The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-20
NATURES GEMS AT YULETIDE
brisht and Beautiful Blossoms to Glad
den The Festive Season.
SWEET ROSES, YIOLETS, HYACINTHS.
with Their Fragrant Breath They Arc III
ting Attendants Of the Anniversary oil
the Birth of Bcthiehcm's Babe
Nor Lovely Than Costly Gems


SOh. who has not heard OF the Nale OF
Cashmere.
With It's roses. the sweetest that eaT'h
ever gave?'
with the coming Of Christmas people
begin 10 long for bright and beautiful
things to mark tho difference between
tho dun. prosaic year and the siaa sea
son wherein Is celebrated the biT'h Oh
the babe. who lay wrapped in s"""""hs
clothes in a Manager. above when sl'-
tered the bright evening star pointing
out the way to the Wise Men OF the
East who came bringing gifts.
The wise men brought cosby btnla
and rare perfumes as iheir shla ~ a., ~.
infant Saviour as was the custom III
those days. when the gorgeous A"7'
was la the full flower OF weai'h -uu
prosperity. Now. the moutfH S-'to.' 90
TO substitute the living gems OF hatu, re-.
beautiful lOwcrs--fOr the coslltI, p".
no moro lovely. diamonds, runi's. Air
pearls ] say cOstlcr. but as matt'i
a. fact he approach OF Chfislui"a
forces up the price Of flowers ui'''i
diamond ring for your sweetheart can
10 procured almost as chcapiy as
dozen American Beauty roses or ehousu
of the fracraat. modest yioleis. 20 prop
oriy deck her dainty person ana Dou-
MUST HAVE THEM.
Flowers come high. hut they must pc
had. and lust now tho nOri5's are rushed
20 Death with orders. Ine fdNo-lle ~
excellence this year Is Tie Nioiet "i'n
the American Beauty rose close aeconu.
Those who desire flowers mad hcttct
order them now" said "a Wcll-knpfh
florist yesterday, "for the price is CLIMB
Ing every day. American Beauty roses
row stand at 81 dozen, but by 1irlS,-
mas they will rise 10 S. dozen. Nloie'a
are 81 30 per hundred, / expect lncS
win 80 * high as = In the next '7"
days ,o 81.
yortment Of white Brides roses al =
n dozen: yellow Pearl roses at 81 I'D, ana
an unlimited quantity OF hyacinths az
~ ami 10 cents "a dozen. lnc propl.-
ties are that all Of these prices VIII
be- higher In very few days.
Although the florists ND 10 TINS tlihe
have received great number OF ORDERS
for flowers TO be filled between now ana
Christmas Day. they complain that the
trade IS not what il was year ago.
The falling off H. most lotceabie among
tho voung men who have been accus-
toned 70 furnish their hancces WIN
flowers ad libltum. This year tnVr
wishes have not changed, but the POCKET
book Is weak. IN spite OF ueieCtlonS'
however they still make good SHOW.
ing. and surrender their hard-oarned
dollars with the best grace in the
world.
But the decoration OF lNe p'i0oii1 Va
pretty girls. although the most charming
IL bv no means the only purpose .ol
which flower win be used this year
Without them, the various christmas
celebrations would be but fOrlorn ana
desolate They brighten mp as nothing
else could the scenes Of fcstiVity. Inc
Christmas dinner-table. the ballroom,
the tree for the little ones-ah must
be adorned with flowers. They are as
necessary 20 the proper Observance or
VIoLETs HAVE THE CALL.
With the prices OF American Beauty
roses ranging from 81 to Sc. and violcts
at ono and a half TO two cents apiece,
tho latter will doubtless have the CAL
this aeasOn There is nothing more
beautiful or fragrant than bank OF
dark or pale-hlue viOlcts. They Inn
part a delightful odor to room. and
gladden. two OF the seven senses.
More gorgeous. but scarcely so beau
tiful rs their sister flower, the rose.
which stands forth in aggressive lowell
ness, where the modest violet hangs ITS
head. Each has 0istinCtiVely It's place
The rose shines best upon the corsage
81 beauty. beneath the brilliant lights OF
the ballroom but the violet, nesting I'm
the satin folds OF the iewci-case or
hidden I'm some dainty vase, hroathcs
forth its exquisite fragrance lulling 10
repose the tired rcvcller.
Nor must tho pure and sDotless Brides
rose be forgotten. About the Yuletide
ifs services are often called into reQui-
sltion I'm conjunction with diamonds and
orange blossoms. Us beauty. OF course
cannot compare with the peerless Amer
lean Beauty. but IL fills o. place no other
flower can take and has the further
merit Of being most reasonable I'm price.
The yellow Pearl rose is still lower
IN price. but its beauty compares Ia
vorably with that OF its expensive sis
ters. and many a fiancee would much
rather receive n yellow tribute than
none AZ all.
THE BEAUTIFUL HNACINTH.
Last on the list Is the hyacinth-one
Of the sweetest OF flowers The stores
Of the florists are now banked with this
flower, and the air Is almost oppressive
with its delightful perfume. For
dollar or two enough hyacinths can he
procured TO make a most acceptable
Christmas Offering 10 some fair one, or
10 deck room or dinner-tahie.
In selecting Christmas offerings, the
donor too often wastes his money upon
some snowy gewgaw. which has no prac-
teal value. As a matter Of fact, no
gift could be more acceptable or give
greater pleasure than flowers. Their
life is short, it is true. but before they
wither away thcy hest )w more real
enjoyment upon She receiver than any
thing else. almost, that could be chosen