HOW TO SHOW THE ROSE. 26/ 



lence, being defective in others — e.g., a Rose ill 

 formed because it is brilliant in color, or a dull 

 coarse bloom on account of its size. The judge 

 will be down upon that invalid swiftly and surely, 

 as a fox upon a sick partridge. 



Nor place two Roses together which are both 

 deficient in foliage. Give to each of them the 

 rather a neighbor whose abundant and flowing 

 curls may partially conceal their baldness. But 

 add no leaves, though the temptation be great, 

 because that same judge is quick as a barber to 

 distinguish between natural and artificial hair, and 

 there may be "wigs on the green" — i.e., you 

 may find your surreptitious foliage lying upon the 

 moss, and a card, with "Disqualified" written 

 upon it, staring you in the face. 



Step back from time to time, as the artist from 

 his easel, to criticise your picture, and try to im- 

 prove it. And when you have finished it, invite 

 others to give their opinions freely. Try to ascer- 

 tain which Roses they like the least, rather than 

 to feast your ears with their exclamations of 

 praise. You will obtain help sometimes where 

 you least expected, and your attention will be 

 called to defects which you have overlooked in 

 a kind of parental fondness. Spectators, unpreju- 

 diced and not akin, can readily point out iufirmi- 



