The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
GIFT OF R1RE PLANTS.
@. w. Chiids' Generosity to the People of
the Windy City.

the Windy City.
George W. Childs has given TO the City
| Of Chicago his exposition collection Of
| rare plants. The commercial value of
the gift is not cent less than $4,000,
and sentimentally and botanically Chief
| Thorpe says 1t is without price. 1t con-
| tsins palms and pines and tropics that
have no duplication save in the most ex-
| tensive gardens. 1t forms the basis OF
the magnificent floral dome and goes to
the municipality to be kept intact and
public property forever.
| This rare and valuable gift will have
as companion piece the Drexel exhibit,
| whose money value is nearly as large. 1t
| Is the aim Of the givers to keep them
! together and make them a starter for
| the permanent gardens TO be established
| In Jackson park. There Is but sim
| gle requirement exacted from the park
| comm'ssioners-that 10 plant shall ever
| be sold and that from time to time Mr..
| Childs may be given the orI ortunity to
| add to the collection from duplicates at
| his Philadelphia conservatory and houses
| at Wootou Place.
Mr.. Childs has had several conferences
| with Chief Thorp over the project.
The great, good men have been warm
friends for twenty years and the ties
that bind them are not the sort that
easily breaks. MIR. Childs wanted TO
leave something 10 stand perpetually as
a reminder Of the exposition and Mr..
Thorp advised the establishment Of a
nucleus for the Columbian gardens.
The phiianthropist. journalist and mil
lionaire hesitated only on the proper way
10 proceed This has now been settled
and the deed is done. The ChildsDrexel
collection remains in this town. subject
TO the decision Of the authorities.
Mr. Childs does so much TO make peo-
pie call him blessed that he is about as
wen known in this country as George
Washington. He has been poking about
the fair for nearly two weeks with Mrs
Childs at his side.
A few days since they strolled into the
back yard, out among the sites and pens
and Incidentally dropped in at the Michi-
gan logging camp. This is built OF hewn
timber and has all the saws and rppli-
ances used in the actual business of max
ing lumber in the forests. From the
rough rafters hang the pixies and hooks
and the crude interior is Ornamented
with characteristic pictures and trinkets
In the yard towers up to an almost dam
gerous altitude a pile of logs, chained
bank. The whole rustic outfit has n pc
culiar charm and when the Philadelphi-
ans saw IT they hesitated not. Straight
they went to see President Weston. md
a very small amount Of dlckerng trans
ferred the cabin from the Michigan com
mission Wo Mr.. ChllQs. Chief Thorpe
was then consulted and all within The
day the building was secured and n tite
selected for IT on Wooton Place. hear
Philadelphia. 1t will stand in a hollow.
possibly half a mile from the mansion.
TO complete the romance of the thing
it is practically decided TO build an Under
ground passage from it TO the big house
and line 1t with crystals like those which
adorn the interior Of the Horticulture
pyramid. Thus Mr.. Childs will perpet-
uate the memory Of the exposition nj
his summer home by a curious addition
and at Chicago by rare gift to the
people.
Mr. Childs' essentric goodnes and gem
crosby are responsible for no small share
OF his enviable fame. His virtue is Of the
like which never leaves thebody and he
always has his big heart with him When
he came 10 the fair he insisted all his
men servants and their wives and who
soever was employed about his various
homes should share his pleasures and reap
than 10 himself and his wife he din't
do n thing but sent all his Long Branch
retinue to Chicago, house them in q good
hotel and pay all the bills with as much
pleasure as q mother buying a rattle for
the first infant This week the Long
Branchers returned, and to-day the Woo
ton contingent arrives and will also be
put into a blooming clover field. Mr..
Chlds claims credit for diplomacy in not
getting his army Of vassals here at the
same time. There might have been fric-
ton between the factions on the score of
social superiority.
'Well, Sam. how did your money hold?
Getting rather short?" and Mr.. Childs
slyly smiled at the head steward Of his
summer resort at the parting conference
yesterday. lie was we'll aware what il
must cost even poor man for two weeks
at the fair.
Eyes, sir. It did run right close" re-
piled the Englshman.
well, here's $40 each all around as a
souvenir" and, bowling, Sam went out Of
his employers presence with roll which
would have bought cheap city lot.
Wooton Place. which is getting famil-
iarly known. is a 10O-acre farm, a WAYS
out of Philadelphia II has been Nee
ca for botanists for many years. and there
IL was that Superintendent Hughes, who
is NJ. Thorpes rgnt-hand man. learned
the best of his art. Melchoir Lutscc. of
the rose garden was also a familiar fig
ure about the grounds. The tract is i'm
proved In lavish manner possibly $780,
900 being spent annually upon It. II is as
open and free to the people as a public
park and any honest man is welcome up
on every inch Of 1t every day in the year.
The house alone is private. The stables,
spring house. walks and all have no
locks on. one corner is plOwcd for pota-
toes and turnips and truck. but ell the
rest Is full OF blossom and fragrance and
wide meadows. II Is 81 rare spot. made so
by the magicians who made the fair a
paradise out Of marshes and morasses,
with the addition OF John III, Hughes, who
has been Mr.. Childs botanist for n dozen
years. This man the Philadelphia re-
fused 10 part with. aud he alone OF the IA
nous Thorpe crew remained in the east