Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-21
STRATFORD'SGUARDIAN
THE VALUABLE WORK OF EDGAR
FLOWER.
His Services in Preserving the Manu-
scripts and Other Relics Of
Shakespeare.
From the Boston Transcript.

From the Boston Transcript
BY the death of Mr.. Edgar Flower. STRAIT
ford Ion Avon has lost wise and vigilant
guardian OF her Inheritance whose pissing
she must mourn without end. And as STRAIT
ford is beloved of all English speaking peo-
pie wherever they may abide and is a place
of pilgrimage for men of all nations, the
work that he has done toward the preser-
walton of her monuments and traditions has
been service of world-w- de Importance.
Mr.. Flower had not only the unselfish good
will and the broad interests from which
successful Lublic work must spring. but he
had also a marked executive ability, and,
what made him peculiarly fitted to deal
with problems of the nature that Stratford
offered, thorough qualifications as artist
and architect. ArchtectS viii cOncede that
the res orat on of old houses is one of the
most difficult of undertakings from both
practical and artistic standpoints
1t Is to Mr.. Flowers complete mastery OF
this diihculiy that Stratford today is in
debted for some of her finest showngs OF
sixteenth century archi lecture And be-
Cause of his well-known and admirable
ability he was recently asked to make de-
gns for the new library building, the gift
rom Carnegie. which is to be erected in
Henley street. replacing a nendescript and
unS entity house. a requirement of no easy
fulhllment since some ancient interior work,
absolutely the only valuable feature. must
be prominently Incorporated in the new
structure and it's character must he har-
mon1ous with the general architecture of
the street and unobtrusive in itself. Mr..
Flower, always equal to any demand of this
sort, made a design which externally was
an exact reproduction of a sixteenth CEN
fury almshouse. formerly standing on the
side of Henley street opposite the birth
place, design which answered every need
or the situation and could not fall to meet
with entire approval.
Shakespearean Antiquities.
His family reGathered for Stafford many
antiquities associated with Shakespeare
ana many first and rare editions of his
dramas and his brother. Charles Flower,
gave to the town a large, well-appointed
building where these curios should be kept
and where there should be annual per-
formances of Shakespeare's plays a COM
memoration rite that could hardly be i'm
proved.
AS he was indefatigable In these labors
OF visible results So too, he was no less
diligent in the thousand and one quiet ways
which go to promote the healthy civic life
OF towns people and to better their Op-
portunities for education and proper liv-
ing. He was constantly active constantly
alive and responsive. always ready with
word or deed quick of understanding anu
sympathy. and resourceful in help.
AS friend and comrade he was alto
gether and delightfully."- charming. The
was humor no less wholesome and sub
stantial for certain undercurrent and
atmosphere that paid tribute to the seri-
BUSINESS of things and was not mindless
that the laughter of the world lies over
against Its sadness. but there was nothing
grim In his laughter. 1t sound and
whole-hearted and good to hear. His
travels-which left few corners of the world
unvisited and unreproduced in water col
ors-when he could be won to talk of them.
for he 'set small store by his own doings"
and his wide acquaintance and friendship
with the notable men of three generations,
gave him endless material for reminis-
cences tales and anecdotes. and right well
he knew the best use Of that material.
Memories of Abolition.
Most interesting. of course, I found the
recounting of visits to America in slavery
days-in the days of Emerson. Agassiz
Longfellow. Oliver Wendell Holmes. Prof.
FELTON, and Charles Sumner, all his friends
with whom he exchanged visits and whom
he remembered with the utmost affection.
too much pained by their departure ever
again after their death to visit America
left desolate to him by their absence. Espe-
cially coHgenial he found the spirit of
Oliver Wendell Holmes. and they spent to-
gether many hours of contented 'hobnob-
bing." 1t was Mr.. Flowers youngest son.
Spenser, whom Judge Holmes cites in his
Zone Hundred Days in England" as an ex-
ample of the finest type of English boy a
mention that was rightfully pleasing to the
pride and the great joy that Mr.. Flower
had in the splendid children of his strong
house. His American journeyings were at
a time when ten days were required to
make trip on the Mississippi of half its
length. when frie ads in England sent to
friends in America Southdown mutton for
gift and friends in America rendered
thanks in canvas-back duck; when fash
ionable ladies of Washington society took
snuff from saucers always set in conven-
lent proximity; when fine art collections
were unknown within our borders as Mr.
Flower remarked. before Americans came
to buy all the beautiful and valuable things
out of Europe" Upon my agreeing that Il
feared we had come to be vandals rather"
he conceded ruefully that we were indeed
isSad va ndalS"