no THE ROSE. 



disparity of size is imperceptible. Trans- 

 gress this rule, and the result will be dis- 

 astrous, ludicrous, as when some huge Lon- 

 don carriage-horse is put in harness with the 

 paternal cob, or as when some small but am- 

 bitious dancer runs round and round the 

 tallest girl at the ball in the gyrations of 

 the mazy waltz. . . . The arrangement of 

 roses with regard to their color has not been 

 studied as it deserves to be. The amateur 

 with more leisure than the man of business 

 for the study of the beautiful, and for the 

 most effective display of his fewer flowers, 

 ought to excel, but, as a rule, does not. His 

 roses are very rarely made the most of in 

 this respect, but are frequently marred and 

 spoiled, the colors clashing and contending 

 with each other instead of combining against 

 their common adversary. It is told of a 

 highly sensitive dame whose silly pride was 

 in dress, that she went into hysterics before 

 a large party when her great rival in milli- 

 nery came and sat upon the ottoman beside 

 her in a grand garment of the same color as 

 her own, but of a much more brilliant and 

 effective dye ; and I have seen many a rose 

 which would weep, if it could, aromatic rose- 

 water, subdued by a like despair. Once upon 

 a time six pretty sisters lived at home to- 



