The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
THE NATIONAL FLOWER eUILD.
Objects Tor whIeh n wss Formsa and
Good Effects OF It's Work.

Objects FOR whieh lt was Formsa and
Good Effects OF Its Work.
"Thc responses that come to US show that
the time Is ripe for our work. " said Miss Fran
ces Howard Fuller, city secretary OF the Ma
tional Plant, Flower. and Fruit Guild rho
success and constantly increasing interest In
the bcnencent influence OF the Individual
flower missions throughout the United States
and the desirabIlityo interchange OF experienced.
led 10 tho establishment Of this association.
Its purpose is not to s%upplant the flower mis-
slons that have been existing and doing so much
COED for years, but TO supplement them. The
Guild aims to secure unity In work and CO.
operation that will re.ult In the evolution OF
the best methods. Mrs. John Wood Stewart
Of Glen Ridge, N. j., who organized the Needle
work Guild. conceived tn, idea OF a National
Plant, Flower, and Fruit Guild three years
ago"
When asked about the practical workings
OF the Guild, Miss Fuller replied
'Mrs. Alex. Biddle OF Philadelphia Is the
General President. Mrs. Winthrop Sergeant Of
Boston General Treasurer. and Mrs. William
Starr damn of this city General Secretary.
The general Office OF the Guild is at 20 Fifth
avenue. The organization of n city branch
and a village branch differs slightly. a city
branch Is composed OF honorary President.
President, Vice. Presidents II desired, Score.
tary, Treasurer, pat-onesses, and associate
members. The duties OF the %oficere, except
those of the Secretary, are such as usually APP
pertain to these positions. Pntronesses pay 50
a year, and associate members 81. A city
Secretary Is the only salaried officer in the
Guild. She has to make and keep a record OF nil
institutions, organizations, and tenement re-
Rions desiring flowers, fruits, or j%ellies, and to
inform herself Of their supply from other
sources. Then she must organize branches
In adjacent villages, giving instruction 10
any who need It. If there IL u
ssq Is1Sisst,o supply Mrs. she wuj H,rr"nEST' E fer it.
i s,,v hG prSns1 P nrs d Frtss of The &c. T TSDss 4Grf
"a village branch is composed Of a Presl-
collectors, and patroncsses. HE latter in
c ciissts 'i Is G reTyuiated only only by tn the " deFTee Of
enthusiasm and the size of "A town. In - small
town only one may be necessary In such case
the President may be collector and the other
collectors are interesting. ny the letters re
ceived at headquarters prove. Their work Is to
SECURE the names of twenty five or more persons
willing to contribute five punches of five flow
ers each. or the'equiralent. once a week dur
Ing the whole or part of the season OF outdoor
ments and charitable institutions. to procure
jellieJ and fruit for hospitals, diet kitchens.
and nurses among the poor, and to regulate
the distribution.
'''The encouraging responses that the pro-
motors of this plan receive from Maine to Cali
fornia show that hundreds OF people are will
Ing to gather flowers from their gardens and
make them into small bouquets. provided sc1,e
one will call for them. This house to house col.
lection in villages has greatly increased the
supply. The winter work Is to solicit. collect,
and distribute flowers from balls, weddings.
receptions, and other functions. The posi-
bility and practicahiIity of such distribution
was shown last fall at the Vanderbilt and
Whitney weddings. The. Guild has perfected
arrangements with the leading express com
panies throughout the United States for the
free transportation Of baskets.
Some one asked Mrs. stewart If the women
took this work up rs n fad.
NO she answered emphatically, they do
not. They enjoy flowers 50 much TINT they wish
others to enjoy them. and n letter from some
modest little woman ont in some unhcard.
or Maine or lsUOnSin town saying that she
wishes to organize II branch shows that this
are organizing branches and make very en-
thusiastic workers.
II. any one has doubts as to the beneficial
results of flower distributions" concluded Miss
Fuller, let him consult SOine eXlerlenCed ply
stefan or nurse as to his opinion Of the work.
More III n fourteen years of experience in
active hospital work has convinced me that
among all the visitors who enter the wards
none can compare with these silent messen.
gers from the gardens. woods. and fields OF the
country. carrying with them something of the
pure. free air into the polluted city. speaking.
In II language which all can understand, of tho
beauty of nature and of the sympathy OF hu-
man beings far away with the sufferers to whom
they are sent
doubt, let them 20 to the cherries tenement
rooms ami see the pathetic eagerness of the in
mates to possess II few plants or n bunch of
cut flowers"