ROSES FOR EXHIBITION 223 



met, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Jean Ducher, Mesdames 

 Bravy, Falcot, Lambard, Margottin, de Watteville, and 

 Willermorz, Marie Van Houtte, Niphetos, Perle des 

 Jardins, Rubens, and Les Souvenirs d'un Ami, d'Elise, 

 de Paul Neron, and S. A. Prince will astonish their 

 admiring lover. 



Let us now suppose that in all these departments 

 your loving and patient care has brought you the 

 prospect and proximity of such a splendid harvest 

 that you have entered your name as an exhibitor at 

 one of our great Rose-shows. Ah, what a crisis of 

 excitement, to be remembered always in the glad 

 Rosarian's life ! It is as when the boy, who has 

 distinguished himself in the playing-fields, goes forth 

 from the pavilion at Lord's in the Eton and Harrow 

 match. It is as when the undergraduate, who has 

 been working manfully, enters his name on the list 

 of candidates for honours. What sweet solicitudes ! 

 what hopeful fears ! Look — Mr. Mitchell is whisper- 

 ing to that Eton boy, just going to the wicket with 

 his bat, wise words anent the Harrow bowling. 

 Listen ; that tutor, with the clever, kindly coun- 

 tenance, is speaking cheerfully to his pupil, white as 

 the kerchief round his throat, as he enters those awful 

 schools. So would I aid and abet my amateur — so 

 would I bring a stirrup-cup to my young brave 

 Dunois. Partant pour la Syrie — that is, for the 



