Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-10-23

from the calamity of failure and the
inevitable grief attendant upon it. All
in attendance are permitted to partici-
pate in the discussions and the meet.
ings are open to all ladies.
CHRYSANTHEMUM JOHN.
The genial chief of Horticulture has
done more than any other man in the
world, in all probability, to popular
ize the loud smelling chrysanthemum.
He knows more about the flower, too,
than almost anybody else, and there is
not q single one of the 5000 varieties
that he could not call at sight.
1t was Uncle John who started the
chrysanthemum craze in this country
a number of years ago, and he is al.
most as well known as "Chrysanthe-
mum John" Thorpe as he is as Uncle
John" Thorpe.
The story of Uncle Johns love for
the chrysanthemum and his successful
determination to make it the most pop
ular autumn flower in all America is a
pretty one-a story which necessarily
loses much of its charm when told by
any one but Uncle John himself. He
delighted many friends with it recently
as he sat in his office in a reminiscent
mood. In sum and substance it goes
like this:
Away back in 1S51-Uncle John was
a boy then-Sam Broome was the gard
neal of the Temple gardens, London.
Broome was a Variable crank on the
subject of chrysanthemums. He had
them in all shapes, sizes, colors, and
varieties and every year he had a
chrysanthemum show.
Little John Thorpe used to climb up
on old Sam Broome's knee and Sam
would tell him all about chrysanthe.
NUNS, how they were such O lovely
but much neglected flower, and how
they were destined to become popular.
One day he sent John fifty of the
flowers, and later on he wrote a book
telling all about the cultivation of
chrysanthemums in Temple gardens.
He sent a book to little John Thorpe
and that gentleman hasit yet. He says
he would not take 81, 900 for it.
HOW THE FLOWER BECAME POPULAR.
Young John then swore that he
would popularize his favorite flower if
it took him a lifetime to do it. In 1870
he came to America, developed into
Uncle John, and made his promise
good. He began the very day he ar
rived in New York. He went into hor-
ticulture there and succeeded.
The year before he left England the
British government imported some of
the flowers from Japan. A London
newspaper nan at that time remarked
that these chrysanthemums might in
terest some people, but such flowers
would be consigned to oblivion within
a year.
That reporter always - fool
remarked Uncle John, as he was telling
the story.
Well, Uncle John kept pegging away
at his hobby, and each succeeding
year brought accessions to the ranks of
chrysanthemum worshipers. He got
up an annual chrysanthemum show in
New York, having charge of the af-
fair. In 1885 at the State exhibit, in
forty eight classes he took forty eight
first premiums.
1t was in the same year, or there.
abouts, when he made a hit that i'm.
mortalized the chrysanthemum. The
opera of "Mikadon had just made its
appearance and was given in New
York at the Fifth Avenue theater, just
across the street from the chrysanthe.
mum exhibit. After the close of the
exhibit there was an auction sale OF
the plants and the Makado company
bought one plant, to put on the stage,
for 500.
Even after the sale there was a lot OF
flowers that could not be disposed of,
and Uncle John, being well acquainted
with all the Mikado people, asked to
be allowed to set the japanese scene
His request was granted, and be made