“POCTOBER:! 7 305 
heavyharness’ of warfare! doffed forthe! trunk+hose of peace.’ Caniwe 
be'the’ same’ knights, who, whilome reserved, and cold, and dignified, 
moved ‘through the serried lists? Can 1 be that captious florist, who, 
when ‘dear ‘Mri: Oldacres) gave me his ‘candid opinion,’ "which iol 
pressingly: solicited, about! my: bedding out (only I did-not:really want 
him’ to ‘be candid; except: in the sweetmeat sense), and: told me that: I 
had sadly” too much’ Perilla, :and thatthe effect) of «my design was 
hearsey’—can | be the man in whose disappointed breast a malignant 
voice owas: ss dab to) whisper ‘something pabout a: ““ superannuated 
jackass?" Alas, I:know myself to: be 'so;,and.I make feeble amends 
bya tardy thanksgiving’ tomy Mentor, and by an ‘acknowledgment to 
myself! that? I deserve flagellation from a robust: lateral ‘of »Araucaria 
imbricata! ° “And! here is | Mr, Evans,in a hkerspirit of meek: magna- 
nimity, acknowledging that his Dahlias were not: large enough, wiltéreas 
when the judges gave them'second honours, he designated those function4 
aries/as’‘°three ‘old “scarecrows,” ‘and expressed a strong sbehef that 
they were only competent;to.grow,,Groundsel, for sick canaries. Even 
Mr. Chiswick is acknowledging’ a failure with regard to some choice 
Auriculas; and making to,his; neighbour, the Curate a sort.of auricular 
confession ;. while, wise. Mr,,Oldacres, Jaughs.at, us all; well knowing that, 
when! spring and summer come,;we shall be just as sensitive, jealous, 
and self-sufficient as before.) ‘‘, But.it ’s,all right,” he says, <‘ for you're 
as honest: and earnest)in peace as in war, and whether the hand is open 
for amity, or closed for aPaTHING: the, heart goes. withiit.. May the best 
man iwini! 2 cys 
Ordinarily; we hws no, stated subjects for discussion, and..we pass 
ba one; topie,to another, as the occasion prompts.) We touch promis+ 
cuously upon,boilers,. flues, .and, stoves; heating,..shading, and .venti- 
lating ;;washing, sulphurating, and. fumigating ; disbudding, stopping, 
and, pruning ;, tying, training;,and .packing; manures, solid, and fluid; 
soils; sands; and| peat, tallies; ligneous,, metallic, vitreous; traps, for 
earwigs, birds, and :mice 5, tiffany, nets, and, bunting ;. knives, saws, 
and, scissors | (nothing said about tweezers) ;—these, with, five hundred 
other, matters; for, our, conversation), takes, an infuriated range, froma 
caterpillar;,to. the, Crystal, Palace, pass, rapidly, before ;.us,.as we sit. in, 
conclave,‘ dreaming, the happy hours away,” 
«But, for|six:nights inthe year, at, Christmastide, we haye special 
subjects for the evening’s consideration. ,kach; member of..‘‘.The Six 
of Spades” is called upon either to deliver a lecture, or to tell a story, 
in his turn, and our talk subsequently ‘must’ have reference thereto. 
Here is our present, programme, and,a, faithful chronicle of its realiza- 
tion shall be ‘gle hereafter. for:the Jlorist :-— 
qy 
wyal op ¢ 
“SIX OF SPADES. SPECIAL MeeEtinGs, 1860. 
(ti OLiTwo% 
Dale ipo Member. Subject. 
Ist Evening......... THE PRESIDENT......... Rosa Bonheur. 
Sad At, _, DOANE COLT AOR IM tro,ets Sars The Lady Alice. 
3rd oy teens do MER, CHiswitK '!20)..07/ Phe Happiness of a Garden. 
acl 4tD he ace eatirnra Me eee LEV ARS > rippin Shows and Showing, | 
ree voeeM, GRunpy rodeo: Burglary at the Grange. 
Bie is OVO BF YS tare’ Corare t!. YCH Silent Pyedehers.!! 
