It is now time to settle down to the more serious business of
courtship. Her letter shows beyond the shadow of a figurative
doubt that she is “interested,” and the next move is “up to you.”
Probably she will soon come into the office to see her father, in
which case you should have ready at hand some appropriate gift,
such as, for example, a nice potted geranium. Great care should
be taken, however, that it is a plant of the correct species, for
in the etiquette of courtship all flowers have different meanings
and many a promising affair has been ruined because a suitor sent
his lady a buttercup, meaning “That’s the last dance I’ll ever
take you to, you big cow,” instead of a plant with a more tender
significance. Some of the commoner flowers and their meaning in
courtship are as follows:
Fringed Gentian—“I am going out to get a shave. Back at 3:30.”
Poppy—“I would be proud to be the father of your children.”
Golden-rod—“I hear that you have hay-fever.”
Tuberose—“Meet me Saturday at the Fourteenth Street subway
station.”
Blood-root—“Aunt Kitty murdered Uncle Fred Thursday.”
Dutchman’s Breeches—“That case of Holland gin and Old Tailor has
arrived. Come on over.”
Iris—“Could you learn to love an optician?”
Aster—“Who was that stout Jewish-looking party I saw you with in
the hotel lobby Friday?”
Deadly Nightshade—“Pull down those blinds, quick!”
Passion Flower—“Phone Main 1249—ask for Eddie.”
Raspberry—“I am announcing my engagement to Charlie O’Keefe
Tuesday.”
Wild Thyme—“I have seats for the Hippodrome Saturday afternoon.”
The above flowers can also be combined to make different
meanings, as, for example, a bouquet composed of three tuberoses
and some Virginia creeper generally signifies the following, “The
reason I didn’t call for you yesterday was that I had three inner
tube punctures, besides a lot of engine trouble in that old car I
bought in Virginia last year. Gosh, I’m sorry!”
But to return to the etiquette of our present courtship. As Miss
Doe leaves the office you follow her, holding the potted plant in
your left hand. After she has gone a few paces you step up to
her, remove your hat (or cap) with your right hand, and offer her
the geranium, remarking, “I beg your pardon, miss, but didn’t you
drop this?” A great deal depends upon the manner in which you
offer the plant and the way she receives it. If you hand it to
her with the flower pointing upward it means, “Dare I hope?”
Reversed, it signifies, “Your petticoat shows about an inch, or
an inch and a half.” If she receives the plant in her right hand,
it means, “I am”; left hand, “You are”; both hands—“He, she or it
is.” If, however, she takes the pot firmly in both hands and
breaks it with great force on your head, the meaning is usually
negative and your only correct course of procedure is a hasty bow
and a brief apology.