The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-08
WELCOME In FLOWERS.
What Washington's Parks Will Ex-
press TO Endeav0rcrs.
Two Hundred Thousand Plants VIII BE
Used In Designs.

/
charms Is the number of PARKS and reser-
vations scattered about the city. Especi-
ally In the spring and summer, when the
refreshing spots are clothed in natures
beauty, with their broad expanses OF
green, their wealth of shade and the
fountains, do the parks attracts within
their restful borders large number OF
the residents.
These attractive reservations in an al
ready beautiful city are owned by the
general government and cared Tor Dy
public officials. Colonel John NJ. Wilson
of the army is, under his present detail.
the officer In charge OF public buildings
and grounds, and has supervision over
the parks and reservations OF the city.
Mr.. George III. Brown. the public gar
dener, has immediate oversight oi tho
work of beautifying these reservations
with foliage, plants and fiower9, ana the
setting out OF beds and arrangements Vi
designs is done under his direction.
Preparations have been under way Tor
some time for the annual spring WORK;
much of il has even been already started,
and IL is expected by the middle OF Ine
month the parks will be dressed Tor the
summer This year, however, the designs
for the flower beds will be entirely diiier-
ent from any heretofore useu in this city,
and will attract even more than the usual
attention. IL Is the purpose OF those III
authority 10 decorate the parks with
Christian Endeavor devices and other
appropriate designs, so that in fiowers,
as well as in bunting and colors, ana Dy
the cordial hospitality of citizens, dele
gates to the 10th international Christian
Endeavor convention, which meets here
next month, may be assured OF washing
toms welcome. The sentiment is very
pretty one, and although 1t has been car
ried out elsewhere at the annual conyen-
tions-notably at Boston last sammef-
this city will not be outdcne in the
beauty OF profuseness OF its floral greet
ings.
COOPERATION OF OFFICIALS.
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 Colonel Wilson and Public
Gardner Brown have by word aud action
made II 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 now giving his at
tention to suitable scheme for decorat-
ing the parks and squares and besides
the designs he has worked out himself
has received and adopted number OF
suggestions submitted to him by the En-
deavorer's decorations committee. These
include the working out in plants and
flowers of the familiar 9. T.. monogram,
com binations OF the letters "Y. Il. >. &.
E., /" the convention ffag in colors, and
other devices with scroll work. Some such
greeting as "Welcome, Christian Endeav-
orers, I" will likely be displayed, and the
dates"." lSS1-1S96 the former being the ma
tai year OF the organization, Will be de-
p;cted In brig ht leaves.
In the principal parks, where visitors,
congregate in largest numbers, the horti-
culturists' 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
w i'll stand ccnspicuously forth from a
carpet of green. 1t is proposed to.cat out
in red ana yellow letters, six or eight feet
large, on the northern slope OF the
mound at the base of the Washington
ian Endeayorers. The inscription will
describe an arc, and above, in proper pro-
portions, the red and blue convention
flag with it's &C. E." monogram in the
center of a white star, will be at tractively
worked out. We're 1t not for the line of
trees along b. Street II would lie quite
possible for the Enaeavorers to read this
meeting places in the White lot.
NO SPECIAL FUND.
Anything lavish in the way of park
decorations 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 doing special design work for
the Christian Endeavor conventions, and
the only funds available are those ordi-
narily provided for the care of the parks.
And this sum Is well nigh exhausted, for
ii Is now very near the close OF the fiscal
year. Then, again, the Christian En-
deavor Society, has only one official
badge, the Z. H. monogram, and no mat
ter how productive and skillful an artist
may be, he Is necessarily confined con-
sidera oly 10 one line OF effort.
Probably the most profuse decorations
ever made III Washington public parks
were seen at the time OF the Grand Army
eucampment 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 q. A. *.
badge and the medal OF honor afforded
excellent scopc for the designers clever
handling OF flowers and plants. But
while 1t is not expected to equal the dis
play made then, no one will be called on
to apologize in July for what will by
that time he accomplished in tie way Of
park designs.
TO one unfamiliar with the methods
employed by the landscape artists ir
working out their figures and sketches
the results accomplished seem almost
! marvellous. No matter how often one
sees the work, IL is always fascinating.
Yet the gardener says that with the
proper plants at hand ne can deleniate I'm
flowers any design than can be drawn
with the pencil. There are certain var
ieties of plants that never grow more
than few inches high; all shades and
colors can he obtained either In leaf or
flower; all that Is required Is the neces.
sary knowledge and experience and skill
In following out the sketch.
In the matter Of designing tho conven-
tion flag, Mr.. Brown finds himself some.
what Handicapped because Of total lack
Of one certain variety OF plant which would
he especially useful 90 him. IL is difficult
TO get a plant that Is proiusoly covered
with blue blossoms In July, or one with
blue foliage. The prevailing colors in
flowers are red and yellow, and IL isa al
WAYS puzzling TO a horticulturslist lust
what to substitute when design in
oludes n blue color. Sometimes gar6ncrs
have been known 10 use painted stnnf