June 28, 1906. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review^ 



339 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 





FLORAL FUNERAL-FASHIONS. 



In attending the funeral of the late 

 governor of Ohio, John L. Pattison, the 

 writer was impressed by the radical 

 change which has taken place in the 

 coloring and design of floral offerings. 

 It was my fortune to be placed in 

 charge of the arrangement of the en- 

 tire floral decorations at the Pattison 

 home. As was to have been expected, 

 some of the best floral talent of the 

 United States was represented: Wash- 

 ington, D. C, - Cincinnati, Columbus, 

 Cleveland, and Chicago were among the 

 larger cities which sent offerings. 



Perhaps one of the most valuable 

 points was the absence of white. The 

 white rose was conspicuously not there, 

 and the usual ghastliness of the death 

 chamber was gone. The glow of 

 warmth radiated from the red predomin- 

 ating everywhere. The American Beauty 

 l)layed the chief part in this. The 

 sweet pea of lavender and purple tones 

 was undoubtedly the next favored flower, 

 these being used largely in wreathes and 

 casket coverings. Lily of the valley of 

 course retained a place, but even its 

 white was toned by a plentiful use of 

 green, and again the lavender sweet 

 pea. The lightest tone reached in the 

 carnation was that of Enchantress. The 

 white crnation appeared only in de- 

 signs wht-re strong outline was necessary. 

 The deep, golden yellow coreopsis, the 

 rich red of Liberty and Richmond and 

 the bright scarlet of Flamingo carried 

 their message of cheer. The white rose 

 and carnation seemed to have been 

 relegated to the wedding festival. This 

 truly is a progressive step and, like 

 black door crape, is giving way to 

 modern ideas. . And is this not as it 

 shoidd be I Flowers are to comfort the 

 living and are not symbolical of the life 

 of the deceased. 



Kadical as the change in color scheme 

 was the noticeable absence of set de- 

 signs. Not a broken wheel, not a gates 

 ajar to cause the beheading of beauti- 

 ful flowers. The day when heads are 

 snapped from graceful stems is passing. 

 Let US be thankful. Tall, copious 

 baskets and vases hold natural flowers 

 in really artistic arrangement. Con- 

 ventional pieces emblenatic of fraterni- 

 ties will always hold their place at a 

 funeral of this character. But to rank 

 with other modern arrange:nents, floral 

 •lesigns must adhere absolutely to cor- 

 rect i-olor scheme and outlines. If a floral 

 design is a reproduction of an emblem 

 it must be exact. A green sky, blue 

 sun, white mountains and a pink fore- 

 ground is clearly inconsistent, inexcus- 

 able coloring. And yet at this other- 

 wise splendid exhibit of America's best 

 t.-ilent one of the most conspicuous 

 ]Wi-CH was so colored. This piece not 

 onjy was impossible in coloring but its 

 design was imperfect. The sun alone 

 w^as one-fourth the size of the entire 

 sky space. Being representative of a 

 historical emblem where nearly every 



line was of utmost importance, it should ' 

 have had no variations from its pattern. 



The last of set designs to be laid on 

 the shelf is the old, ever familiar 

 wreath. But such wreaths would scarce- 

 ly be recognized. Their severe, plain lines 

 are softened by long, natural cycas 

 leaves and shapely sprays of long- 

 stemmed flowers springing out in curves 

 from the back and top of the design. 

 Large bows of ribbon are used every- 

 where. Wherever lettering appears it 

 is placed on the streamers of ribbons. 

 For such purposes shaded ribbon, with 

 chiffon overties, is largely used. A 

 favorite combination is an American 

 Beauty ribbon shaded to a foliage green 

 and an overtie of pink embroidered 

 chiffon. 



LTpon entering the door the eye rested 

 on the casket of black, the top com- 



decoration beneath. An American flag 

 was festooned about the base and be- 

 low the smilax on the casket cover. 

 Against this background leaned an exact 

 reproduction of the Beta Theta Pi 

 fraternity pin. This was a beautiful 

 emblem of old gold and black. The yel- 

 low coreopsis for the gold, black im- 

 mortelles for the field, green boxwood 

 for the laurel wreath and a white rose 

 with carnation outline for a diamond, 

 and the Greek letters worked out with 

 the golden centers of tlie field daisy. 

 Immediately over and back of the casket 

 was a deep bay, the center of which was 

 occupied by a large mantel on either 

 side of which were two full length win- 

 dows. This bay with its mantel and 

 windows played an important part in 

 the grouping of the pieces. 



On either corner of the entrance 

 to the bay stood a magnificent 

 basket of long American Beauties. 

 Each basket was banded by a sash of 

 blended ribbon running from the upper 

 corner obliquely across and tied in a 

 large bow, the streamers hanging to 

 the floor. The words "The Senate" 

 were on the ribbon of the one on the 

 right and ' ' The House ' ' on the left. 

 The two groups formed a complete arch 

 across the entrance to the bay window. 

 In the center against the mantel rested- 

 a 4-foot emblem, a reproduction of the 



A Birchbark Receptacle Filled by Muir, Chicago. 



pletely covered by two perfectly fitting 

 panels of valley combined with largo 

 quantities of maidenhair fern and 

 plumosus and heavy border of lavender 

 sweet peas. I'his design was rare work- 

 manship. The casket being raised about 

 four and a half feet from the floor, 

 gave 3pace for much more than usual 



Ohio state seal, with its sun and moun- 

 tains carefully worked out. Above this, 

 resting on the seal and draped in smilax, 

 was a picture of the departed governor. 

 On the mantel itself stood two large 

 vases filled with American Beauties and 

 sprayed to the right and left were two 

 casket boiiquets of roses which formed 



