Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-16
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RECEIVE PRIZES
GARDEN CONTEST ENDS IN
GALA MANNER
Children Of All Natlonalltles Crowd
Bethlehem Institt e to Gather
Laurels for Excellence in
Practical Botany

IT young Los Angeles, or that part of
II gathered at the Bethlehem institute
last evening, could choose the next
mayor. owen McAleer would succeed
himself
For three whole hours the city execu-
tive was a hero, an ideal-a being who
had reached the state where most boys
travel in their dreams.
Children of every size, innumerable
shades and half a dozen nationalities
wer the hero worshipers. They had
gathered to receive the prizes which
they won in the garden contest and it
was gala day in their lives.
For months these little tillers of the
soil have been laboring early and late
to make beautiful a little plot of ground
at home or at school, and the result Of
their labors is a delight to the women
of the Outdoor Art league, who have
been conducting the work.
A plot of ground filled with blossom
ing plants a tumble-down back fence
hidden by a beautiful green vine,
square of crisp lettuce, the pride of
an entire neighborhood-a series of
oases in desert of neglected yards.
This is the result apparent to the
stranger, but to Mayor McAleer and
far greater gain.
Learn to Love Flowers
Several hundred children have learned
to love flowers and to care for them.
and twice the number are only waiting
for the opening of another contest for
a chance to be taught.
Mayor McAleer was not the only hero,
for each of the prize winners had a
claim to the attentions of his fellows
who had gathered to see the exercises.
The big reading room and parlors of
the Bethlehem institute were crowded
with the happy-faced youngsters and a
few of the grown-up folk, too. Little
Mexican girls with shiny black hair and
gay colored ribbons sat next to flaxen-
haired blonds with German names, and
a Russian lad with bare feet and torn
coat craned his neck over the head of
the son of son of ST. Patrick's land.
Nationality or color made not a bit of
difference
The little girls donned their best
attire and their sweetest smiles, and
some of the boys did likewise, while
others contented themselves with look
ing the part of the gardener.
From the Parks
From the park commission quantities
of beautiful flowers were sent to deco
gardens there were other blossoms, all
serving to make a background for the
sea of bright faces
DR.. George A. Lamb was the chair
man and he introduced the tots who
took part in the program.
Lucille Bartlett opened with music
and then the pupils of the Utah school,
which. by the way, has been one of
the most active in the contest, sang
Mexican hymn.
Then Mayor McAleer came. He was
greeted with shouts from the boys, and
some of them even went so far in their
youthful exuberance as to throw their
hats in the air and whistle.
He told them of the work the women
had done to make the contest a success
and had a real boys talk about the
things that boys love.
AT the close every boy was his friend,
but his oonquests were not yet over.
Tiny Entertainers
Anna Molloy, tiny tot with only
half dozen summers to her credit,
recited "The Seeding" and this was
followed by a Spanish Serenade,"
which was sung by Rosie Ayala, a dark
eyed maiden, and after her came a
recitation, "Forgetmenot," by Rosie
Barnes.
Mr.. Barnhardt. who has been the
y
structor since the contest opened, said
some nice things about the various
gardens and also told of plans for
future contests.
la Paloma" was sung by Grace Cut
bush, and a recitation, THE Daisy's
Place." was the offering of little Helen
Hinge. La Golondrina'' was sung by
the pupils of the Ttah street school, and
then Mr. Blanchard made some re-
marks
''The Ferns was the title of a recita-
tion by Lille Sanders, and Jennie Pir-
rome also gave recitation. Jennie
made a brave effort and got as far as
the first four lines when her thoughts
left her.
Mayor Was Prompter
She paused a moment, and the mayor,
who was sitting beside her. put out his
hand and drew her toward him. He
whispered something. and a minute
later the maid went sailing merrily on
through the rest of the lines. The smile
she gave her p-ompter was one that he
cannot soon forget.
Jennie was OF the only one who re-