sevcnth street Is crowded
with mon eating ut all tho tables and with wait
srs hurryinE abour, tho giant form Of Big Liz
looms W. In tho doorway a:l the flower girl
drifts into the room like a massive grain ele-
vator moving slowly with the tide. Sh" stops
ht the first table AMI giares down solemnly ut
tho mon who arc eating there
Want any nowersy" she asks care!essly
while tho man stare up ut hGr
II they hannen to DO strangers or fresh young
coleEinnS. or new romers oi Il festive turn OF
mind. they arc ant to poke fun at the huge
woman with tho basket Of flowers. II they ,o
~ TtNItt -. tf, pcl,o
reprimand from somo OF l.sZics friends at q
neighboring table or submit To mercicss guy
ing themselves. 1t seems to be rule with all
the men around town to protect this particular
specimen Of n flower girl II s quito unneces-
sary. as Big Liz Is a fighter whose pluck
strength. and ns,ic power have brought her
into prominenc" many times. When she fights
she wins. Her most recent exploit. when she
front Of tho Fifth Avenue Hotel and sent him
home in a cab whipped and humiliated. has
added fresh triumph to her long list OF vic
tories.