xxvi RIVERSIDE LETTERS 209 



as reverently as they deserve to be ; as a rule 

 people are far too lavish in the use they 

 make of flowers for decorative purposes. A 

 few set off and telling at their best are 

 worth hundreds squandered by vulgar 

 opulence. 



After all, flowers look far best when seen 

 growing, especially if they are allowed to 

 have their own way, sow themselves, and 

 struggle amongst one another in sweet con- 

 fusion ; the beauty of the more brilliant being 

 greatly enhanced by the neutral tints of their 

 surroundings, towards which setting-off even 

 decay assists, as well as do numberless plants 

 of sober tints and bizarre character ; such, 

 for instance as Gypsophila paniculata, sea 

 lavender, plume poppy, sea holly, mullein, 

 rosemary, lavender, sedums, saxifrages and 

 the like. 



My niece, Katie, has a great natural gift 

 for flower arrangement, she has placed, to- 

 day, a beaker filled with a huge bunch of 

 gypsophila, amongst which are a dozen of 



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