Evening star., 1912-04-13
FLORAL ART Is NOT NEW.
Dates Back to Earlie1t Times-Large
Sums Spent for Flowers.

From the New York Sum-
Flower making and the use of Natural
and artificial flowers for decorative pur-
poses IL an art of great antiquity. In the
Egyptian tombs dried garlands of flowers
have been found and antiquarians have
learned from the old Coptic books that
nowers were used for decorating BANQUET
chambers. The Greeks have left indis-
putable evidence that the art of flower
decoration was practiced by them.
While the power of Rome was at it's
zenith the citizen Of that empire was not
considered dressed unless wreathed in a
garland of sweet-smelling blossoms. Even
at the amphitheater the stadia and the
BOXES were gorgeously decorated with
rich Silks and flowers. while on gala DAYS
the streets were mass Of Sicilian blooms
ana greenery. At their banquets an elab-
crate system of flower decoration was
one OF the chief points of Interest. and
seneca tells us that at Nero's wonderfuI
noating raft banquet flowers were used in
the ornamentation Of the raft. with the
not give many details as to the flower
decorative art
Medieval chroniclers tell US that the
decoration OF churches and shrines on
with its magnificence and beauty. and
mowers played a large part In various re-
iig1ous professions. new usage crept
INTO sTistence. that Of using flowers in
nuptial and prenuptial banQuets and
feasts. and finally invaded the precincts
OF the church whenever q marriage was
celebrated, though for centuries past it
mad been the custom for garlands to be
showered on the happy bride and bride.
groom returning from the temple
After all the big battles OF the middle
ages IT was the custom for the victorious
nation TO- decorate the streets and
| eastern world the Chinese and Japanese
| have for thousands of years been pro-
ficient In the flower decorative art and its
tenets have been handed down to this
day through the centuries without any
radical change from that practiced by
their forefathers. japanese AID Chinese
art has a niche by itself In the hall of
| fame. and their methods are quite differ
ent from those of the decorators of the
western half OF the world. All the in
genuity and wonderful patience which
gained fame for them in various other
| branches OF art have been brought into
play In the use of flowers for decorative
purposes.
Millions OF dollars are spent on deco
| rations in America every year 1t is said
that the amount spent for decorative pur-
poses each year Is sufficient to build
three baxleships and place them in COM
mission. 1t is considered nothing unusual
| for $1,000 to be charged by florists for
decorating banquet hall. while as much
| as $4,000 has been paid for home decora-
/ tions.
The decorator has to go through hard
and long school Of experience before he ie
| able to command the salary Of an expert.
for the materials at his command are OF
| a fragile nature, and II Is next to impos-
sfble to experiment with them. Certain
set forms are known and prescribed for
certain occasions. but when a carte
blanche order is given then the art of the
decorator comes into play and his artistic
sense Is well tested, for II depends upon
him to please his patrons in an artistic
way. and also by the wonderful blendina
of his flowers.