Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19
The Personal Touch in Their
Selection.
MEANS MUCH TO SICK
IN SUMMER SEND THOSE THAT
SUGGEST OUTDOORS.
Incidents of Sick Room Told
by Trained
Nurse,
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
No custom. thoughtfuIy carried out az
fords greater pleasure than sending flowers
to the sick, vet its possibilities are rarely
developed. The shopper who hurries into
a florists, losses out a card and orders
dozen roses or twice as many carnations
sent to a sick friends, goes on her way
rejoicing in the sense of duty promptly and
well performed. In reality her flowers, like
formal call. will lack personality. be-
speak a merely perfunctory courtesy and
give the invalid little or no pleasure be-
yond the thought of having been remem-
bered
On the other hand, little attention to
the time and the season, or difference to
the taste and fancy of the recipient, will
double the value of the gift Particularly
during convalescence will properly selected
flowers afford much entertainment.
Conventional dollhouse flowers, such as
American beauties, and huge corsage bou-
quetS of violets, represent only a well-filed
purse, and their heavy scent is not always
desirable in the sick room The invalid is
heartily tired of indoor life; therefore, Sc
iect flowers that suggest meadows, cool
shadows, woodland dimnesS and purling
streams, Pansies wet with dew or sim
ulation thereof from fine spray; lilies of
the valley swathed in their own sheath
like leaves; old fashioned garden flowers,
such as the spicy, single pinks your grand
mother raised; wall-foWerS with their
faint evanescent perfume; small roses of
the various climbing varieties; long sprays
of honeysuckie-all these are blossoms to
conjure with in a sick room, and, strangely
enough, are now to be secured from florists
in all large cities
Rebel Sometimes.
Invalids with hosts of generous and we'll
meaning friends have actually been heard
to rebel against the daily onslaught of hot
house offerings. The daughter of mil
lionaire was once reused from thoughts of
the aches and pains incident to typhoid fe-
yer by a woman who In her very ignor-
ance of so-called good form. wrought bet
ter than she knew. The patients younger
sister entered the room bearing an immense
box from fashionable florist. The invalid
glanced ianguidiy at the latest accession
and closed her eyes again. She recognized
the brand. apparently. Suddenly she was
aroused by litter from her sister:
well. this does look just like Mrs.
Smythe. In her vulgar anxiety to make a
big showing. she has flowers from every
plant that grows"
The invalid opened her eyes and reached
pettiShly for the box. At sight of it's con-
tents she smiled Roses of every hue,
bright crimson carnations, and yellow tu-
lips, modest marguerites and saucy cosmos
and half dozen varieties Of ferns, with
bunch of forget-me-nots smuggling In one
corner! These and more!
Il wonder if We have vases enough in
the house. The Japanese are the only peo-
pie who understand the arrangement of
flowers. They never mix different kinds.
1 want the coarse ferns and cosmos in
Grandmother MitcheHs old soup tureen.
The combination will be SO artistic. The
high Bohemian vase in the buffers pantry
will hold the narcissus. And, jessie you
know that Tiffany bowl in the library"
Her Special Taste.
Well, the upshot was that nurse and sis
ter were sent scurrying from room to room
for correct receptacles, and the box of
flowers condemned by a critical circle Of
relatives, provided delightful entertainment
for the tired invalid
Better. even than this, is to lay aside
the florists box and pack the blossoms in
a moss or leaf-lined basket. In an historic
suburb of Philadelphia lives an old lady
whose tiny greenhouse sends almost daily
messages of cheer to the sick. She raises
single violets, old fashioned Johnny Jump
Ups mignonette, petuniaS, phoX and their
simple floral relatives, whose quaint beauty
is enhanced by the manner in which they
are sent forth. Sometimes a low, fiat tin
is filled with moss, into which the flowers
are stuck; more often oddly shaped
basket is employed, the dear little gardener
being always on the watch for bargains
in wicker work. 1t is her one hobby, and
a most unSelfish one, too.
A more lasting pleasure is afforded by
plants of size which can be easily moved
and cared for by the nurse Featherv ferns
in dish of simple design are refreshing to
fever-tired eyes. Common wood violets
bear transplanting to the sick ROOM and II
well watered, will live and bloom many
days A pot of small English daisies or
panses with intelligent faces make cheer
full companions for the invalid A fern dish
filled with woodland plants once helped to
save young woman's life. She had fallen
into dangerous condition of melanchola,
and woke each morning with a dull, fixed
belief that she would not outlive the day
Against this a friend, quite accidentally,
but fortuitously, played a mass of growing
blood root, hepatica and anemone. Both
blood root and anemone blossoms folded
their petals at night and woke with the
SUM- The latter operation seemed particu-
larry to divert the invalid. whose first wax
ing thought was whether the flowers had
been the earlier risers. She sternIy ordered
the nurse that under no circumstances
were these to be removed each night with
the other flowers. This was the first step
in drawing her out Of herself.
The World to Go Along.
On the other hand. flowers thoughtlessly
selected sometimes have a most unexpected
effect. A young woman who was rallying
from .rious operation, and who was in a
highly nervous condition, received a box of
pure white roses and carnations nesting in
maidenhair ferns. At sight of the we'll
meant, but iil-advised Offering, she became
fairly hysterical. and declared that people
need not send her funeral flowers until She
was at least dead.
And last. but not least. with your flowers
send characteristic note. If it is only
scrubbed on the back Of your card. In
valids prize these messages highly, espe-
cially If no visitors are admitted to the
room.
"Volcanitis."