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CHAPTER XII. 



ROSES FOR DECORATIONS. 



*' Let us crown ourselves with Rosebuds before they 

 be withered." — Solomon. 



Sprays and Buttonholes. — The love of the Rose 

 defies fashion, and thus it is that we often see city 

 men of all classes, in hours of recreation and strenuous 

 work, wearing- some token of their affection for the 

 Queen of Flowers. I have known men and women 

 who would hardly think of ever wearingf a flower, de- 

 lighting- to wear a Rose, and who were not too exact- 

 ing as to its colour, shape and size. 



The love of the flower comes first ; we want to 

 carry it with us, feast our eyes upon it, smell it, and 

 even touch it. 



Like the coimtry lad, who wears a big bunch of 

 primroses or violets in his cap because it is the safest 

 place and most honoured, so we, when fancy takes us, 

 pin in with care into our dress a bud or blossom of 

 the flower we love. 



Not so many years ago it used to be quite a com- 

 mon custom to wear a buttonhole, so much so that 

 fashions in buttonholes changed from time to time 

 with dress, the correct size and shape was almost 

 dictated to you by your tailor or your florist ; but the 

 tailor to-day does not concern the true lover of the 

 Rose, and the florist is not there to advise so much as 

 he is to supply what we desire. In great cities price 

 becomes a ruling factor, and nearly all good things 

 are dear. As much as we love the Rose, there is 

 always the element of personal pride to consider, and 

 few of us would venture to court undue attention 

 through a buttonhole. Vou could hardly imagine a 



