St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-06

! kK TSE Sa3fi what blossoms snail auOrl
D\}%NT the person of my lady-sht
/ dG Nh\lA also proclaims what Shal
H)TdA be used for her teas ant
lNH IN receptions. There was ;
III TX time when the good dame
| of Minneapolis and ST. Paul each mad in he
sunny window an assortment OF geranlums
happy was she who could coax her nets Il
bloom in the winter, and her daughter wa'
the envied poss lessor of the only naUura
flowers at party or ball. But we have
passed the geranium stage and may now
be said to be quite within the domain OF
the flower dealer, who is an exponent, III
no small degree. OF the luxurious refine.
ment of the city where he dwells.
An afternoon among the flower dealers
of Minneapolis showed that bouquet is
now an almost Indispensable adjunct moi
only of lie grande toilette. but also of visit
Ing. opera and afternoon costumes; and nc
party is at all complete unless tables and
mantel are enriched with wealth of ma
ture's beauties.
At this season of the year the green
houses are fairly ablaze with gorgeous
chrysanthemums. These are old favorites
of our great gradmother'S time, but in the
large quilted Japanese sorts. white, cream,
yCiitW UIOnLC. plIlh anu lCi, lliO Olu lauy
would scarcely recognize the plants that
b0rdered her kitchen garden. No flower
has reached such remarkable development
in so short time as has the chrysanthe-
mum. and none is more worthy its great
popularity. Its blossoms appear at a time
when all other plants are resting; its flow
ers last long time and cut well. and it is
a prOfuse blO0mer. In these days of vel
In, foo, 81 hal hrii of Mt IN
favOrte gaddens the heart of the enter
tainer and brightenS her tea table ard parlOl
withal. 1t will never become SO popular
for the coreage, as it has not the graceful
habit of the rose; and besides. as one dealer
remarked, sit is too cheap"-a fact which
men will fail to appreciate. but which is
the very best reason woman
could have for discarding it. The
large Japanese rose jars that
are now so much used for parlor decoration,
are never more effective than when filled
with great quilted chrysanthemuns of one
color. Corsage bouquets grow larger with
the years. A few seasons ago it was the
proper thing for the fashionable girl tC
wear single rose in the bosom of hel
gown, possibly as an index of the beautiful
simplicity of the feminine character, but
either the feminine character has become
wonderfully complex, or for no other rea
son than fashions decree. maid and matrOr
now vie with each other in seeing who can
show the brOadeSt eXpanSe OF budS-fOr
rose buds are preeminently the flowers fol
the purpose. A coTsage bouquet, to be al
all up to the times, must contain at leas
two dozen large buds, the stems left long
and foliage retained. and the more careless
and natural the arrangement the better
If this thing keeps on we shall soon see
Conservatives surmounted by more ol
less bewitching pair of eyes, and built on d
foundation of velvet, tulle or silk,
floating through our reception anC
bathrooms. In some few instances the eX
treme might be desirable, but most mer
will sigh for the time when simplicity shal
again rule; this is particularly true OF the
society girls best fellow. and he will realize
it most as he deposits S5 gold piece on the
counter of the flower man, i'll payment fol
the perfectly lovely roses behind which
his mistress intrenches herself.
1t is not only the daughter of wealth
however, who appreciates blOSsOmS-tht
innocent beauties are dear to all hearts and
are worn by all women. She who cannot
afford the aristOcratic rose is happy in the
possess OH of the bourgeOise chrysanthemum
or the plebeian geranium-and the size AND
makeup of her cOrsage bouquet may bt
ia ken as measure of the feminine purse
And what custom of recent years has g
more sensible foundation or more beneh
cent effect than this? Who cannot remem
Der the time when feathers or large gOlC
iewelry or horrible artificial flowers wert
the only articles of dress establishment
and who that remembers doe;
not prefer the fresh pOSes, with
their delicate tints and fresf
perfume, suggestive of all that is sweet and
pure in nature? The flowers have come
into our homes as well-at dinner parties
the center piece is no longer fruit alone
ba1liant pOinsettiaS, camellaS, hyaclnths
accent its beauty, while trailing Smlla1
| druops from the chandelier above. Bank:
of carnations, with their spicy fragrance
| hide the manUeiS. and bear on their snow!
crests the date or name which makes tile
occasion memorable. Great cOrnucopiaS
| overflow with wealth of bloom and vine
| balls hung in arch and doorway suggest
round OF life and happiness; Cupids bow
! or marriage bell O'ershadOwS the fair bride
and tells of love: horse shoes and WlShoone
speak of the kind hopes OF frlendS-lndeed
| there is no message that h0werS cann0
! speak in these days. when their own mean
| ing is combined with mans ingenuity.
| These are sentiments for the guests-a
any rate, when the festive flower man SENDS
| in his account next day, pater- familia:
ceases to muse on beauty. and his brow
contracts-hOwers and palms and ferns are
| all very beautiful under the bright ga;
| light. but to-day where is the $40 value
| in the mass of wlted. witlIered things thai
| last night was the admired cOrnuc0Dlai
| The palms and ferns have returned to the
green house. and the only reminder ot
| their presence is this gOOd-SlZed item on the
plunber-like bill, and what plan Can bt
| expected to be an enthusiastic supporter O1
the aesthetics as emoO lied III aOral decora-
ton at S75 decorate? One might as well
contemplate perennial season OF spring
! bonnetSl
| And then this mercenary man bethIDhS
! HIM of the pleasure that beamed from has
dear wife's eyes as her guests compllmented
| her on the excellent taste she dlsplayed IL
choosing her flowers. and albeit lie knows
| that the taste aforesaid could be duplicated
| by the most prOsaic of them all for an equal
! investment, he pays the bill and thus the
| flower trade is prospered.
| A few years since. after the advent OF
! Oscar Wilde. the aesthetic daisy, with lts
single row of white rays around IT'S taWny
center. was the ruler of the hour-nothlne
| but what was conventional was "gooO
| FORM The hyacinth was left
| to bloom unseen, and the violet
| hid her modest head-even the
great queen Of fowerdOm was ignored Dy
the soulful apostles of @stheticisln. Now,
| however. the rose comes from out the