the retailers pay a reasonable figure, in order to prove to the other commission men that one must not yield to unreasonable demands. He knew that the demand for the Carnations was normal, and perhaps above normal; for there was plenty of funeral work on that day. He also understood the trend of the retail florists, and that is to buy as cheap as they can, especially when there is an abundance of flowers. So when the retail men began to pile in and inquire what white Carnations were worth, he told them two cents was the price.
"Two cents!" they expostulated. "You want too much money. I can get them at So-and-so's for half."
"Do it," replied Mr. Murphy, calmly. "That is your privilege."
Realizing the need of teaching a lesson not only to the retail men but to the other commission men as well, he sent out one of his men to purchase all the white Carnations in sight, from every commission man in the town. Thus fortified, Mr. Murphy was master of the situation that day.
As good luck would have it, he received a telegram from the South, ordering several thousand white Carnations. When the retailers began to pile in, Mr. Murphy's price rose half a cent more. There were expostulations and objections on all sides.
"Why, you asked only two cents this morning!"
"That's right. But now they are worth more. You know flowers fluctuate. Look at the order being packed for the South. Two and a half cents is the price—and that's all there is to it."
The upshot of the thing was that by three o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Murphy was cleaned out of every white Carnation in the house; and the other commission men unquestionably profited by the lesson.
The death of Mr. Murphy was a source of genuine sorrow to his numerous friends throughout the country. He is succeeded by his son, Ray Murphy, who bids fair to continue the success that his father began.
Introduction of the Lawson Carnation
The introduction of the Lawson Carnation marks a new epoch in the history of Carnations in this country. Outside of the merits of the Carnation itself, and I need not enlarge upon this subject, because it is so well known, the sensational method with which it was introduced was an unmistakable innovation. Peter Fisher, regarded as the latter day Carnation wizard of this country, supplied Galvin & Co., the retail florists of Boston, with his output. Mr. Fisher had produced seedlings before, but those were of local fame, and little known outside of New England territory. The Lawson Carnation sprang into pre-eminence, not only in this country, but throughout the civilized world wherever Carnations are cultivated. And this is how it came about:
Mr. Galvin handled his new seedling. Its color, size, and keeping qualities appealed to him. It was not as yet named. A Carnation of this sort was worthy of a name befitting its excellence. There was Thomas W. Lawson, a man of wide reputation, wealthy, æsthetic in his taste, and a personal friend of Mr. Galvin himself. A capital idea! This seedling should be christened "Mrs. Thomas W. Lawson." It further occurred to Mr. Galvin that in addition to handling the blooms in the retail business, he might as well have the control of the output of rooted cuttings. This idea was still in the mind of Mr. Galvin when the Chicago Carnation Company became aware of the Boston sensation. J. D. Thompson, who was at that time general manager of the Chicago Carnation Company, called a council of the directors; and it was decided to purchase the stock from Mr. Fisher and transfer it to Illinois soil. Down to Boston Mr. Thompson came.
J. D. Thompson soon found Mr. Peter Fisher. A proposition, the nature of which
