coaxing arts of the florist, 

 but he has at least suc- 

 ceeded in imposing upon 

 our credulity in a carna- 

 tion pink of white, streaked 

 with peacock blue. Bou- 

 quets of these uncanny- 

 looking blossoms are fre- 

 quently to be seen in our 

 city flower-booths, but they 

 smack of trickery, and the 

 vendor is rarely seen to 

 look you in the eye as he 

 responds " new variety " to 

 your inquiry as to the pe- 

 culiar color. 



"Are those natural?" I 

 heard a lady ask at a flower- 

 stall recently, referring to 

 these pinks. 



" Sure, madam," he replied, this time with easy 

 conscience. " They were picked in the conserv- 

 atory this morning." 



But as he folded the paper carefully about her 

 generous purchase, he didn't trouble her with the 

 details of the subsequent aniline bath to which 

 they were subjected, and of which they bore plain 

 evidence upon close scrutiny. 



But if we are to resort to hocus-pocus in the 



