Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-11-16
A CHRYsANTHEMUM CRUSADE.
Hopkinsvillo and Clarksville Shake
Hands Over Bed Of Flowers.

Two years sluce display OF cnTys-
authemums from Captain j. j. Crus-
mans gardens at Evergreen Lodge,
GAINESVILLE, made in the hall of Wat
kin's Institute, Nashville, astonished
and delighted thousands of visitors.
1t was universally declared to be by
far the finest floral exhibition ever
made in the Southwest. Only one
family of flowers was shown, but
that one presented in size, tint and
fragrance as wide range of variety
as the single string of Paganini's vio-
lin developed i'm the fairy realm OF
melody. The florists of the large
cities of the South and West have
been challenged in vain TO enter the
lists aud compete with this noble col
lection.
Last Tuesday, under generous ar
rangement made by Captain Crus.
man, the young ladies and teachers
Of Bethel Female College, with a
number of their lady friends, seventy
five in all, under the direction of
President,J. w. Rust, accompanied
by several gentlemen making party
Of ninety persons, visited Evergreen
Lodge on a special excursion train.
The ladies of this place and vicinity
in the excursion were Mesdames,
VIM. Cowan, Chas. NJ. Latham, b. S.
Campbell, Virginia Latham, j. l.
Landes, Jos. X. Cant, Mary Payne,
j. o Terrell, e. b Webb, Jas. NJ.
Howe, DR.. Jas. Rodman, Joe. Wool
bridge, j, w. Rust, j, o. Rust, II. Il
Garner, Ike Burnett, Jno. r, Green,
w, L. Trice, j. f. Dagg; and Misses
Kate Woodbridge, Lizzie Mercer,
Lucy Prince, Mary Cant, Grace
Fannie Breathitt, Lou
Poindexter, Glen. Buckner, Rebecca
Latham, Kate Startling, Jennie Walk
n, Louie Wright and Mary Parks.
The party was met at the CIarks-
lille depot by Capt. Crusman, Gen.
raj Quarles, Judge Tyler, Messrs.
iaines and Boyd of the Progress,
Ir. IIomist0n of the Democrat, and
IT. Hall of the Chronicle, and car.
led in private carriages and hacks
0 the wharf where they were re-
eived by Captain Rymsn, of the
'teamboat B. s. Rhea, and taken on
pleasant excursion up the river.
his diversion was as delightful as
was unexpected, and the happy
chool girls welcomed the yellow
with a serenade of sill
er laughter as delicious and breezy
5 chorus of mocking-birds. Itwas
etter than whole chapter gram
nar.
The party returned to the carriages
t the wharf, drove through the prin-
ipal streets, admired many pleasant
nd elegant residences and building
nd arrived at the gardens. The situa-
ion was beautiful, the surroundings,
aud establishment OF ,
he landscape highly attractive, and
he delicious warmth of an Indian
sun glowed through the
szy air. The rarest days of June
nd their rival in such a November
ay as this. The former suggests the
,yful prelude of concert, the latter
nc closing strains of : parting song,
5 the vast assembly of Chrysanthe-
nuns, in robes Of royal spleudor, as
arious and gorgeous as the many ,
Dlored fires of an autumnal sunset
loOd up in their reception hall to
aceive the homage of the day blush
t the praises of their own loveliness,
nd bid their visitors mournful fare
'ell for the season.
The Chry santhemums were in their
Tory. The display would have
frightened the hanging gardens OF
iabylon. 1t fairly rioted in dazzling
plendor and range of color. Cleans
t drifted snow, imperial purple and
rimson, interspersed with great
masses of petals which flashed like
caves of beaten gold, or relieved by
ands and streamers of rich brown
ppeared in endless and bewildering
in a solid phalanx
which extended from the entrance to
he other end of the conservatory.
Zach one of the two hundred and
fifty varieties had its partisan, for
ach one had its own peculiar charm.
lose inspection revealed many nov
i sports and capricious tints, as il
ike hayward belle they sought to
urprise the spectators by some sud
len within Of color.
Several gentlemen who had at
ended similar exhibits in the East
,rn cities pronounced Captain Crus-
msn's exhibit the finest of them all.
The last surprise was feast among
the Chrysanthemums in the shape OF
a choice lunch of meats, salads, coffee
aud fruits, served on a table which
extended around the entire hall and
also at the residence. The venerable
DR.. Scare, who with his sged wife
now in her ninety-second year, was
among the visitors, said grace, and
The collation. was eaten with a zest
which showed the entire harmony Of |
aesthetics and appetite.
The ladies of Clarksville, with
whom the generous owner of Ever
green Lodge Is so popular, were out
in large numbers TO chaperone the
party and contribute TO the pleas