The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-03
A Sensible Young Man.

A young gentleman Of the circle Of fash
ion has opened in the Fifth avenue a shop
for the sale Of flowers of his own cultiva-
ton. He wants money. and to get it he has
gone into the trade which he thinks is most
likely to bring it to him.
In that there is nothing remarkable. In
this town and in this country nearly all
men. whether they belong to the circle OF
fashion or not, are engaged in some sort OF
business. The class OF leisure. which exists
in aristocratic countries as fixed and dis
tinguishable social quantity. has no exist
ence here. or course. there are individual
men who lead lives OF luxurious leisure. but
they are few both proportionally and ac-
tually. They do not make up considerable
and notable company exercising any i'm
portant influence on society. Their So
cial consequence is not increased simply
because they are at leisure. They are not
enved because they are idle: hence their
manner OF life furnishes no temptation
injurious to society. The run Of men. rich
or poor. socially elevated or socially hum
BILE. prefer to have regular work to do. They
want to pursue careers which will give
them distinction in the drawing room
rather than to gain their distinction from
III"
stead Of chasing its pleasures for the sake
OF getting something to do.
The young fellow who has become florist
In the Fifth avenue is, therefore, simply
following the prevailing masculine fashion.
He has also shown his good sense In his
choice of that particular department OF
trade, for he knows about flowers. their
cultivation, and the demand for them. Thus
he enters into business for which he has
special qualifications. Why, then, should
his practical venture attract particular
attention?
In going into business he is only doing as
the great majority Of the men Of the social
circle to which he belongs have always
done. II they have their living to make.
usually they make 1t In some sort OF trade.
II. then. he had started out in Wall street rs
broker. or had attached himself to mer-
camille establishment trading by wholesale.
his proceeding would have been looked upon
by everybody knowing OF it as II matter OF
course. He cannot afford to be idle. he
ought not to be idle. and as sensible and
dutiful fellow he has gone to work to make
his living as best he knows how. The nov
city Is that he has opened a shop for the
| sale Of flowers as retail merchant. But it
is good business. No other department
OF trade has extended more rapidly and
more prosperously than the florists. 1t has
come into being as great business in this
| country during the present generation only;
yet now its volume Is enormous. and large
fortunes have been made by fioriculturists
and florists.
Moreover. the very social currency OF
this new florist constitutes for him capital
in the business. He is favorably known to
the very people who are the largest and most
regular buyers OF flowers. and hence he is
sure Of profitable custom II he conducts
the trade skilfully. 1t is also as honorable
to sell violet or a rose as to sell u railroad
or ship. In these days. and In all days.
it is a far safer business than the buying
and selling Of stocks. and, in the end.
more profitable
florists shop is a beautiful place. 1t Is
refining and suggestive of refinement. 1t
10 place to DO happy In; andif. In addition.