New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-08

,orp1NT ATOMS. He HAS bIOI"Ii THEM ~
u,cl1 RANK AMONG TIE GARDENS
OF TIE woRLD-PERSoNAL ANEc-
DorrsAND CHARACTERISTICS.
,..s,ircton. April (SpcciaD.-Fortunatey Wash
an who took 50 deep an interest IN me orislha.
ms of the Federal City. as he invariably called
plans c,n.,l. WAS not a strict unitarian,
w mo OF his colleagues lie held beauty TO
W. desirable as utility. and to his discriminating
o,ltivated taste Washington IS indebted for
an than the superficial student of its early his
NV realizes. The gardens al Mount Vernon were
w." vi celebrated, and 1t was the desire OF the
I't,en, that a botanic garden should be among
possessions of the Government. and for this
p' 10 selected site al the foo; of the Capitol
Pras This square. which now blossoms as the
renained for years in its primitive state.
w IN which frogs and snakes held high carni-
and by which the classic Tiber flowed
'rr,an, r. Smith, the present superintendent,
,nt in charge Of the gardens in 1872 during
m,.rd Film0re's Administration. Under his skill
A'n,,agement the National Botanic Gardens have
i~ steadily in usefulness and beauty, and to-
- rank with the other great gardens, although
Wv do not equal in scope the Kew Gardens the
- Gardens in Berlin. or the Jardins des
m.,,as With Congress the gardens have never
,,an especial favorites. Many Congressman could
". or would not see any need OF them They have
.vpurl
- hold M to rdicule as hothouses TO supply Of
s,o,s with bouquets and flowers. But the Botanic
GARDENS have grown beyond the expectations even
:, ,bair most ardent supporters, and hamboyant
eech OF hayseed member cannot hurt them
ca, good has been accomplished by the dessemi-
tin Of seeds and the placing of plants in To-
,i,ies best suited to them, but from the first It
VS. uphill work. Like Topsy, the gardens just
.rrowel" by accreton. and with little help from
outside but under the direction of perseverins
I'd nainstaking head. who has administered their
sairs with rare judgment and true Scotch economy.
Mr. Smith once escorted party of Senators and
,.mbers who were DESTROYS Of investigating the
.sr3ens through his Conservatives. When they
80 ont of the orchid-house. in which there are
"a specimens and varieties, a peppery Philistne
ssksd: What are the darned things worth, any
,ow?' "Aiy dear sir responded the ready Scotch
man 'if the Great Architect of the universe had
sudjed economy when lie made you, lie would
have pu, you on four feet and fed you upon grass.
This reply much amused MIR. McKensie. of Ken
,uckv. who carried the joke further, abiding to
long ears and bray.
FRIENDS OF THE GARDENS
But the gardens have had some warm friends in
Congress Charles Sumner a passionate lover
Of flowers and Of trees and spent hours in the CON
servatories Senator Lot NJ. Morrill,, Of Maine. In
whose great kind heart there was always love for
beautiful things. had constant interest IN the
ga-dens. and during his entire career Mr. Morrill,
Of Vermont has never tired of advocating their
cause. All those, in fact. whom culture laid its
refining hand have given their support TO the
gardens Mr. Smith has arboretCm which has
been contributed to by distinguished men. Senator
John J. Crittenjon. OF Kentucky, planted the Ia
nous over-cup oak, which Is now more than five
feet in circumference. in 1863. Senator's Morrill,. of
Maine; Morrill, Of Vermont Evarts and Hoar
planted ceIars. Holman, the watchdog of the
Treae, r1aufsl fIp TWENTY-FIVE Years
ago Senator Blackburns tree Is a beautiful mag
nolia the slip Of which came from Kentucky. while
Senator Sherman has Loyalty planted buckeye
Standing close to Mr.. Smiths cottage. and shading
4. is a blackberry planted by the Hon. Frank Blair
There are many similar memorials Of public men,
but Mr.. Smith has not thought It wise - label
hen. for fear Of the destructive knife Of the relic
buffers.
Mr. Smith is big and brawny, strong am active
notwiihs tanding the siXty-seven years which lie
carries lightly. He was born in Athelstane, Had
dingonshire, Scotland. in 1s2S. When he was about
ing 10 have his family join him in a short time
but the very letter which they thought would sum
mon them TO America brought news Of the fathers
death II was not until eighteen years after thai
Mr. Smith finally put This plan into execution me
the lad and the one thought and ambition OF his
boyhood was TO come TO this and OF promise Every
thing he could lay hands on that tod Of the West
ern Continent he read with avldtY. hut there was
ane book b5yond ms reach \ oo0K OF &yelS IN
ieordie Sampson. This thrifty worthy would not
Finally n. bargained 20 let young Smith have It
10 take home and read at his leisure. provided he
would chop up q cord Of wood mat had been given
hands. the child thought the pleasure chcdpy
bought and the reading Of it fixed his intention
more firmly than ever Mr.. smith served an APP
IN Lord ElchOs gardens at HaddinS-
oi, anu Wd2 suDS.iIoi..! J'u..s' ~. an" ~
American because Of rs ayowed intention Of CON Oh
and began Official career IN W Washington soon
afterward.
MAN ENAMOURED OF HIS WORK.
Among all the officials at the capital there is no
'ne more enthusiastic or more thoroughly in love
with his work than The superintendent Of the Be-
.anic Gardens who believes that flowers were
M de for the service Of the SOUL His conservatory
Is his church his plants his minister his poet Burns
He lives in d coscy twO-story brick cottage In the
iorty years spent here. Pictures Of prominent men
siorn the walls photographs Of his favorite plants
u about on the tables, and the books IN MS living
room tell the character Of the man. There are
Carlyle. Emerson. Burns and Tales from Black
Wool" Down stairs IS a room devoted 70 his Ia
Burns and 1874 editions IF his works, among which,
says Nj smith. not one IS peTi,e.c' o.,,,,,, ~,
knowing eminent men intimately. The gardens In
themselves restful and refreshing. and many
WORKOUT statesmen have benefited from half
hours rest on Mir. Smiths cosey lounge and chat
with this selfrelant self educated, self made man
On some subject outside Of politics about which ne
knows little and cares less. fl was while az Kew
hat he met Professor Asa Gray and formed
friendship which lasted until the death Of that emf
bent bOtanist. Edwin Forrest also one Of his
ntimatcs. and hanging IN the hall of The little cot
age is an excellent steel engraving Of the famous
actor.
MR.. SMITHS FAMOUS PALMS.
Or all Mr. Smiths plants, the nearest TO his
heart are his palms. Of which he has the best ana
most thriving although not the largest, collection
n the world. Some Of these were brought from
Japan by Commodore Perry on his return from his
famous expedition and one OF them has recently
md for the first fne borne fruit. Mr.. Smith has
none more than other man TO Introduce the use
VI palms for decorative purposes AN idca which
amounts almost 70 d hobby with him Twenty years
ago there were in the whole United states only
eight specimens Of the graceful fan palm, which
y The popular variety. while now IT Is "atmatcd
mere are no less than 3.DO,OC0 Of these plants IN
poth. The orchid collection H. the most compre-
hnnS,l. -. GIL