Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-07
CHATTER Ny

The Abbeylands flower show was one
of those meager affairs in the country
which affect the heart of the visitor with
strange oppression Such things are
generally purely selfish affairs, got up by
few fanatical horticulturists WHO have
greenhouses, and are eager to exhibit
their Mrs. Polocks" and Tom
Thumbs" and. above all. to read their
names in the papers. Mrs. Hawkins,
as usual. took the first prize with mag
niticent display of choice cut flowers Her
row of Mrs Pollock geraniums Toasted
the eye, and would have made n Crystal
Palace competitor turn pale with envy
Ii is a pity that these noble specimens
of intellectual horticulture do not find
their way to London. instead of wasting
their sweetness on our desert air.
At Able, lands. on this festive occa-
s,yp. the school house presented quite a
gay az The large room was filed with
/ rude tables, and several of tho 5e green
sloping trays. which look as if they had
been borroweds specially from the fish
monger and turned to nobler and more
elegant purpose. The flowers displayed.
| it must be said. did not warrant the en-
| thusiasm of the local paper and it would
certainly have been injudiciOus to have
| incurred the trouble and cost of sending
| them to Sydeuham, where it may be
| doubted if they would have received a
! cordial welcome by the authorities, or
Mrs. Pollock" accorded a gallant rccep-
| ton. However. various lengths of blue
| ribbon werc wound in festoons about the
hshmonger's trays. with cards on which
were neatly written. Prize for best cut
| flowers. awarded ten shillings." Prize,
| best inverted orchid, five shillings," and
/ the like 4 sort of extract from neigh
boring volunteer band was performing
/ in the garden. where a tiny bell-shaped
| tent, spoken of in the program as the
! judges marquee was pitched, having
/ the air of Il white bedroom candle ex-
tinguisher.
| With these invitations to festivity. the
company mustered strongly. the ladies'
dressed as lightly and gaily as they could
I ceutriyc. zach party affecting an air of
interest ana curiosity. though they lad
seen the flowers again and again, in
/ Mrs. Hawkins and other greenhouses
/ Ii was pleasant to hear Mr.. Charles
( Hunser lecturnE gaily on those subjects
rs he voald have done on a geological or
indeed any other kind Of collection that
iught have been started For you Mr.
Charles Hunter. in town and country,
are never 81 a disadvantage where an cX-
hibition of special knowledge might he
cvl octed to be forthcoming and can talk
airi on all subjects, He had little
dish of apples which he led away select
parties to inspect. with You must come
and see my pippns | really think they
might have given me a prize"
While the music WIS playing. Mr..
Charles Hunter was going through this
process with Mrs. Forager aud her
daughter, they suddenly heard a buzs of
voices in the school rApm, ani Sounds
like those of al alteration. Some of the
visitors were Zen hurrying in. The eN.
citcment of the flowers WAS SO lsngaid
that there was quite q rush into the
, house,
. When they had got N. Lucy's heart te
! gan to l,eat, for there in the center of tn,
i room. and the ccuter of a circle OF people
! pressing eagerly forward to listen. stood
her lover. Tom Burton. calm yet resolved
aud with mn air that showed he would
not be trified with.
Il ask Of you again be said 10 Mr
, Ralph. before these ladies and gentle
men. is this rumor true. that you Witness
cd from yout window the unfortunate uc
cident which has blasted my father,
good namOi'
What right have you to qi.est.vt
) in this fashion? You are diSturbiu. thr
meeting OF friends. We Will have 80,