New-York tribune., 1903-03-23
PARIs1AN FLOWER MAKERS.
Seven Thousand Women Follow the Trade
in Paris.

Writing in The I4adys Magazine" Marie A.
Belloc says that perhaps one reason why Ffenci-
women and especially Parisiennes have Pra"ucdi
monopoly of this branch of trade is that, besides
making artificial flowers they possess the art OF
indicating to the rest of the world the thouSaho
and one ways in which these blossoms may ne
utilized in feminine dress. To give an fHalnp'e'
TN lately It was considered in Paris elsewhere
had taste to decorate dinner table or a Hl'tli3
room with artificial flowers: now, however-and II IS
said that the fashion comes from the fusSlan o"''
artificial flowers especially roses. are cohS'dN'iS
20 used even very fair imitation OF the aCtudI
scent and fragrance of the natural blossom oeihe
added by A cunning process At the present ilo
ment there are 1000 women flower artists IN fariS
alone; they are assisted in the more me'hailcdl
nortions of their lahors by 700 workn2en whose
nrincipa duties ara those of pressing and preparing
the tissues of which the blossoms are mace II
IL characteristic Of their artistic temperament ana
doubtless one reason why in any KIND OF ART tHt
French are so emnentIy successful that instead ol
having established huge factories in connection
with this work tAe leading "feuristes prefer 10
work with only small number of thoroughly COM
petent and highly trained assistants Even the
LARGEST .ateliers.' they are somewhat ponPouS-
" styled, containy only some thirty "orKWorneh'
and the noted "feuristes' claim TO ne sPt-
cially inspired as is a painter a sculptor, and
allow no one to help them in the actual labor OF
composing their blossoms.
Though this may seem somewhat exaggerated, 1t
must be admitted that something more than Skill
more even than taste. is required before the high-
est and the perfect effects, those most resen-
bling nature, be obtained. Accordingly TO the
fortunate flower maker who can claim 10 De at tile
head Of her profession one denies the title OF
artist and she is indeed student of nature.
spending long days In the country IN order
that she may her models to greater advantage
At the great exhibition held three years ago one
'heuriste' exhibited group of roses SO absolutely
nerfect that the French Government considering
that nothing else represented so exactly the eX-
qusite character of French national industry. pur-
Empress of Russia. Both to the flower lover VINO VINO
nothing about dress and to the lover Of dress
ing 'atelier' is most fascinating experience The
d Sc r eb Is 6eng on T them a
to have refining influence on the workers them
to be highly ; specIazed thus, one girl makes only
another has as 5sr er T m
hothouse blossoms which much the fashion
Workers W are not only artists but expert bo1anists
girl ghy sdneated at 6en and h.
French Minister Of Education to make imitation
leaves and blossoms for use in the botany class Of
spFG.s fact & and some one that is s to strb IKE
finest and most costly artificial blossoms are not
Vorite material with ali the great "1euristes is a
light gauzy batise . This mateT1 bs makes ossd ideal S
f%een Reavs rons moi in that G Il be
snS ent aRq NTH nat ny every shape and
When is IN the making In the . petals al are re all
kaii water colored with carmine. Into this each
throueh pure water to soften and spread the tint
AS in nature the centre OF petal is generallT
added With camel's hair brush for the first i'm i'm
mers!on iE the carmne gives only a very pale.
weak color. and. accordingly: II a, deep pink or
dark red rose is In process of making. each petal
psnsiye blossoms the petals are both cut = and I'd col
TO consider only the higher branches of the art.
The exquisite leaves which are such speciality
ticuIar make of heh. taneta' & tinted green; in
q frame and left to dry When dry, light coat
of gum arabic is brushed one side. While the
ofheP ia washed with green colored starch water.
II a veIyety surface has 10 be obtained there Is
then applied the taffeta powder made of wool
and dyed a very pale. almost white, green. When
the material 10 thoroughly dried, the leaves are
cut ar sta nnped out and the veins pressed into
them with quantity shaped irons. The same elabo-
rare pYocesgee followed In the of the stems
and the stamens of both flowers and leaves fine
wire, india rubber and the finest taffeta ribbon
beink used each material being OF the best. and
therefore costly.