The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-23
MRS. DAUGHTERS
ADDRESS TO FLORAL
AND HOME SOCIETY.

The following il the address delivered
by Mrs. A. H. Slaughter at the meeting
Of the Opelika Floral, and Home Society:
1t is a little singular that In this age
Of women's clubs Of any sort that none
are organized having for their object the
study Of Horticulture and home improve
ment.
There may be such clubs. bst do not
know of any.
Flower culture forms one of the most
delightful recreations the enlightened
mind can engage in. II Is alike an elevat-
ing and attractive occupation innocent
and cheerful, oan he cheaply obtained,
and like all other rational past time, may
lead to pursuits Of a more profitable
nature.
The study of flowers could be made
quite as profitable and fascinating as
the study Of Keats or Browning club
composed of intelligent and energetic wo-
men. who really love flowers, could make
Its influence felt in a village or town.
Let the club meet once or twice
month, say the first of each month, and
discuss the work to be done in the flower
garden that month. what flowers to plant,
how to cultivate them, etc. p.
Under the name suggest for the club.
Floral and Home Improvement Society"
we have a broader scope for subjects,
with which to vary the monotony. some
times study and discuss other subjects
for home Improvement.
Arrange q flower program, a chrysan-
thehnum and rose show make It's beauty
and influence felt. such things do much,
to stimulate ones interest In flowers and
home.
The true value Of flowers as educators,
is now recognized by all thinking people,
They are natures sweetest gift to man.
and their mission Is to extend the king
dom Of love. beauty, fragrance and hap
piness.
Roberts says. what a dreary. desc
late place would be a world without a
flower" It would be a face without
smile, q feast without a welcome.
They are pretty lessons in natures book
of instructions, teaching us that we live
not by bread or from bread alone, but
that we have another than an animal
life
II you think flowers cannot teach you
anything you are greatly mistaken. be
hold ! show you a mystery" might Dc
said of every flower. Flowers teach us
that something better thrives In GOD
pure air, than sordid thoughts or gilded
mockeries, everyone Of intelligence hKes
to add to ones store Of knowledge. and
IL win surprise many Of you to know
the flowers may be- Beecher says,
FLOWERS bring what money often falls
| to bring, refinement and pleasure"
| Matthews says, Let US have all the
flowers we can possibly afford;' they are
the veritable smiles of nature"
Economy Is the household God in many
a home. There must be no expenditures
| but for actual and imperative necessl-
ties Books, pictures, music, flowers are
regarded in the light of extravaganza
none Of the pleasures of life are to be
enioyed IL they cost anything. Only the
necessities are useful Money saved rep
resents the light of enjoyment to many.
| II Ia in their estimation folly to spend
dollar for anything that appeals to ones
love of the beautiful. There are those
who think that 1t Is dreadful waste
of time and money to buy flower SEED
and plants and then waste time Gull
| tivating them. They feel that flowers
are of mo earthly value" The money
| they cost would be better boarded, ana
| the time spent In cultivating them would
| be better spent in making more money
This world would be dreary and BAR
rem Mace IL economist of this class were
| in the majority. Fortunately they are
very largely in the minority and the
shirt of the age Is toward higher devel-
onment of the love Of the beautiful, tneir
value as educators and the pleasure they
give far more than compensates for all
| they cost. =,
| An utterly neglected flower garden is
about as distressing spectacle as can
be presented to the general public wnile
a trim, thrifty garden all aglow Win
bloom and beauty, is as fair sight as
there is under the sun. Such garden
is an educator, contributor to the public
good a common benefactor. dlsunct
moral force in the community.
Nothing is more depressing than great
barren front or back yard. Uttered up
with unsightly refuse and barren OF
shrub trees or even blade OF grass:
Such a yard indicates a positive moral