NEW YORK, JUNE, 1878. 
THE DANDELION. 
Whether we consider the Lilies of the field or 
not, it is strange how few of us consider the early 
Dandelion by the wayside—unless from a culinary 
point of view. And yet it is the very footprint of 
Spring herself, and whenever we see the Dande¬ 
lion we know that she has passed that way. But we 
waste none of our ecstasies on the blossom. It 
has not the spicy savor of the Mayflower, nor the 
rich shadow of the Violet, nor the delicate fiber of 
the Anemone. We do not pluck it for our vases. We 
should laugh at ourselves if we wore it for a breast- 
knot. Yet, after all, find us a lovelier diamond than 
these wide-open golden stars would make below the 
dark braid. Examine it well, and see if more filmy 
beauty can be found than that of each one of the 
tiny flowerets. And for its purposes, coming to 
brighten a dark and weary land, still weary with the 
chill of departing Winter, is not the splendor of its 
tint a better thing than all the purples that a month 
later, when the scene is sunny and serene and secure, 
come and line the brookside and embroider the 
hills? 
But, if the elders do not appreciate it, the children 
do. The child has never yet been born that did not 
1 >ve the Dandelion. The Rose is less welcome to the 
children. Orange and Jasmine could give them no 
blossom half so choice. Its color, its wildness, its 
abundance, its little worth in others’ eyes are all 
dear to them. When they see it, they know the long 
outdoor freedom of pleasures has begun. They hail 
it with acclamation. They carry it in their little 
warm hands till it wilts. They make curls from its 
long, pliant stems, to hang around their ears. They 
stick it in old bottles and broken pitchers at every 
coigne of vantage. They set it out rootless, but 
Loral ilaXiiiet uu3 factorial 
blossoming, in their miraculous flower-beds; and 
they tell their fortunes by its blowing dust, when it 
has gone to seed. It is as much their friend, the com¬ 
panion of their play as the household dog is. And 
what Spring would be to the children without the 
Dandelion is something we would not contemplate. 
And the children are right. It is we whose eyes 
are shut; who do not seethe perfect circle, the mul¬ 
titudinous petals, fringed fine as the Gentian’s, the 
dusty delicacy of the tissue. It is so common that we 
give all this loveliness nothing but contumely; and 
we never stop to think of the exquisite work shut up 
in its corolla, with the only poet who, to our knowl¬ 
edge, has ever sung its praises: 
“Gold such as thine ne’er drew the Spanish prow 
Through the primeval hush of Indian seas; 
Nor wrinkled the leanhrow 
Of age to rob the lover’s heart of ease.” 
;oaiB 
i oiii I ia .1110 a. 
ORNAMENTAL BASKET FOR FLOWERS 
A vert pretty and ornamental wall-basket can be 
made to hold some of Nature’s wildwood children, 
in which they will flourish during the long, dreary 
winter and lend an additional charm to the window- 
garden or conservatory. 
Take a board and cut it in the shape of a shield or 
heart. The size can be made to suit your taste. In 
the center of the top make a hole, to hang it on a 
nail, and around the edges make small holes, aimut 
half an inch apart. Now, take ordinary brass or 
white wire and make a pocket on the one side of your 
heart-shaped board, by passing the wire through the 
holes from side to side, taking care to fasten the 
wire in each hole. Then, commencing in the center 
of the top wire with a strand of wire, stay all the hori¬ 
zontal wires by looping them together. 
Line the pocket with various colored mosses, and 
fill with such earth as is found where the plants grow 
which you wish to transplant. 
The different Ferns, the Arbutus, Pipsicsuway, 
Wintergreen, and many other sylvan plants can be 
transferred to this basket. Water freely, as the mois¬ 
ture evaporates rapidly. 
A MODERN GOTHIC DRAWING-ROOM. 
This is a very handsome illustration of drawing¬ 
room furniture of ebonized cherry, beautifully 
carved. 
The panels of the cabinet are figured with Cupids 
and exquisitely-painted flowers. Sofa and chairs are 
finely carved throughout and covered with maroon 
satin, of the finest texture, with gold cord and rich 
fringe. 
The fireplace is principally of light tileworks, of 
minute and pretty pattern. The mantelpiece is of 
ebonized cherry, high and substantial, with fine carv¬ 
ing, and surmounted by a large and deep mirror. 
The ceiling is also of ebonized cherry, with gilt- 
figured panels on the border. 
The mirror in the center is handsomely draped with 
maroon satin, fringed with rich Velvet, mixed with 
gold. 
DESIGN FOR EASTLAKE PAPER HANG¬ 
INGS. 
The illustration given on page 12 is one of the latest 
styles in Paper Hanging of the Eastlake designs, by 
F. Beck & Co., of this city. The new designs are 
noticeable for their precise regularity and frequency 
of use of mechanical ornaments and antique shapes, 
figures, outlines, etc. Some of them for walls are 
exceedingly tasteful. Others cannot long be popular, 
as people like variety. 
HANDSOME DINING-ROOM DECORATIONS. 
At the Centennial Exhibitional Philadelphia were 
exhibited some most strikingly beautiful models of 
furniture. The illustration for one of the sketches 
is furnished by Lang & Nau, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 
The furniture of this room illustrated here consisted 
of mahogany and ebony, exceedingly massive in 
character, executed in the Italian style. The cabinet 
is very unique, with carved panels of pear tree, and 
also some finely-decorated panels painted on silver 
wood. A rich pair of embroidered curtains of olive 
green satin and blue borders gave great elegance to 
the compartment. 
SPECIAL OFFERS 
FOR 
^Mtecviptum^ to $\m\ Cabinet, 
DURING 
MONTH OF JUNE. 
Any one now a Subscriber to the Floral Cabinet who will 
bring the name of one new yearly subscriber to the Cabinet 
during the month of June will receive a choice of one of the fol¬ 
lowing Extra Premiums. These offers are made to induce our 
friends to make a little extra effort at this time. The traveling 
last winter was so bad no one could get up clubs; but now we get 
cheering reports from many agents that traveling is fine, and the 
hardest of the hard times has passed, so that they say it is easier to 
get up clubs now than at any time for a year past. 
To encourage all our friends to work now, we give these new 
offers, good only v/ntil July 1st, 
SPECIAL PREMIUMS. 
For One New Stibscribcr . 
1. Book, “ Ladies’ Guide to Needle Work,” worth 50c. 
2. “ “ Household Hints and Recipes,” worth 50c. 
3. “ “ Every Woman Her Own Gardener,” worth 50c. 
4. “ “ Fret Sawing for Pleasure and Profit,” worth 50c. 
5. Three Patterns of Embroidery, for Java Canvas Tidies 
Worsted Work, etc. 
6 . One package Starch Polish. 
7. One package Tidy Fasteners, set of four, each different color. 
8 . One Combination Pen and Pencil-Holder. 
9. One book, “ Language of Flowers.” 
10. One Silk Book-Mark, or y 
Ten Papers Flower Seeds. \ 
Any one bringing two new Subscribers may choose two of above 
Premiums, and for each new name an additional Premium for 
each name. 
For Two Subscribers. 
11. Any of abovenamed books, bound in cloth, price $1.00. 
12. Wood’s Compound Magnifier, a splendid little article, price 
$1.00. which is invaluable to all flower lovers for examining flowers 
insects, and the common uses to which a microscope is applied. 
For Three Subscribers. 
13. Book, “ Household Elegancies,” Price $1.50. 
14. “ “Window Gardening,” “ 1.50. 
15. “ “ Evening Amusements,” “ 1.50. 
16. “ “ Ladies’ Fancy Work,” “ 1.50. 
17. “ “ Beautiful Homes,” “ 1.50. 
18 “ “ The Wonders of Prayer,” “ 1.50.. 
19. “ “ The Pacific Tourist,” “ 1.50. 
20. Warner’s Health Corset, price $1.50; the best corset for 
ladies’ use. 
N. B.- These Premiums are given only for new Subscribers sent 
to us after this date and before July 1st, and cannot be applied to 
subscriptions forwarded before this date nor after July 1st. Full 
descriptions of any of the above books are found in our illustrated 
catalogue, “ How to Make Home Beautiful,” sent to any address 
on receipt of 3-cent stamp. 
These are the finest offers ever made to our subscribers to get 
up new clubs or to induce their friends to subscribe; and the 
opportunity is one which will attract general attention, as splendid 
in every respect. 
PRIZE AWARDED. 
The Prize offered for Best Article on leamon’s 
Household Dyes has been awarded to Mrs. E. S. 
Gilbert, Andover, N. H. This Prize was offered by 
Wells, Bichardson <fc Co., Burlington, Vt., and consist¬ 
ed of a set of 10 volumes of Chambers’s Encyclopaedia. 
