Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-05-12
CONTINUED
ONE OF OUR CUSTOMS,
AND A BEAUTIFUL ONE, TOO, IS THE
SENDING OF FLOWERS.

Surprise Of an English Cousin-Thcy
Don't Do II, you Know'-Ethel and
Marion Discuss the Subj ect-A Great
Floral Show.
"What lovely flowers" cried Ethel.
"Are they really for me? And from your
brother, toos How awfully good Of him. "
She took the fragrant roses from their
box aud held them close to her face.
Don't mention it," laughed Marion.
Everybody sends flowers here-it is a
custom of the country. Don't you do it
in England ?"
"Not often" answered Ethel, regarding
the huge cluster of General Jaques with
renewed interest, "unless man has in
tentions."
'Intentions !" gasped Marion, turning
around from the beveled mirror, in which
she had been taking a critical view of her
adorable Psyche knot. Intentions My
dear girl, what do you mean? l should
as soon think of expecting a man to pro-
pose because he paid me an after-dinner
compliment as to dream that box of
flowers meant anything more than mere
act of courtesy That is the beauty of
them, don't you see ,"
"Really?" exclaimed Ethel, allowing
her patrician English voice to express
something like surprise. "How very odd.
America is such lovely place, isn't it ?
Now in England we are SO different to
you, you know. There are only few
shops in London where one can buy cut
flowers at all, and then they cost tre-
mendously. But then, you know, one al
ways has ones own conservatory, so it
would be absurd to buy flowers, anyway
But the great trouble is ones gardener is
always so tyrannical one is never allowed
to cut any roses for ones self / think
old Dyer, at home, would have fit of
apoplexy if / dared ask for so much as
one rosebud to wear. He cuts a certain
number every morning and arranges
them on the dining table, and there they
stay, as much a fixture as any other part
of the decorations. -
'I'm sorry for you; Pm sorry for you, !"
sang Marion, putting on stunning black
hat and tying it down with a wicked
little tulle veil. eve do these things bet
ter in America, don't we, dear9 Here, u
man with any pretension whatever to
fashion sends flowers on every possible
occasion to dowagers, debutantes and
chaperones regardless of age or good
looks. Very often it is the only way a
bachelor can return the favors he has re-
ceived. If he is at all CONNIE il faut he
embraces the opportunity and sends n
basket of roses and orchids at Christmas,
Marechal Niels and General Jaques TO
usher in the New Year, bride roses for
st. Valentine, and for Easter lillies-of-
the-valley, hyacinths, Mermet roses, and,
| in fact, all the fairest flowers that bloom.
If he is very punctilious, he sends an oc-
| sasional bunch of Parma violets as a
Lenten Offering, and on Mi-Careme
| spreads himself on great basket of
gorgeous tulips and yellow jonquills.
In this way, you see, he balances the
social scale and can accept Madame's
hospitality, her kindness, her champagne
and her pate de fois gras with clear
| conscience"
| Clancy" said Ethel, with moye enthu-
siasm than would have been considered
| strictly good form in Belgravia, ''but we
ia England have one rather pretty custom