136 



OLD WEST SURREY 



The 'Charming Florist' speaks for itself in its delight- 

 ful simplicity. If the flowers are not exactly those of our 

 country gardens, and if it should be observed that one holly- 

 hock is painted with Prussian blue, these errors of detail 

 are easily forgiven, for the picture is a perfect decoration 

 for the cottage wall, and thus exactly fulfils its intention. 

 Moreover, though its aim is but a modest one, it has that 

 most precious charm of simplicity, a quality that seems to 

 be almost lost to the art of England. I am told that 



Brass Dredgers, Pepper-Pots, Spoon, and Box 



there is a companion picture, ' The Amiable Fruiterer,' but 

 have not happened to come upon it. 



Conspicuous among the Avare of the dresser shelves, 

 or on the chimney-piece among the ornaments, were the 

 brass pepper-pots, and some of larger size that were no doubt 

 flour-dredgers. With them is shown a handsome brass 

 spoon and a brass box with two of the thick old George III. 

 pennies worked in to form the top and bottom. 



With the brass pepper-pots were sure to be a pair of 

 pewter salt-cellars. Those on the right side of the picture 

 are the oldest. Pepper-pots were also made of pewter. Of 



