The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-21

In New York, even in the coolest
weather, it is not unusual to find vio-
lets whose outspread petals would ex.
tend over the size of a silver dollar, and
American Beauty roses are frequently
seen as large as a big orange.
The fashion in flowers varies less
with the season than can be said OF
almost anything else. In the vegetable
line, for example, there are certain veg
etables obtainable only in certain sea-
sons Fish and game are also governed
by the time of year, but all kinds OF
flowers can be bought at all seasons,
and as those that are offered for sale
are nearly always dollhouse grown the
price of flowers does not vary from win
ter to summer nearly rs much as one
who is not in the habit of buying would
suppose.
Thus a certain code of floral laws, or
what may be called code of floral Ell
quette, exists which is followed all the
year round without regard to season.
For the debutante the favorite bou-
quet is made all of orchids-white or
chids being the preferred ones. The
size for debutante's bouquet Is about
fourteen inches across and is made in
conventional bouquet fashion. The cost
is about twelve dollars. But, of course,
beautiful and popular young girl re-
ceives many bouquets, 80 there is always
struggle for something little novel
| and sufficiently original that IL cannot
be duplicated. Many varieties of the or
child bouquet, therefore, must be found.
A young man who is, as you would say,
rather sweet" upon young woman,
and who wants TO send her something
which will catch her eye and please
her, viii say to his florist:
"Can you send Miss a. handsome
bouquet, which shall be-er-a little
er--different from-er-anything else,
don't you know?"
Then his florist will suggest bouquet
all Of very rare white orchids, with
white lilies on one eide. When 1t is
done the young man drops IN to see 1t,
! and perhaps heor1ers finishing touches,
which bring the bill up to fifty dollars
! for this one bouquet.
| The matron who sends bouquet TO a
debutante chooses colored orchids.
I They may be pink or purple or varie
gated, but the entire bouquet is after
the conventional order.
The debutante, if she is at all popular,
has hall hundred bouquets. But you
one which she faacies more than any OF
the others, and by and by she will pick
it up and carry it for the rest of the
evening to the exclusion OF the others.
1t is always the bouquet of white
orchids and white lilies which is chosen.
To pass to a more somber subject and to
another use to which these same flow
ers are devoted, for funerals the palm
is the accepted offering, although a
much greater latitude is allowed at fu-
nerals than formerly. At Jay Gould's
funeral there was a greater varie-
ty than at any social gathering Of
tie season. Mrs. August Belmont
had likewise many exquisite floral
pieces. The Rothschilds are in the
haoit of cabling over orders for floral
pieces, and. indeed. il is not unusual TO
receive half q dozen cable orders for
any large New York event, especially
funeral While the palm Is the accept
ed tribute for funeral. there is a floral
piece known as the mat" which is as
good form as anything that can be
sent. This consists of many great
punches of flowers just as they are
brought out of the vases of the cool
room. They are dropped in arnfuls
and arc fastened to the mat foundation
wherever they happen to lie, so that
the whole is an eXquisitely beautiful
bit Of extravaganza, which, when floral
beauty is considered, well repays the
buyer.
When the man orders q bouquet for
his wife or box of flowers it is con-
sidered the prettiest idea for him to Sc
lect violets, as these have chnging asso-
Citations of poetry, love. constancy and
all the things that ought to belong to
married life.
A woman in ordering flowers for her
husband Will ssk that something be
sent suitable for boutonniere. This
varies a little with the season, but is
sure to be chrysanthemun as long as
chrysanthemums last
Flowers for old people and for young
girls are nearly always cut roses They
seem to appeal especially to these two
classes Old people choose them be-
cause they are sweet smelling, and be-
cause old people do not take as kindly
to fashionable floral innovations "a
young society people do. Girls in their
teens" like cut roses because they are
poetical. and because illusions to grow
-,
terms portraying the opening Of the
rose.
Il IS rather q new idea with the sea-
son. almost q fad IN fact 10 send pots /
of growing plants to young men in
place of birthday or New Years gifts. !
Indeed. the pot Of growing plants forms
in itself gift worthy OF being sent to /
anyone. Rubber plants and all kinds !
of hardy foliage plants are selected be- I
cause they are easier to care for than 1
d majority Of plants
For home entertainments, where |
very good effect is desired in small /
space, it is the most fashionable idea % 1
cover one side of the wall entirely With (
flowers Of only one variety, and II pos /
sible 10 introduce light behind them |
This has been done repeatedly at Mrs
Nhitney's annual balls, and the re- |
suit has been so good that the idea has |
become an established one and is a fash l
ion in itself
For the coming ont of the dehutante !
or for a wedding or a christening the |
effect should be bright-particularly /
bright-as is the case if pink carns- /