The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-16
AT CHRISTMASTIOE.
Expensive Decorations Will Not Be
in Vogue This Year.

EApCHSlVC w III INOL
in Vogue This Year.
NEW YORK, Dec. 11.-Anglomania has
It's roots down in the very cookies of some
Americans hearts.
''All my holly aud mistletoe are imported
from England" announces one of New
York's eminent florists. When asked why,
be said: 1T sells better and at higher
prices" The florist may not be an anglo
maniac, but he is shTewd enough to find
that his customers are. a more patriotic
florist denounces not only the scheme, but
the truth Of his rivals statement, Offering
TO give him 500 for one spray of genuine
English holly picked from HIS now ready
assortment. What the outcome of the
contest will be the public will probably
never know, bnt the fact is palpable that
the foreign decorations are selling rapidly.
Mrs. Arson Phelps Stokes always i'm
ports the holly for her Xmas dinner table,
aud so does Mrs. Bradley Martin when she
takes her Christmas turkey in America
which is seldom. The Astors and Paran
Stevens get big boxes of both of the Eng
llsh productions from their relatives VINO
live there, and 1t is rnmored that Mrs.
George Gould left a similar order at
London florist this fall for the holiday
decoration of her Lakewood home.
In regard to the holly the desire to have
1t Imported arises from purely snobbish
reasons. for the American berry and leaf
are as hne as nature can make them. Il is
different with the mistetoe. The domestic
product does not approach the foreign
growth IN either quality or coloring In
the Southland, where the former abounds,
the berries are small and white.
1t grows In meager clusters and the fruit
is more scattered. Therefore one can for
give the "Engiishsm" that reaches to mis-
tletoe, though 1t comes very high, not only
In growth, but price, the New York florist
receiving S15 and $50 tor one ball. This
would probably strike a Southerner as
ridiculous, when IL is remembered how the
ceiling can fairly be festooned with it, all
Tor the hire at 20 cents day of two little
| negroes, who remain to tack 1t up and aft
erward partake of the dinner.
But this American mi tletoe. 10 matter
how un-English it is, will form thefeatuTe
| of decoration for some very recherche din
ners in New York.
One fashionable woman is to have a
canopy of mistietoe over the table in the
| shape of astaT, heroic in size. Incandes-
cent lamps are scattered through it, and as
| the gliSteDing berries ara very reflective,
| the star shines with soft, diffused light. A
mirror in the center of the table throws
| back The points of light, and the table
| decorations will be bowls of white roses
and holly. This is one OF the happieSt
plans l have gathered.
| Easter lilies are to be used by some. This
| is somewhat "rushing'' the season, as the
|
| flowers have been forced By the florists,
and many are being bought. The churches
are not inclined to this plan, as they feel
| the distinctive association of the lilies
with the Resurrection day. In point of
| fact, church decoration in its expensive
| and elaborate sense is going out. Not
| from a lack of love or generosity, but a
broader feeling OF charity. The poor OF
| New York are in too serious a condition,
think Christian folk, to justify spending
hundreds of dollars upon flowers alone.
| Therefore the contribution goes as an
| Xmas gift to the orga lied societies. One
| florist TOLD me that where Grace Church's
order for decoration had formerly been
from $5eO to 500 1t was restricted this year
| to $500.
Even those who would send handsome
| flowers are requested by the pastor to put
| the money in o bread for the hungry ones
| Of the east side.. The two most prominent
| florists here have given up all church or
| ders, arguing that the demand doesn't pay
| for the time. But the florists are better
| able to stand the loss than The poor.
! The chancels will be twlned in simple
fashion with smilax; ferns will be placed
| for the day about the altar, and white roses
ornament the pulpit. All churches, no
matter how fashionable or wealthy, say
the decoration will emo there.
| FL. HALLMARK.