Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29

The flower hairdresser has his combs and
brushes, but the combs, are pincers Of various
sizes and the brushes of the softest camel's
hair.
Suppose that the florist has succeeded in
growing some fine specimens of that huge
variety, My Lady" some blossoms of which
have measured fourteen inches in diameter.
He cuts the blossom with long stem, so
that he can handle it well. Then he places
it in a high glass vase, with broad base,
but over the top Of the vase is what looks
like the socket of candlestick with a hole
in it. The stem passes through this hole
and down into the vase until the lower
petals of the blossom rest on the zinc sup
port, but not too firmly. Before putting the
flower into the vase to keep it from willing
under the lcng operation he has performed
the toughest part of the work. This consists
in pulling out with the pncers enough petals
around the center OF the blossom to permit
the others to close over that part. He is
careful to remove any worms or detective
discoored petals and then he begins the
"comblng process" the most tedious part OF
all With the less rare varieties, which do
| not take so long, this is all done rapidly, but
gently, while the stem is held in the hand
but with MY Lady" who is too aristocratlc
| to have her temper so tried for three long
hours this part of the work is done while
she drinks refreshing moisture in the vase.
! One by one each petal is put in place 80
! that the contour of the blossom Will be
either a perfect circle or star OF many
| rays If any petal prove too obdurate TO
stay in place it is pulled out by gentle
jerk with the pincers, CT which there are
several sizes on hand, one for the work at
] oth the com b.
ing process of finer or coarser varieties.
! When every petal has been put into place
1 the work would appear to be over, but this
| artist is most fastidious, nothing but per-
! fection satisfies him, and he takes UP a
cameshair brush, with which he gently
smoothes out every wrinkle that is detected
by his practiced eye. Then, and not till
then is my lady" ready for the admirlng
throng at the exhibition.
This art of flower perfecting was first in
| troduced by the English florists in their at
tompts to outdo one another by showing
the most perfect blossoms, but 1t has
! spread to America and the continent, and
| is practiced by all those seeking prizes at
| the chrysanthemum shows. The process
varies slightly, being somewhat moro diff
cult when the flowers are to be exhibited on
the stalk, in pots, but the hand Of the ar
tistic florist has been at work, no matter
how natural the flowers appear TO the uni
Initiated. 1t is said that from three to -four
| years OF practice are necessary before a mar
can be called an expert at the task OF
making the toilet of the flowers, but he
then commands high salary, and Is con-
sdered at the head of his profession, as
he esteems it. Art has to assist nature tc
perfection, even in flowers, which seem tc
us to be the most spontaneously beautiful
of ANYTHING in creation. It would seen
that feminine patience and skillfulness o
touch ought to adapt women especially fo
this work, but strange to say no woman
has yet undertaken it, or is known to have
done so.