, 1885-07-30
POPULARITY OF llLAcs


nf These Flower,
New York Nal aud Express
A man of asthetlc taste and fond of
wearing a detached section of a flower
garden on the lapel OF his coat, related
To a reporter his experience with several
punches OF white and purple lilacs
Il knew that within the past few
years, he said. tho lilac had grown
In popular favor. especially among the
upper classes, but ibid not realize until
several weeks ago how universally it is
admired and appreciated by tho masses.
| started from the city hall with four
or five punches OF the fragrant lilac in
my hand. and walked leisurcly up
Chatham street. The original matters
and clothiers in that busy thoroughfare,
instead of asking ne ia to buy sheap
goods given away. asked, > otyou take,
mine friend, for dot flowers, dc lyola kf
The red-faced, loud-talking man who
stands in front of the only genuine
museum ceased yelling his string of
wonderful cnriosities inside, and mop
ping his brow said patroni ingly, say.
pard. I'll let you go in for nothing If
you will give mo them lilooks. Further
up a shocstring peddler stopped his stere-
dipped cry Of = cents a pair, and
offered three pairs for the bunch of
slilocks.
This admiration for the flowers by
these men who are supposed to have no
appreciation or love for plants or any
thing of the kind made me resolve TO
pass up some of the back streets and see
If the lilac was really universally known.
| had not gone two blocks up Mott
street before a hinaman paused in
front OF me and pointed to the punches.
'Lootiful and sweet, he said in broken
English. Turning into Mulberry street
| encountered two bareheaded Italian
girl children. No sooner had they spied
the lilacs than both exclaimed: Give
them to me, mi ter, oh please. Reach
ing Canal street several American girls
passed. OH what lovely laylocks,
they exclaimed several times. ON Liz
ateth street n barefooted and bare
headed gamin yelled out say, boss,
I'll gin ye n patent leather shine for
them leloxes.
striking Houston street, "A stream OF
factory girls were passing. All Of them,
though looking tired from their days
work, frightened up and said something
aloud to their companions about the Ii
laos. Turning into the Bowery, | met
a swell of the class who paraly1e the
original dealers on that street with their
staggering gait and ilashy iewelry. |
was astonishcd to see him pause and
pull his hat over his left ear, 'iimme
a Whit of them daisy larlacksf he said,
as he drew his 1O-cent an high up
under his arm. Boarding a Fourth ay.
enue horse car, | was acoosted by a.
ragged newsboy who jumped on at
Fourteenth street: Say, mister. give
me n bunch; they are dirt cheap. |
gave him a bunch, and got Oh and
walked up Broadway TO interview a
norist about the popularity and the
past record of the lilac. He said
It was a very popular flower, and to
meet the demand for it within
the past few years it is grown in
tho hot houses in the winter. Now,
he continued. n bunch which sells for
% cents can not 30 purchased in winter
for less than 50. The regular season
for lilacs is during the month Of April
and May. In the winter they are fash
ionable, and bridal bouquets are not
considered complete without white
lilans. They are beautiful and fragrant,
and during the outdoor season very
cheap
"'Why are they so well known and
appreciated by the little children on
back streets in the poor quartersi' l
asked.
e. Because laree quantities are sent to
the mission houses, hospitals, and
schools in poor districts by the benevo-
lent people. The children become famil-
lar with the lilac, and love it because it
is sweet and pretty.
How long has it been a fashionable
flower in the winterf
'Only three years, / do not think
it will ever become unpopular. The
white lilac is preferred as a general
rnle to the purple