Decembee 23, 1909. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



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THE RETAIL 



FLORIST 



4 



EBLE'S NEW STORE. 



New Orleans is known in the trade as 

 one of the best flower towns in the United 

 States, and the accompanying illustra- 

 tion will be of interest as showing the 

 style of flower store these modern times 

 demand in the Crescent City. 



Charles Eble has been in the florists' 

 business in New Orleans for over twenty- 

 five years, but never has been so well 

 fixed to do business as since he opened 

 this store in the Grunewald Hotel build- 

 ing early in the present season. The fix- 

 tures are in every way the best that it 

 was possible for him to procure and he 

 carries the highest grade of stock, cater- 

 ing to the best trade in his town. 



That first-class facilities are a good 

 investment is shown by Mr. Eble's report 

 that trade showed an immediate increase 

 as soon as he opened this store. 



EVENTIDE. 



By Carl Stumm. 



An old edition, a rare old edition 

 r.raong books in modern bindings, for 

 contrast's sake, would best describe a 

 bent figure which stood within a florist's 

 shop on upper Fifth avenue. Clearly he 

 Avas not a purchaser of the goods more 

 precious in these wintry days than the 

 camel's pack from the orient. 



The holiday thrill was in the air, as 

 the gay spirited pedestrians and occu- 

 pants of vehicles, from teamsters' carts 

 to autos, bustled past upon the lively 

 thoroughfare. Beside the embanked 

 palms and ferns he stood and looked 

 through the wide expanse of window. 



Of age probably 60 years, he had long 

 since ceased the combat on the field of 

 his chosen occupation. There was no 

 surrender to the circumstances which 

 held him captive, until his release 

 through time. Nor was he broken in 

 health or will through the reverses of 

 life, which with sheer strength had cast 

 him upon the wastes of a present gen- 

 eration. 



He was an old-time gardener from 

 foreign soil, who had removed to the 

 newer country as the artisans in all lines 

 liad come. Upon starting his trade in 

 the western world while yet a young 

 man, he had caught the spirit of the 

 city and no longer wished to be confined 

 to rural bounds in his work. Drifting to 

 New York, he tried to find employment 

 for his ready hand at the trade he knew, 

 but the small yards and poor facilities 

 for city gardens soon became too barren 

 ground for much chance of a livelihood 

 through his dexterity. 



At last taking up odd tasks among 

 the florists, he here and there, and in 

 seasons, gathered stipends for trivial 

 though responsible duties. And in so 

 doing he enjoyed his dividends, although 

 irregular in receipt or amount, with the 

 same zest as a speculator reaps his profits 

 or a gambler clears the board. In short, 

 he was the willing hand to deliver pack- 



ages of fragile flowers with care and 

 tact, nearly always receiving some fee 

 from his employer, as well as a gratuity 

 at the finish of his trip. 



The week was a busy one, with many 

 deliveries to make — gay holly wreaths; 

 blooming plants swathed from the cold 

 to preserve their brief life after their 

 short and rapid growth in the green- 

 houses; cut flowers in all shapes and 

 arrangements and for all destinations, 

 from the dreary window in some hospital 

 to the brilliant banquet board. 



' ' Jim ! ' ' called the proprietor to his 

 aide. 



' ' Yessir ! ' ' With alacrity the ad- 

 dressed presented himself for orders. 



"Take this holly wreath, Jim, and 

 don't lose, any more time than you have 



his standby on such journeys, which was 

 a comforting plug of chewing tobacco. 

 Absently he gazed at the owner of the 

 Elite Cut Flower Palace over his glasses, 

 in mute appeal as to what manner of 

 customer came such .i distance when 

 holly wretiths were to be bought in the 

 farthest reaches of the City of Churches. 

 He did not ask for information on the 

 point, as superfluous conversation was 

 generally discouraged among the help 

 during a rush; furthermore, he did not 

 wish to appear nonplused at anything 

 which should devolve upon him as his 

 duty. 



Shouldering the gay emblem of Christ- 

 mas cheer, this helper started on his 

 way; for, after all, the longer the trip 

 the more enjoyable, and one of his 

 reliability should be chosen to carry out 

 specific directions. But, best of all, 

 there Avas that waiting tip, which in this 

 case was doubly assured both by the 

 pains to be taken and by the singularly 

 appropriate name of the consignee — 

 Eichly — which somehow suggested op- 

 ulence, possibly to the tinkle of a half 

 dollar, or at least a quarter. 



This observation might be construed as 

 intuition, but more properly, Jim 

 thought, as keen business insight; such 

 comprehension as might have been the 



New Store of Charles Eble, New Orleans, La. 



to in getting back. It 's a long ways to 

 go, but I know you can find the way all 

 right. ' ' 



The carrier put on his spectacles, to 

 inspect the tag with all the deliberation 

 of a justice examining a brief. 



"Eichly" was the name, and under it 

 were these directions for setting out 

 upon his trip: "Elevated to the bridge; 

 Brooklyn trolley changing to South 

 Brooklyn; walk five blocks, enter gate 

 at left and follow road straight ahead 

 to Oak Hill. Take path to enclosure and 

 leave wreath at door." 



' * These directions are more than ordi- 

 narily long," ruminated the old man, as 

 he fumbled in his pockets with one hand 

 for his car fare, and with the other for 



foundation of large fortunes, such as 

 Eichly 's, for instance. 



So convinced was he of his good pros- 

 pects of a little change before he re- 

 turned, that he left the train at City 

 hall and shouldered his way into a well 

 patronized barroom for a sort of mile- 

 stone potation. This was taken, with 

 another for reserve, and the large 

 wreath moved from the dramshop amid 

 exclamations from the bystanders. 



As the next car taken nosed its way 

 across the old bridge, the sky became 

 heavily overcast, while a blur of fine 

 snow hid the river below and the shores 

 at either side; this ride was, a short 

 one, giving entry to Brooklyn's busy 

 streets. On a near corner twinkled merry 



