Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-21

I exhibition next year-are the Royal Gar
| dens. at Kew near London. Tnis IN
place where the ornamSntal merses into
the useful. About 2o.c@ species and dis-
| tlnct varieties OF plants are cultivated
| OF which over 1900 are trees and Marcy
shrubs that furnish specimens for the
| chief woods and arboriaI produce OF COM
merce.
| OLD ENGLISH GARDENS
/ Old English gardens were patterned
| after designs rom ancient Kew. lhese
antiquated gardens breathed OF ola en-
| chnntment and mystic lore. The hedges
were OF yews fantastically cut. The som
bre trees OF lockwood were clipped INTO
| shapes OF men and animals and even Oh
| sylvan dcities II was from these hoi,ie
| gardens OF our English ancestors that w
| Colonial gardens OF the early Virgillnss
| settlers were fashioned. Who docs mo-
! remember having seen traces Oh the'i
ancient beauty and sweetness?
1.-THE garden" was garden OF veg
tables and flowers as well. Inc
| patches" were framed with the ever
green privet OF early snowy blossoms ,no
pink "fower-and-almon and the yer
/ low-twigged scotch broom, all haroy
shrubs of old lineage.
| 1t was a spot where snowballs, noily-
hooks. bluebells. larkspur, and all the
old-time flowers bloomed in sOciable near
ness to each other. and TO the growing
beds Of peas. potatoes, onions and aspa-
| ragus. The front yard" was distinc-
! ton Of flowers with a little difference. inc
'front.' yard was womans sphere. by
common consent she reigncd queen here,
and might dis and plant and reign TO
her hearts content without mans inter-
ference.
The flowers she nurtured were like the
people Of their age. simple and honest,
and. perhaps. severe. The stately sun
flower. the nerce tiger lily, the proud
peony. and the waXen lady-S!ipper were
all countciparts of the people who moved
among them.
The old-fashioncd flowers Of garden and
"front-yard'' have been modernzed, and
the old-fashiOncd woman has gone with
them. She has broken out OF her circum-
scrbed field, and more than that, has
pulled down the fence behind her
"She used TO be shut OF from the broad
acres Of the farm" says Sara Jewett,
land had no voice in the worlds politics;
she must stay in the house. and could
only stay out Of doors in this corner Of
land where she was queen. The whole
world is womans "front-yard nova
days" And / vaguely wonder If she IS
happier now-thls modern woman who
has burst through the scented chysalis
Of other days-than when she worked
away her heartachcs among the flowers?
What short-waistcd singing gowns swept
the garden walks when my lady fingered
there with her lover i'm the cool. fresh
mornings The last farewell posies were
gathered in the gardens shaded depths,
and there. by the gate. The last good
by was said:
"And I swear as thought Of her thus,
in that hour.
And Of how, after all, old things were
best;
flower
She used to wear at her breast"
All. we'll: We have one relic Of the "old
things that were best"-that is, We have
II In name.
THE SCN-BONNET.
II is the old-time country "sun-bonnet."
They are manufactured in large cities
and exhibited by hundreds in the plate
glass windows OF city shops and the
average city belle will no doubt possess
dozen Of these new bonnets with the
sweet old name. Nothing could be more
becoming, more altogether fetching. than
these lovely creations OF DuSiu ldCc anu
ribbon Some are soft and dropping. and
others s,iffened upon inner Innings. but !
am glad to say they retain something OF
the quaint old shapes SO dear 10 our
grandmothers. Also, the revival Of the
modest "sun-bonnet' seems TO indicate
that the city cousin will pay more regard
TO her complexion, not to say TO her dig
nifty, and not so around hatless in the
sun. as she often did last summer.
However. with big box. little box, band
box, and bonnet the summer maids ana
matrOns VIII soon be among us. All this
week it has been as delightful out OF
doors as the middle of June could have
made It. and this means the early coming
up Of summer boarders.
rne signs are that the summer resorts
of Alton will be ready, and good sea-
son is ahead.
We are very much exercised about the
apple crop, which, earlier in the spring
promised 50 well. 1t is apprehended that
there Will be at best only half crop.
Just below the budding fruit an insect is
cutting the twig and killing the fruit 1t
affects mostly the pippin apples, is less
dangerous 10 winesaps, and does not al
| feet the winesaps.
Miss Mamie Upper. Of Richmond. IS
visiting her sister. Mrs. II. X. Hawthorn.
Rev j. II. Robinson, of Alton post
office is quite SICK.
The season is extremely favorable to
| tobaccO-plants