The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-01

it is quite exceptional for one to set
forth for days plsasuring In the old
fashioned way-a vehicle drawn by sim
gle horse. Yet, there are few simple
minded folks who like myself) still de-
light in jogging along in that leisurely
fashion. To me the country landscape
has undiminished charms, away from
railroads and the noisy rush and "swish"
of the electric car. The well worn pixies
and neighborhood highways and less
frequented roads are comparatively SOL
itary and delightful; and there is also
another one-making pair of us-and
these being pair we stepped into
buggy" not too bright and new to be
ruined by dust and CRIME of the country
road, vehicle led by nag not too
young and frisky for women to drive,
The morning having dawned propitious.
away we went on our little excursion
bent, as happy as two young girls out
for a new experience all by themselves.
Being women, we took neither nails nor
strings for possible breakdowns or other
mishaps to wheels or harness.
Overhead sunshine and cloud dappled
| the bluest of skies with light and shade;
and our way was far from the "madd-
ing crowd" the city's bluster and roar of
busy life; out into the highways and
by-ways of Missouri, where tall oaks and
ash trees waved their boughs in the
breezes, and afforded grateful shade
along the roads.
The lay of the land about St. Louis
partakes of the gently picturesque hill
and dale, never rising into the grand and
rugged, nor ever touching the sublime,
but beautiful in undulation. and diver
sity of scenery, dimpling up and down,
and away as far as the eye can reach,
with here and there a suburban home
set in the midst Of a grove, looking very
inviting. Even our staid steed has a
mind to stop and tarry week; and
since we share the feeling with him, we
do not jerk him up too suddenly. as he
casts one long, longing look behind at
the rich meadows full of the greenest of
| grass--when he knows he could be as
happy as he ever will be when he gets to
the good horses heaven.
Indeed. the we'll kept lawns resemble
velvet, and do look good enough to
tempt one to "go to grass If not to eat;
while the beds of scarlet geraniums,
crimson poppies and brilliant cannas-
red and yellow-give the artistic touch
of color to the scene which is beauti-
full by contrast.
Browns Croft.
That was our objective point; fine
countryseat belonging to st. Louis
business man whose "fad" is the orchis.
Now. if there is anything in the shape
of flower that is odorless. more inter
esting than all it's brilliant competitors,
| it's this queerest. curiousest of all bo-
| tanical productions, the many hued
and oddly constructed family of flowers
classed under the head of the orchis or
orchids.
1t is a flower so full Of beauty and
magnetism it drives men and women
| literally crazy to possess its rare lowell
ness. The rage to own it's many varie-
ties is more prevalent and far.reaching
| than the famous craze for Dutch bulbs
| two hundred years ago; and the orchid
collector stops at nothing within the
limit of his bank account when in pur-
suit of rare specimen. Scientific men,
botanists and other men add to their
incomes by collecting specimens for the
collectors conservatory.
st. Louis is proud to have one of the
famous collectors among her distin-
guished citizens; and Browns Croft" is
one of the famous sights of the city,
when the blooming season is at its
height, although fifteen miles from the
| city post office.
The Brown collection is fttingly
housed in three large conservatories
opening into one another. The walls of
stone are very thick and warm, and the
| glass dOONO iiS5hto' IL 10 uAW dy5
summer there. The plants are potted in
rustic work baskets, or on brackets or
bits of wood. or growing in the water,
for it is adaptable to earth, air or water,
only it must be warm to make it happy,
and put forth its freaky blossoms that
initiate pitchers, slippers, crosses,
crowns, doves or are mere splashes of
brilliant color of one single leaf, with
somewhere the stamen and pistils
without which it could not be classed as
a perfect flower.
There are many hundreds of speci-
mems from all lands, from mountains
and from iungles. Some are traps for
catching insects upon which the plant
feeds. such are the various pitcher"
orchids, Venus slippers, etc; and others
are beautiful and pure enough to adorn
brides veil, or crown the loveliest form
OF beauty with the last touch of perfec-
ton, in the shape of natural wreaths
of delicate blossoms as beautiful as rose
buds or orange flowers. No wonder the