Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01

! I \
"a memorable event in my life said Mr.
VIM. r Smith superintendent of the Ma
tional Botanic Gardens. to a Star reporter
was when / was frs introduced to the
nusa ensete a plant tEat deserves to be
better known in this country. l was seated
in the parIor OF one of the most unique OF
American homes. Mr.. HunnewelIs. at wei
lesley, twenty-five more years ago. Win
me were Mayor Wallach Of Washington
and Gen. Nichler, engineer in charge OF
public buildings and grounds we were
on trip north in search of rare ana oeau-
tiful plants TO decorate the Presidents con-
servatories A messenger had gone to ma
the owner that we might obtain permission
to inspect the rare gems of nature col
lecte1 there My anxiety for closer in
spectfon of the rich mahogany m1d-rib ard
fine contrasting green OF the majestic
leaves amused Mr.. Hunnewell and my tray
cling companions very much. 1t was grow
ing in the cool conservatory adjoining the
residence The scene has left a dellghtIul
impression on my mind never TO De re-
moved. ] was delighted 70 see. IN a seed
mans catalogue that the seeds could De
bought for a penny apiece. thus putting IL
within the reach of millions much 10
be desired result rarely considered by Inc
average ornamental horticultural or nor
list. lis ornamental value may be ecipsed
by its use funess as an esCulent, and its
name be the Cabbage banana l am the
fortunate owner of 4 rare first edition OF
James BruCe's travels to discover the
source Of the Nile in Egypt, Arabia, Abys-
sinia and Nubis, published in Edinburgh,
1899 No author was eyer more traduced,
abused and vilifed than Bruce; the Grub
street hacks the peuny-a-Hners and even
old GruH but honest Sam Johnson, took
hand n il, and yet all he wrote, with FEW
unimportant exceptions, has been verified
hv zIkSp-ylAnt travellers There two
plates of ensete in volume five page thirty
five accurate and interesting. The follow
irtg extract from the text may lead to the
adoption of new vegetable:
1t is said that the Gala when trans
planted into Abyssinia brought for their
particular use the coffee tree and the en-
sete the use Of neither Of which was before
known. However the general opinion is
that both are naturally produced in AbyS-
Sinia provided there is heat and moisture.
1t grows and comes to great perfection In
Gendar but it most abOunds in that part II
Maitscha and Goutto west of the Nile,
where there are large plantations Of 1t. and
is there. almost exclusive of anything else,
the food Of the Gala inhab1t1ng that prov
ince: NaitSha is neariy upon dead level,
and the rains have no slope to get off east
ly, but Stagnats and prevent the sowing OF
grain. Vegetable food would, therefore, be
very scarce in Maitsha were it not for this
plant.
AS soon as the stalk of the ensete ep-
r,ears perfect and full of leaves the body of
longer eatable: before II is the best OF all
vegetables.
When You make use of the ensete for
eating YOU cut il Immediately above the
small detached roots and perhaps a foot or
two higher. as the plant is of age You
strip the green from the upper part till 1t
becomes white; when soft like a turnip
well boiled if eaten with milk or butter. it
is the best Of all foods, nOurishing and ca
silly digested.'
Il 90 not doubt that this plant will ere
H. f,,r llSaTIlDASSs as a
esculent in the south. In the north its or
namentu1 character needs 10 boom.
The best clerk in government employ,
said IN old department clerk to a Star re-
Porter. lis the clerk who is at his desk
ready to go to work at o'clock in the
morning and who quits work soon as
the clock strikes four. He is Independent.
for the reason that he does a solid day 5
work and knows it, AS a rule this kind of
q clerk is prompt in everything else. and
his DAYS work counts much more in the
amount done than the work of the clerk
who thinks he is making a record, and who
thinks that record can be improved if ne
is at hts desk quarter to half hour
before O'Clock and who hangs on quar-
ter or Il half hour, and sometimes even
longer. after the days work is supposed to
be done. My experience is that this ex-
tra-tirne clerk is conscious himself that ne
does not turn out as much work during
the day as the prompt clerk, and puts in
the extra time to make it up. The extra
time clerk is generally a fellow who is ex-
csGdingiy slow in everything. and he thinks
he make up for his slOwnesS by maxi
ing il appear that ne is enthusiastically in
love with his work and likes it much
that he gives extra time to it on account
of his devotion to the interests Of the gov
eminent. The man or woman who goes
to work promptly and quits promptly
when the time arrives often has considera-
bic work done by the time the extra-time
clerk is getting ready to go to work. The
government pays for seven hours work a
day, and the clerk who works steadily and
rapidly during that time performs all that
is REQUIRED Of him her. | think all old
department clerks will agree with me as
far as my opinion goes. The clerk who is
engaged in making a record spends much
more OF his or her task in that direction
than in disposing Of the work that is
placed upon their desks. The clerks who
know they perform full work are never
as enthusiastic about Sunday work which
now and then is supposed to be necessary
After studying it out for twenty years l
have finally learned to put up jar of pre-
served fruit that looks well and tastes
WE'LL explained experienced housekeep-
er to a Star reporter. Il never had much
difficulty as far as the taste is concerned.
for with good fruit and good Jars. plenty
of sugar and three or four years EXPERT
ence. any one can 90 that if she is at all
persistent. but it takes time and patience
to make success even as far as that Nv
trouble has always been to get the pre-
served fruits 10 look well, as well as taste
well II the fruit is too much cooked it
goes to pieces. and while 1t is all right as
far as eating is concerned. does not please
the eye. Unless the fruit was cooked well
the juice would go to the bottom of the lar
and the fruit rise TO the top. One result
Of this. besides the looks, would be that
the fruit on the top of the jar would not