The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-01-01
WHAT FLOWERS DO FOR FOLK.
Observations on How They AfTect a Mans
Character and Appearance.

Character and Appearance.
The talk about the overwork and under
pay of many sorts Of laborers tempts
thoughtful person TO take rather critical
attitude with regard to his luxuries An
enjoyment is easily spoiled by the twinge
of reminding conscience, which insists
that the pleasure has been secured through
the unduly painful toll of another.
But at least one delightful extravaganza
is entirely free from this taint of the
primal curse. Flowers have no clinging
associations of unhappy workers in squalid
surroundings. but call instead to the minds
of those who know them the most con
tented class Of manual laborers to be found
in the world. Among good many florists
and gardeners whom have known can.
not remember a single dissatisfied or pessi-
mistic one. They are always little pa
thetic TO look at, because constant STOPPING
makes round shoulders one Of the marks
Of the trade, and their general effect Of un-
prosperousness is heightened by their pre-
vailing Indifference to personal neatness.
Indeed, their fondness for the soil is al
most always so great that they are not at
all troubled when an astonishing amount
of il adheres 20 them, and merely to say
| that gardener is better fellow than he
| looks expresses very feebly the virtues Of
| the calling.
And the interest these men show in their
| work. My gardeners have an almost ma
ternal fondness for their plants. "Would
| you like to see my houseful Of sick rosesW
| one asked me once.
"Of course should" I replied, expect
| ing to see some depressing spectacle OF
| languishing vegetation. Instead, l was
shown roomful Of sturdy bushes Of all
ages, but alike in the lustiness of their
| growth.
"You see, In every lot which comes from
the nursery there are some which haven't
stood the journey, and which would never
do to sell ;" said my florist friend. "Their
value is not much, but | cannot bear to
throw them away, and little extra care
makes them what you see here"
isn't the time worth more than the
young plantsW
"Of course it is. But enjoy giving the
weak ones a bit of n petting"
have often noticed that generosity is al
most trade characteristic of florists. 1t doe:
not take the form Of making their wares
unnaturally cheap, but they are more will
ing than other merchants to give littl,
more than they have TO. With most of the
craft a dozen means fifteen, and | have
rarely found one who would not ask q Gus
toner TO take an extra rose for boutOn
Mere. They seem to feel that flowers were
created to be given and not sold, and offeI
this little implied apology for the sordit
necessity which makes them ,arter theiI
lovely merchandise.
Nothing pleases them better than a Gus
toner who is himself an enthusiast, and /
would be hard to convince them of tn
baseness Of a real flower lover. l wen
? once to the florist who had lately stocked
my little garden with a complaint that tn
plants had all been stolen.
''Stole your plants, did they'" repeate
he, with a quaint Scotch accent. Then
thinking that the catastrophe appealed t
rue in a moral rather than a Commercial
light: "But they Gamma ha' been vera ba
il they liked flO'ers well emo to steal 'em.
; Cor. Kate Fields Washington.