Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-27
JAPANESE ART.
Miss Mary Averill illustrates
Flower Arrangement

An illustrated lecture on Japanese
Flower Arrangement was given by Miss
Mary Averill of New York before the
National Society of the Fine Arts in Hub
bard Memorial Hall last evening. Miss
Averill spent seven years in Japan study
ing flower arrangement and is the only
person in this country qualified to speak
authoritatvely upon the, subject.
The art of flower arrangement. Miss
Averill said. originated in Japan and was
not derived as the sister arts of painting
and sculpture from China through Korea.
A desire to make the floral offerings in the
temples more appropriate and lovely led
in the fourteenth century to its inception.
and now for years it has been carried to
such a state of perfection that 1T has be-
come a part of the life of the people.
The flowers found in d Japanese dwell
ing through their mode of arrangement.
Miss -Averil explained, told the initiated
newcomer many things concerning the life
and welfare of the family. Japan has
compare ely small flora, yet with her
few varieties of blossoms her people have
done more than ours with their album
dance.
After drawing attention to the inherent
love of the Japanese for flowers and the
JOY they find in them Miss Averill de-
scribed the science which flower arrange
ment had become among them, and of
how potent a factor it had been in the
history of the race. Formerly it was the
custom. she said. for the Japanese gen
erals to make an arrangement of flowers
just before going into battle in order to
concentrate their thought and calm their
nerves. During the recent Russo-Japa-
nese war this was not done in the army.
but the custom was continued in the
navy.
The principles of flower arrangement in
Japan. Miss Averill continued. were based
d desire to reproduce natural effects
and to preserve at all times rhythm of
line-a branch which grew horizontally
was not placed in vase upright vine
not made to reach up when it's in
clination was to drOop d water plant vas
not elevated, nor high twig set low.
The different parts of the arrangement
are named for the elements and for man.
and distinctions of sex are invariably
made--the female being designated as the
weaker and less lovely figure. There is
much imagery and mysticism throughout
it ALA SAVIOR as ii were of the religious
origin. Miss Averill told of the difficulty
of obtaining oriental learning even when
knowing the language and living among
the Japanese. While apt pupils the Japa-
nese, Miss Averiil averred, We're not good
teachers guarding their secrets jealousy
and giving no set rules. Indeed, she said
that what took her seven years to ex-
tract from the Japanese she could readily
now impart in few lessons. The secret
the real Secret-of Japanese flower ar
rangement. Miss Averll assured her au-
dience, was the proper cutting and fitting
of the little fOrked stick which was placed
in the mouth of every vase and made to
serve a support-this once mastered
and all else becomes plain.
The shape and method of cutting this
support Miss Averill demonstrated at the
close of her lecture. passing one around
among those who wished to inspect it and
answering all questions which were put
During the course of the lecture Miss
Averill showed d number of lantern slides
of flower arrangements which she had
made in Japan and examples of living
flowers properly arranged were to be seen
as decorations in the lecture hall. Miss
Averill delivered her lecture in a Japa-
neSe costume and was assisted by her
Japanese maid, who was also in native
dress.