The morning times., 1895-11-24
Fortunes Spent
At the Florists
MRS. HAVEMEYER'S GUESTS
DINE UNDER ORCHIDS.
At Coming-Out Teas the Votive
Offering of Bouquets Is
Feature.

The art OF floral decoration is an clabo-
rate one in these end-of-the-century days.
II is likewise d costly one.
For instance, one grand dame recently
spent 81 600 for flowers to decorate her
table, dining and drawing rooms Tor DIM
ner party.
Not less than the graees and no more
than the muses." is no longer the rule as 10
the number OF guests hidden TO The modern
dinner, and this hospitable hestess-Mrs.
Hayemeyer. BY the way-entertained eighty
guests. They were seated al TWO tables
Over each table was a huge umbrella, COW
cred with orchids;, from tie edges hung del
icate trailing garlands, and the lights were
| charmingly arranged TO show Off the ibw-
| ers TO perfection. one umbrella was mass
of pale pink orchids, and the other was COW
cred with the purple cattleya. As some OF
the orchids cost 81 each, one cal under
stand that such elaborate decorations must
he backed by alOng purse.
THE COST OF FLORAL DECORATING
A pretty centerpiece of roses or violets
| and miguUnette may be purchased Tor $40
OF $50. Ii is more frequently, however, the
I case that $50 is paid for the centerpiece.
Ii one insists upon having an orchid Ia
bic, one must pay anywhere iTum $500 to
STo0 and upward, especially upward, Tor
it, For house wedding the flo wcrs, palms
and foliage plants usually cost $500 u
| ST 900, as much as the bridal gown, or
more.
For the brides bouquet s15, S75, s115
I and upward and on ward, whatever the nap
py interested ones choose To expend-
a rose bunch given as a favor at
| luncheon or dance is worth from 81 TO
| SIS, while a box of cut flowers costs from
| 81 to SO.
| At coming-aut teas the vOtive offering
| of bouquets is one Of the features of the
| function, ard the pride with which the
( debutante displays her trophies Is only
| euualed by the satisfaction the Indian
chief takes in the scalps which adoTn his
| abode.
| ThiTty-eight bouquets is an extremely
| modest number for young girl to receiTe
4 at her coming-,ut tea, siXty-eight is
more correct approximation. Miss Ger
| trude Vanderbilt received ninety-seven rare
and costly nnsegays upon the occasion Of
! her debut, and each was tied with ut least
| six yards OF rare and costly satin ribbon
! all very, very expensive as Mrs Car
| lyie's maid would remark.
The VandeTbuts probably pay 81 900
month to their florists, even during the
| dull season. when teas ard dinners and
! luncLeons and receptions are in fuli swing
/ it is too great 4 tax upon the maginaIian
! even TO try To- estimate the amount of their
! bill for flowers.
A CURIOUS CUSTOM
The plants and flowers for Mrs. William
] Astors and Mrs. Jack Astor's use are sent
I down four times weekly from the green
/ houses at Ferncliff, always accompanied
] by 4 bill, which is paid in due course by
/ the AstOr estate. This is case Of tax
ing money out of one pocket and putting
! 1t in another, but the AstOr family are
! very methodicu and systematic in their
/ business modes.
/ Although corsage bouquet are not
! longer worn. ii is quite the proper thing to
! carry a bouquet to the opera or the theater:
( The design is perfectly round mass OF
flowers, with a delicate border of maiden
hair ferns. 1t takes true artist to con
I struct an affair like this. No tightly ar
! ranged mass of flowers crnwded together
Will suit a fastidious taste. Il green bOu-
( quet Is considered most chic for an opera
! or indeed almost any occasion Mignon-
] cite. orchids of a pale green shade and
| ferns are used TO fern green bouquet.
| Mrs. GebhaTd carried one to a patriarch's s
ball last winter. The fair matron had Il
small battery disposed somewhere about
her costume. and by its means the bouqusS
was lllumined with tiny electric lights.