Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06

g.. ,-r~fM ed about the city.
! efi - e spe C tally in the
| ssaI,2A,x.A s%%h spring and summer
r,4 Er AlF1r pStsSs when the refreshing
w IS: E: g.: 5:
'M Of green h e r
wealth. OF shade and the fountains. do the
parks attract within their restful borders
large numbers of the residents
These attractive reservations in an al
ready beautiful city are owned by the gen.
eiai government snd cared for by public
oiiciais Col. John Nj. Wilson of the army
49, under his present detail, the officer in
charge OF public buildings and grounds,
ana has supervision over the parks and
reservations OF the city. Mr. Georee II
BROWN the public gardener, has immediate
oversight of the work of beautifvInp tbosa
reservations with foliage, plants and flow
ers. and the setting out Of beds and ar
ranSement Of designs is done under His d.
rectioIi. ~
Preparations have been under Way for
sumo tlme for the annual spring work.
'ueii VI II mas even been already started
ana ana II IS expected that by the middle of
ne Inonth the parks will be dressed for
the summer. This year however tho Do
signs for the flower beds will he ent,rsiv
di1erent from any heretofore used In this
cltS' and Will attract even more than the
u; usual attention. 1t Is the purpose of those
IN authority to decorate the marks with
christian Endeavor devices and other an.
P.oPrlate designs. that in flowers "a
wen as IN bunting and colors, and by the
tUaoiat hospitality of citizens. delegates to
me Euteenth international Christian En-
ueaVor convention. which meets here next
month, may be assured of Washinefon's
"eic"me; The sentiment is very pretty
al
o oe, I,iu aitnough 1t has been carried out
elsewnere at the annual conventions
notably at Boston last summer-this civ
VIII hot be outdone in the beauty or pro-
fuseness of its floral greetings.
Cooperation of Omcinlx.
The committee Of '96 feels very much
gratified that those in official station have
given evidence Of their sympathy In the
work of preparing for the expected thou
sands. Both Col. Wilson and Public
Gardener Brown have by word and action
made it plain that their cooperation can
be depended On. and that in every way In
their power consistent with their public
duty. they will lend their aid TO the com
mittee.
Mr.. Brown is just giving his atten-
ton TO suitable scheme for decorating the
parks and squares, and beside the designs
he has worked out himself, has received
and adopted number of suggestions SUBJ
mitted to him by he Endeavorers' decora-
X
ing out In plants and flowers of the famil-
lar &C. r. monogram combinations of the
letters ~ P. s. G. E." the convention flag
in colors and other devices with scroll
Christian Endeavorers," will likely be dis
played. and the dates "1SSl-1S36" the for
mer being the natal year of the organiza-
ton. will be depicted in bright leaves
In the principal parks where visitors
congregate In largest numbers, the horti-
culturaiists' skill will be shown. The large
bed at the entrance to the National Mu-
scum will be filled with Towering plants
worked out in appropriate legends: around
the fountain in judiciary Square, by the
pension office. the characteristic design will
STAND conspicuously forth from a carpet
OF green 1t Is proposed to cut out in red
and yellow letters. six or eight feet large
on the northern slope Of the mound at the
base OF the Washington monument the
words. welcome. Christian Endeavorers."
The inscription will describe an arc, and
above. In proper proportions, the red and
blue convention flag with it's &C E." mono
gram In the center OF a white star will be
attractively worked out. Were 1t not for
the line Of trees along street II would
be quite possible for the Endeavorers to
read this greeting from the doors of their
canvas meeting places In the White Lot
No Special Fund.
Anything lavish in the way Of park dec
oratioDs In honor of the convention is this
year impossible, for two reasons-lack of
funds and scarcity Of designs There has
been no special appropriation made for do
ing special design work for the Christian
ELdeavor convention. and the only funds
available are those ordinarily provided for
the care of the parks. And this sum Is we'll
nigh exhausted, for 1t Is now very near the
close Of the fiscal year. Then, again, the
Christian Endeavor Society has only one
official badge the c. E. monogram, and no
matter how productive and skilIful an art
list may be, he Is necessarily confined con-
siderably to one line of effort
Probably the most profuse decorations
ever made in "ashington's public parks
were seen at the time Of the Grand Army
ercanpment. in September. 1892 On this
occasion there was more money to be spent
on the work. special provision for such a
feature having been made, and the many
varied corps insignia. the G. A. r. badge
and the medal Of honor afforded excellent
scope for the designers clever handling of
flowers and plants. But while 1t Is not ex-
pected to equal the display made then no
one will be called on to apologize in July
for what will by that time be accomplished
in the way of park designs
To one unfamiliar with the methods eu
pioyed by the landscape artists In working
out their figures and sketches the results
accomplished seem almost marvellous. No
always fascinating. Yet the gardener saws
that with the proper plants at hand he can
deEneate IN flowers any design that can
be drawn VITA the pencil There are cor
mere than few inches high; all shades and
colors can be obtained either in leaf or
flower; all that is required is the necessary
knowledge and experience and skill In fol-
lowing out the sketch
In the matter Of designing the convention
flag, Mr.. Brown finds himself somewhat
handicapped because Of a total lack of one
certain variety Of plant which would be
especially useful to him. 1t Is difficult to
get plant that is profusely covered with
blue blossoms In July. or one with blue
foliage. The prevailing colors in flowers are
red and yellow, and 1t is always puzzling
to horticulturist just what to substitute
when design Includes blue color. Some
times gardeners have been known to use
painted stone among the flowers In the de-
sign in order to produce the desired effect
Here. however. the whole flag will be worked
out in flowers. and Mr. Brown is confident
that it will be correct in color, as well al
true in It's proportions.
An Elaborate Decoration.
Workmen are now engaged on one bed,
and few days will see the entire planting
force setting out emblems. flags and de-
signs In the public places Of the city. Just
east of the monument, not far from the IT.