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The White Rose


(ROSE ALBA.) Silence.



Cut the petals from thin white wax. Tinge the lower part of the first

three sets of petals with my lemon powder. Cup all the petals with the

finger, turning the last or largest two rows back. Cut a few stamina in

lemon wax, with the edge rolled to form the anthers; colour them with

orange, and when quite dry, touch them occasionally with brown (crimson

powder and cake sepia). These s
amina are divided into clusters, eight

or ten filaments in each, and about five in number. Make a small

cone-shaped foundation; attach one cluster of stamina at the point. The

ten small petals are affixed round, turning in various directions, and

interspersed with the rest of the stamina. The whole of the remaining

petals are placed on five in a row, the last two turning back. Finish

off with calyx and seed cup, as in previous instruction. This rose is

peculiarly adapted for bridal bouquets; and I must here mention, while

alluding to the subject of bridal favours, that I made upwards of ten

thousand of these roses upon the happy occasion of Her Majesty's

marriage. It may afford some trivial amusement to my younger friends, to

relate the following anecdote, in connection with the event just alluded

to. About three years after Her Majesty was united to His Royal

Highness Prince Albert, a gentleman visited my establishment, and

inspected my specimens of flowers in wax with evident satisfaction. He

represented himself as being a great admirer of wax-work generally; and

stated, that he himself possessed a rare specimen, in fact, a perfect

bijou. He should wish me to see it. I, of course, expressed some

anxiety to behold such perfection of art; and accordingly, he sent his

footman with a small box, charged with strict orders to be particularly

careful in conveying the same. After removing sundry pieces of tissue

paper, and as many of wadding, my surprise may be easily imagined, when

I beheld one of the identical bouquets (white rose, orange blossom, and

myrtle, tied with white satin ribbon) that I had myself manufactured

upon the joyous occasion already alluded to. I am but human nature,

therefore, I hope I may be pardoned for expressing and feeling a certain

degree of vanity upon inspecting this Royal relic of my own hands;

still, I am not blind to the fact, that the happy occasion for which the

bouquet had been prepared, namely, the nuptials of our beloved

Sovereign, had materially enhanced its value to the possessor;--but I

will no longer digress from the leading feature of this work, but

commence the description of the formation of



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