CONCERNING ROSE-SHOWS. 21$ 



tleman. He may not, in some few instances, be 

 aware that to leave out the k in horse-radish, or 

 to sound the same in honor, is an offence less par- 

 donable than profane swearing ; there may even 

 be an isolated case of ignorance, that to eat 

 peas with a knife is one of the deadly sins ; — but, 

 nevertheless, if he loves his flowers, he must be in 

 heart a gentleman. But we have lost our way to 

 the Rose- show. 



We went back to our homes. We appealed for 

 subscriptions to the lovers of the Rose, and they 

 responded, as I knew they would. They responded 

 until our sum total nearly reached i^200. We 

 published our schedule of prizes, amounting to 

 £iS6. We engaged St. James's Hall, an expen- 

 sive luxury, at 30 guineas for the day, but just 

 then in the first freshness of its beauty, and there- 

 fore an attraction in itself We secured the ser- 

 vices of the Coldstream band — a mistake, because 

 their admirable music was too loud for indoor 

 enjoyment. We advertised freely. We placarded 

 the walls of London with gorgeous and gigantic 

 posters. - And then the great day came. 



The late Mr. John Edwards, who gave us from 

 the first most important help, and who was the 

 best man I ever saw in the practical arrangements 

 of a flower-show, appeared, soon after daybreak, 



