The Harmsworth Magazine, Vol. 1, 1898-1899, No. 6

GREEK GIRLS PLAYING AT BALL. From the Painting by the late Lord Leighton, P.R.A. By Permission of the Berlin Photographic Co., Bond Street. W.

A CHAT WITH A FLORAL BARBER. By Alfred Arkas.
The chrysanthemum is the spoiled and petted darling of the floral world. She is as vain as any society beauty, and quite as much time is spent on her toilet and personal appearance. Though beautiful by nature, she scorns to show herself to her circle of admirers until the arts of the hairdresser and masseur have enhanced her loveliness.
Toilet goes a long way in this world, and many a social star owes half her triumphs to it. Particularly is this true of My Lady Chrysanthemum; for she well repays for any trouble that may be spent upon her.
You cannot paint the lily with any prospect of success, but the number of curls and frills and furbelows you may add to the dainty chrysanthemum bloom, and still leave room for the touch of a titivating hand, is endless.
There are tricks in every trade, and the same is true of most hobbies. Chrysanthemum showing and growing form no exception to the rule. You may have mastered the many little secrets of growing these glorious flowers to the best advantage, and yet be as far from inclusion in the coveted show prize list as though you were but a mere tyro.
LADY CHRYSANTHEMUM AT HER TOILET. 1. The flower is cut. 2. A part of the seedy eye is taken out. 3. Deformed and misshapen petals are removed. 4. The petals are then curled. 5. The bloom is finally brushed up.
As a matter of fact the best bloom that ever grew is one thing on the stalk and altogether another in the show box. If you saw some of the magnificent prize-winning and highly commended blossoms which are the feature of the great annual shows before they had been through the deft hands of the floral barber you would fail to recognise them. Glorious they are in their natural state; but, like a beautiful woman, their beauty is only set off the more by a fitting toilet.