The age-herald., 1898-08-25
Some Suggestions for the
 Arrangement of Powers

Cut flowers are an expensive luxury In the city, In the country, however, every lover of flowers may have them Tn apuh- dance, at least in summer at small cost beyond the labor of cultvating them. Therefore they may be freely used, and their arrangement should be the pleasant duty of the young ladies of the house. It is a mistake to grudge the cutting of your growing plants. They thrive and bloom the better for judicious removal Of the blossoms.
 Nothing exhausts a plant like going to seed. Therefore all blossoms should be cut before they begin to fade. Gather your flowers in the morning, while the dew IS upon them, and cut them with sharp shears into basket or still better into large apron. Holding them in your hand is diff ferent, especially when you wish to reach some beauty nodding high upon trellis.
 In arranging them the vase must be suited to your fowers-tall, slender vases for gladioluses, bowl for roses, hanging vases or flat dishes set on a bracket or mantel shelf for trailing vines. A very effective floral ornament for a small table may be made by filling large pie dish or soup plate with wet sand. fringing the sand B asor as eo nttde the edge of the platter with strawberry or geranium leaves or curied parsleyt and then covering the mound of sand With flowers, the stems of which are stuck into 1t. Green leaves and sprays should be literally interspersed among the bright-hued blossoms, and care must be taken not to give the whole a set stiff look.
 A beautiful centerpiece for dinner table -oY, a supper party may be formed by pyramid Of clay, covered with flowers and leaves. The foundation Is a thick, flat, round piece of wood, with auger holes bored along the edge for holding candles, and similar pieces of wood, each one four inches less in diameter than the one below 1t are inserted all the way up. Their size and number depend, of course, upon the size of the pyramid, which must, In turn, be suited to that of the table, and they, with the clay tiers between them, should be well hidden by trailing vines, so that the lights shall appear to be set in mass or bloom and greenery. A lump Of Ice crown ing the pyramid will, as 1t melts, keep the flowers fresh. When this Is used platter must be under the pyramid to eaten the superabundant moisture. on long sup per table three such pyramids, the one in inc center larger than the other two, form a most effective decoration.
 If is well to remember that it is not only costly flowers which are beautiful; many of our wild flowers pay abundantly for the gathering. The common evergreen 1ern IS graceful and keeps its freshness TOT days;
 Tn Parisan salons one often sees taii vase filled with green sprays, with one, two chyrsanthemums shining among the green leaves. h,,,r
 A from the chandelier is a novel ana very pretty floral decoration. It goes without saving that the sponge must be compieteiy hidden by the flowers and kept wet, put not dripping.
 Natural flowers are properly used for per sonaI adornment The belt and shoulder bouquet are worn at all times of the day, the chic thing with those who can afford it being always to wear the same flower, as to use the same perfume. The fancy for flowers in the hair as seen in old portraits is revived as also is the fashion of floral fans, A piece of stiff cardboard cut in the shape of a fan or a small palm leaf fan serves as the foundation. The stem is cov- cred with ribbons, or attached firmly to bouuuet holder, which serves as handle. The flowers are then sewed on. on both sides. to cover the foundation, and though the stitching seems barbarous 1t is no more so than wiring the blossoms and they last quite as long.
 Where flowers are not plenty 1t is wise to change the water in which they are kept once a day. In winter it should be slightly warm, In summer cool. Cut off the stems of the flowers when you change the water. A small piece of charcoal in the bottom Of the vase will help to keep your flowers fresh, and with such care they will last for days.