iMr ^iig i'ur -aur iitr irir site Yfl 



VoJ. VI. 



82.00 a Year. 

 24 ntjmbers. 



CHICAGO, DECEMBER 15, 1897. 



Single Copt 

 10 Cents. 



No. 127. 



PONY AND CARRIAGE AT THE SARATOGA FLORAL PETE. SEPT. 



Floral Decorations. 



FLORAL FESTIVALS. 



Away back in the mysterious past of 

 ancient mythology we read of the use of 

 flowers as an offering to the dieties. In 

 later times we find the Romans using 

 them profusely on all festive occasions. 

 Coming down to our own times, and 

 looking to the old world for a modern 

 precedent, we find it in the annual "Bat- 

 tle of Flowers" at Nice, France. With the 

 regard for flowers so strongly fixed in 

 the American people, it is but natural 

 that they should sooner or later repeat 

 the festivities of their flower-loving 

 ancestors. And it is quite in the order of 

 things that the initial effort in this direc- 

 tion should be made in a section where 

 flowers are as free as w r eeds. The first 

 authentic record at our command is that 

 at Santa Barbara, California, in 1S92. 

 Previous to this a day known as Floral 

 Day had for some years been observed in 

 the schools and churches. The expected 

 visit of President Harrison to the Pacific 

 coast suggested an enlargement of the 

 Floral Day decorations, and an associa- 

 tion was formed known as the "Santa 

 Barbara Floral Festivities Association." 



An extensive floral pageant was 

 arranged. All the stores on the main 

 streets were decorated and prepared for 

 the triumphal entry of the Goddess of 



Flora to the city. The result was a com- 

 plete success. Since then many other 

 cities have had tbeir floral festivities, and 

 we are pleased to present herewith some 

 illustrations from photographs taken at 

 the Saratoga, N. ¥., floral fete last Sep- 

 tember. 



ft WRINKLE OR TWO ftBOUT CHRISTMAS 

 DECORATIONS. 



The two most important materials now 

 are holly and the vine commonly called 

 Alabama smilax. The holly, perhaps the 

 best known, is used partly on account 

 of sentiment and largely because it is 

 pretty. It is not as a rule permitted to 

 do itself justice, however, away from 

 its native woods. It is cut in small 

 pieces, packed in cases and shipped to 

 locations where a holly tree was never 

 seen. A few pretty pieces to ornament a 

 cake, to make a wreath for window, 

 trim a picture or two, arrange in a vase 

 with other suitable things are capable of 

 many pleasing effects, but to make holly 

 a feature in the decoration of a room or 

 church the simplest and most effective 

 way is to procure branches of trees with- 

 out leaves. Cut such branches as w T ill fit 

 to arch over a doorway, up side of a wall 

 or a small tree fastened to newel-post in 

 front hall. Cover these branches bv wir- 

 ing on the pieces of holly, selecting the 

 brighter pieces for the most conspicuous 

 points. In this way you can get beauti- 

 ful effects without any fear of monotony. 



It is very simple and does not show that 

 ft is a manufactured tree. 



For a dining room one of the simplest 

 and most pleasing effects is to use tree 

 branches, a large branch fastened to side- 

 board and suspended over the table. 

 Wire on bits of the "Alabama smilax." 

 You will be surprised how much they 

 look like apple leaves after you get them 

 on. Then shine up a half bushel red 

 apples and wire them on. It gives a 

 most pleasing effect. If you cannot pro- 

 cure the Alabama smilax a few laurel 

 leaves will do. If the room is a dark one 

 use yellow apples. 



In using the smilax the beautiful' pieces 

 of vine are easily arranged in many wavs. 

 but one suggestion may be valuable to 

 many, particularly where something tall 

 may be desired in the way of a plant. 

 Take a common bamboo fish pole, arrange 

 a specimen piece of vine to drape over the 

 small end, which will cause it to bend 

 some. Cover the whole pole making it 

 some heavier at the base. It looks ex- 

 actly like a beautiful tall bamboo andean 

 be placed to project in so many beautiful 

 and effective ways. 



Another way to use many materials on 

 a wall is to hang up a hammock spread 

 out flat; twigs of green are easily pulled 

 in the meshes to hold fast. Where cut 

 flowers are wanted to keep fresh hang up 

 a "Mason jar" with a wire from thepict- 

 ure moulding, filling halt full of water. 



There is quite a fad on now for colored 

 or plain lights. They may be used to 



