TWO HUNDRED POUNDS A WEEK FOR FLOWERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7727, 22 February 1909, Page 1

TWO HUNDRED POUNDS A WEEK FOR FLOWERS.

Most suggestive as a sign of the times is the bankruptcy announced of Mr Joseph Fleishman, the most rasnionable ilorist in New York, whose magnificent establishment in I'ltth Avenue was typical of all th© wealth and extravagance of life in the metropolis. For a year past, ever since the panic of. last autumn, Mr lleischman lacked purchasers for his costly flowers. He explained this sudden decline in the popularity of flowers in an interview full of cynical comment on social habits in New York. " Since the panic," he says, "wealthy folk are leading the simple life. Instead oi supping after theatre with chorus girlt they are remaining quietly at home. ' According to Mr Felischman, " the millionaires of New York are the biggest fools in the world as far as monej is concerned. They have no idea oi its value. When they reap big profits they simply throw them away." The great florist gives extraordinary instances of extravagance, and asserts that scores of his customers used to spend more than £200 a week on flowers for girls who were earning £4 I a week in the chorus of some Broadway theatre. " They tell me to send rounc lowers worth £25 every day. Many of the girls come to me and say, ' 1 don't want all those flowers. You take them back and give me the money. What I want is a good square breakfast or a new hat or coat. The next time that man orders flowers foi me just put the money in the cashbo? and save it for me." Mr Fleischmar declares that since :'ie panic he ha^ been forced to write >fi" £25,000 worth of bad debts contracted by millionaires: who had become bankrupt. All the customers of the leading florist werr prominent men. . Mr Fleischman started as a flower seller in the streets. Before he. was 21 he had amassed a fortune of £25,000 He declares his difficulties now' art only temporary.