davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

1t pays eveAv time to buy varieties that
bear a standard name. This Is due to
variety Of reasons. Named varieties
sold by reputable houses are reliable.
They insure the carrying out of any par
ticular color scheme without the danger
of having a plant or two turn out to be
conflicting color when 1t springs up and
unfo!ds, thus marring even utterly
running bed or border for an entire sea-
son.
Each variety o. plant life even In the
same general family. has peculiarities or
it's own For example, one of the gera-
MUM family grows tall and spindly; an
other is fat and spreading; one will be
full in foliage; another is spare in leaf
growth.
A really desirable bed of geraniums
should be composed of one typical variety.
The most desirable is one with deep rich
red flowers and many of them. It's stalks
should be large and sturdy and the leaves
handsome in shape and deep strong green.
Each plant should have many branches.
. Verbenas, unless selected carefully. fire.
ouentlv clash so sadly in color that bed
planned to be a thing of beauty and JOY
forever turns out to be a bowling horror
when It bursts into full bloom. The colors
will be so inharmonious as to fairly agoh-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
Beauty ng Ugly Walks.

In my little garden on a city street the
straight walk that led from the gate to
the front stoop looked hopelessly unat-
tractive-just a straight cement path
with the grass or each side. Ten cents
worth of nasturtium seeds changed il So
much that 1t altered the appearance OF the
whole garden.
used the many colored dwarf variety.
1t grows literally of itself. Plant the
seeds in shallow holes. water WELL and
the plant does the rest. 1t is practically
free from insect enemies, and a few
plants will produce blossoms enough to
supply the house daily for the season. A
pretty way to use them for table decora-
ton is to cut them off short and float
them on a shallow glass dish or even a
saucer. This way they make dainty
little bed of yellows. cinnamons. marvons
and orange in the center of the table.
Unexpected and undesirable mixtures of
colors In flower beds are disheartening TO
the ambitious foriculturist. To avoid this
buy known varieties.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

snowpetals sends the odor of honey in the
making over all the place.
On the other side. burning crimson and
passionate. aglow with brave. startling color
in exact opposite to the maiden tenderness
Of clematis climbs a crimson rambler
boldest, hardest most grateful and loyal
of all the roses. Week after week he decks
himself again unexpectedly.
Below, at the foot of the steps, stands or
rather sits. clump Of hydrangea, the most
satisfactory Towering plant in America.
Even when there is not a single flower on
her the lusty green Of the ribbed leaves.
with their classically beautiful outlines and
vein patterns make it a daily and hourly
delight. And as it Is absolutely prodigal Of
flowers, literally covering itself with white,
lilac. pinkish or blush blooms tsometimes
bearing various colors at one time) hy-
drangea is entitled to the thanks of all
small gardeners If, instead Of being COM
mon, 1t were rare. flower lovers would
travel far to see one in blossom.
Behind the hydrangea and to the right
stands a rhododendron. another typical
American Towering shrub and another
beauty both in and out of blossom.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
To Destroy Weeds.

THERD are many methods to keep weeds
down. Some of them have been pat
ented. OF all methods, however, there
is just one best-that is, strange to say, not
only the easiest. but. equally strange to say.
the cheapest. and, boiled down, It is-don't
let them get a start.
AS soon as the seeds OF flowers or vege-
tables show above the soils surface stir the
dirt about them with hoe or trowel. ac-
cording to the size Of your bed or plot. No
need of deep or thorough digging or hoeing.
1t is not proposition that requires days or
hours. Simply break the surface OF the
ground and thousands Of aspiring weeds
have every hope shattered. Many will be
the seedlings uprooted and doomed to GER
tain destruction, but thousands OF ambitious
weddings will expire with prompt dispatch
upon exposure to the sun and air.
Hence the early risers are disposed OF Tor
all time. Later-after rain, perhaps-fur-
Their growth will start. Stir the soil again
and knock this crop out and surprise your
self with a clean, tidy flower bed and thfifty
flowers, not for one season only, but Tor
many seasons to come, for you not onIy
head off the formation Of new weed SEEDS.
but root growth which in many varieties OF
weeds suffices to start new plants.
If YOU have a gravel walk weeds VIII IN
time get foothold; but an occasional fak-
ing or hoeing will remedy this matter.
A brick sidewalk a boardwalk Is a ar
ferent thing for here IT is difficult to get at
the root Of the matter by means OF Tools.
Therefore we must bring chemicals into
play Take a pail of water. warm or cold,
put into Ii a handful of salt and pour the
solution down between the boards or uasi
it over the bricks. If the bricks show white
blotches from the salt that is left when the
evaporation takes place, wait n day or two.
then turn the hose on or dash fresh water
over the bricks. ,,,
ANY of the many so-called "magic" weed
killers may be used instead Of salt and they
will effect the purpose on walks, but should
never be allowed to approach the flower
beds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

viding you take care to see that 1t IS
sturdy and vigorous at the time OF plant
ing.
The hole you make for shrub often
makes all the difference between poor
growth and good Here is "A simple rule
for planting your SNOWFALL and all other
shrubs. Make the hole at least twice as
big all around as is necessary merely to
accommodate the roots. Throw some lit
ter-very little, however-into the bottom
and jump on it to pack II tight. Now
throw the top soil into the hole first and
pack it around the roots of the shrub
with hands and feet, bit by bit. Put the
bottom soil on top. mix 1t with leaves
straw, manure or even ashes to make it
light and porous and swamp IL with
water Immediately after planting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
Snowy Flower Beds for 81.

EOR small bed nothing can be more
i striking or more satisfactory and last
ing than the dubious begonia. This
grand floral gem is little known. IS sup
posed 70 be difficult to grow and hard TO
handle. Theory and general belief in this
item. rs I'm many others. are not borne out
10y practice Four to six little bulbs look
ing not very unlike a fattened-out potato
can he purchased for ST. and as they last
indefinitely, they are far cheaper In the
long run than annual purchases or plant
ing
The top OF a dubious begonia bulb is cup
shaped. and when planted should remain
protruding above the surface of the soil. II
you buy them now they Will have their
shoots started.
Simply press the bulbs into earth. moss
or even sawdust which is kept moist. Put
them near window In a warm room until
the middle OF May; then plant ahem out in
the flower bed. 1t seems TO matter little
whether the spot is sunny, half sunny or
shady; they do not appear to care much
about the situation. and an ever blooming
bed is yours until frost comes. Then pull
them UP. break of the great stems, shake
out the dirt from their minute roots and
toss them away on the dark closet shelf 10
wait Tor smother year.
The stems. oftentimes three-quarters of
an inch through, look truly fantastic
growing from such a small formation.
Their flowers are superb in texture, color
and shape. They are from two to four
inches in diameter. The leaves are Won
derfully rich and look like the weird,
fanciful growths of the tropics. They are
pointed. with serrated edges, and soon
cover the bed solidly and form remark
able background for the brilliant white,
pink. red. yellow or orange flowers. The
bulbs come for either single or double
flowers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

majority Of them were singers and they
averaged about $1.25 each.
Then 1 thought to myself. here's good
way to get that plano l longed for and
without hesitating made my purchase on
the installment plan, and bought fifteen
pairs of birds Then I got mother to let
me have the attic, and this I fitted up
The rest was easy. My brother made me
some cages, and / started in to make bust
ness Of it, 1t required such little bit of
time and such small outlay that l never
dreamed of anything but success; and 1t
came In big surprises. The first year
cleared s246. the second chat was last year,
when l deducted all expenses / found had
1853 IS for myself. That settled it. Since
then l have increased my stock and this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

A MOST satisfactory shrub that will set
~ off any house CALAMITY when planted
in small place Is the common snow
ball-the American viburnum. 1t is not
sufficiently honored. In the present craze
of strange. foreign shrubs 1t has been al
lowed to sink into the background; yet
whenever people see a real. old-fashioned
country garden the snowballs In 1t are
sure to draw expressions Of delight.
There is something perennially virginia.
about this pure flower tree. 1t Is cheap
shrub. Don't be extravaganza about buy
ing large one. 1t grows SO fast that a
few seasons suffice to give you Dig
shrub from a small two-foot plant, pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

# HEY are four old-fashioned ladies'
these four graces. Though vastly I'M
proved and refined by gardening ex-
perts from New York to Toxic, like little
country miss who has gone through fash
ionable boarding school. they still shed
through a garden the old-world sweetness
and the gentle romance of grandmother's
day. And with all the culture and style
that breeding has instilled in them in the
past twenty years, they still bloom as gladly
and grow vigorously and spontaneously
as they did in the old country garden of the
last generation.
The most tender and graceful Of the four
is the lady clematis. clinging with her
dainty arms TO the veranda and hanging
her bloom over the entrance to the house
like summer snow. SO fairy. so fragile are
her dense masses of flower that they seem
ntarily about TO fall in one soft. sud
den deluge Of rapturous white. And every
gentle breeze that stirs those heaped-up
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

deed" she said. smiling. ut isn't necessary
to practice monogamy. 1 usually give my
canary husbands at least three wives.
Having selected your stock and provided
the breeding cages. the next and most i'm
portant thing is to find place. This old
attic solved the problem for me. 1t Is
quiet and away from the noises Of the
house. and the ventilation here is good. But
if such fine quarters are not available. ad-
wise the selection of a room where there
is the least noise. Canaries when they
are breeding do not like to be disturbed.
They are a nervous little body, and re-
quire gentle handling. / mean by that, you
should give them no surprises. Approach
the cages slowly. talk quietly to the birds
and avoid all sudden movements. After a
little while they begin to know you, and If
you are wise you will take a little hemp
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
Keeping Ground Moist.

When water falls on your garden 1t seeps
through the top soil. goes down few
inches or feet and stays there. Now. II
your top soil is hard and packed 1t will dry
out few moments after 1t has been water
ed. But the moment you rake it 1t will be-
gin to suck up the water from beneath
That il why raling is 80 good around plants.
Rake whenever you have a few moments
II you haven't rake at hand and happen
to see that the ground around shrub is
caked, loosen 1t with the toe OF your shoe
or with a stick. Rake the grass from your
lawn after cutting and scatter IL lightly over
the beds 1t fertilizes and also prevents
eyaporation Of moisture
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

year. well. I'll not count my birds before
they're Matched, but l have great eXpecta'
tons.
II shall be very glad to tell you all l
know of canary breeding If YOU will not
mention my name. All right" she contin-
ued. assured that her name would be held
inviolate.
We'll, to begin with my experience has
taught me that to get good results you
must pay particular attention to your
breeding stock. l look for a vigorous fe-
male. preferably of solid color. and select
a male that is somewhat mottled. Top
knots are favorites. and If either parent is
so fortunate as to have crown of feathers
so much the better. 1t isn't necessary to
have both birds marked-in fact, l believe
it a detriment, for it sometimes results In
patchy badness in the offspring. No, in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

TWO Of the most beautiful Of our very
common American wild flowers are
weeds, and one of them is considered
the greatest pest in the country when 1t
appears on lawns, which are Its favorite
abiding places. 1t is the dandellon, and II
YOU are among those who love velvety.
"well-kept." perfectly cropped lawn, you
must extirpate this flower to the last frac
ton of an inch OF it's long, tapering root.
But !, though fully admit the very real
beauty Of a fine lawn. have a personal lik-
ing for lawn speckled with the wonder
fully bright golden CLEAN Of the dandelion
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

in flower. l think that there are few
sights more beautiful and delighting than
to see the early spring green Of meadows
and gardens sprnkled with this early
blossom. So 7 have reserved for myself
a patch of lawn Gin the back where shrubs
hide it, and there j let dandeliOnS bloom
to their hearts content.
Out of sympathy and respect for my
neighbors I take care to prevent them
from coming to seed: and / notice that
they always admire my table decorations
Of dandelion and queens lace handker-
chief
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

ventional and like thousand times thou
sand others scattered through the United
States. AS matter Of fact they are
practical, proper and charming development
of the old American front yard and for
the owner of small suburban plots they are
the most readily achieved and the most
easily maintained form of garden.
Honeysuckle forms the vines that beautify
the porches Snowballs and spiraeas are
grouped at both sides of the stoop and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

slightly In front Of it. The big Powered n.y.
drangea (panticulata grandiflora) breaks the
monotony Of the side of the little lawn.
Weigelia and deutzia stand between the
house and the street.
All these shrubs and vines are hardy and
can withstand practically all the trying con-
ditions of American climates sudden
changes drought, frost and wind. They
have few insect enemies. They are very
rich In flowers. You can't go wrong In
using these plants.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

~ course, the unconventional, the I'M
I usual, is the most striking in gardens
as in everything else. But it is not
the most beautiful, unless it be the work Of
talent. The average small gardener who
tries to do something different" generally
succeeds only in doing some thing grotesque
and undesirable.
Landscape gardeners" and faddists OBJ
ject to the form of suburban front gardens
shown here, because they are entirely con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
Euy Known Varieties.

iZe the sensitive or observing mortal. 1t
is far better to lay out the bed with, say.
purple variety outside, then a circle or
row Of white inside or center Of sea rlet or
the variegated red and white. BY buying
standard varieties you will avoid the dan
ger Of having these incongruous colors
suddenly startle your garden.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

are always unnecessary, and how they
wound.
duchess-I forget which-who said to her
noble husband fOndly:
"'You were embarrassed when you pro-
posed to me. Percival, were you not?'
1o"'""' 49,
Scathing.
At dinner Of the Beach Club at Palm
Beach. Oakleigh Thorne, New York's noted
Taconteur told a story about a theatrical
manager.
The day after the production of a new
melodrama," said Mr.. Thorne, this man
ager wrote to his leading man as follows:
Dear Sir: Your performance last night
was bad that fourteen deadheads have
written to me demanding that their names
be stricken from the free list
Child Logic.
Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead of Boston aroused
a good deal of comment with her recent
declaration that tin soldiers had a bad ef-
feet on children, melting in them love of
war.
Mrs Mead. an engaging author and a
noted lecturer. was well qualified to speak
on this matter, for she has for a number of
years studied carefully and intelligently the
child mind.
In the course of investigations she has
come upon many quaint instances of the
peculiar reasoning of children. The other
day she said:
II once told little girl that some folks
claimed the moon was inhabited.
THE child sneered.
Rubbish she said. 1t can't be. What
would the people up there do when there
was only little slit left?' F."
AT q Bazaar.
DR.. Hollis B. Frissell, the principal of
Hampton Institute. in the course of an elo-
quent appeal, paused. smiled and said:
But I must not lose my head. I must
not let emotion run away with me. I must
not be like the young lady at the bazaar.
''This young lady besought an elderly man
to take chance on a meerschaum pipe.
THANK you the old man said; I'd be
glad to take a chance, but unfortunately I
don't smoke
"'Oh. but you can learn said the young
lady. Come take chance, do! It's only
! a quarter
mo said he. Tobacco doesn't agree
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

Is there a more exquisite flower than the
latter? The right name for It, truly, is
this-queen's lace handkerchief, or Queen
Anne's lace. whichever you prefer-that
must have been given to it by some poet
courtier long ago. What do we need to
care for the unnecessary fact that in bot
any this tail white daughter of the free
plant world is really only the wild carrot?
When she stands, tall and slender and
gauZy white bowling in fairy array to the
wind. the fields where she grows look like
gardens in which stand an uncountab BILE
army Of maids of honor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07

their competition will be felt
in this country. They are breeding cana
ries for profit, and find the business pleas
ant and exceedingly profitable.
Here in Washington. according to the
bird man there are about twenty ladies en-
gagged in the business. and last season he
paid them over a thousand dollars for the
little feathered musicians they had raised.
This season ne predicts big increase, and
says he has contracted for nearly 1000
birds. at 81. rs each. This. of course, Is for
young birds For yearing stock and good
singers he pays up to 81 each.
While there seems always to have been
some canaries raised in Washington for
profit it was not until last year that 1t
became a business. This year a number OF
women have started in a modest way, and
at least three have stocked their attics and
spare rooms with all the birds they could
use and are making plans for extending
the business next year. Ihere Is one
woman out It'll street extended who used
to make pin money by raising squads.
When she learned now much easier it was
to breed canaries she disposed or her
pigeons and went into the canary business
in earnest The feature of the canary
business is the small amount Of care the
birds require and the relative small outlay
necessary for the beginner. That is the
financial aspect, for there is a pleasure in
the business that is not TO be measured by
dollars and cents
The Star man was invited the other even
ing by young lady, well known In society,
TO visit her aviaTy. She was most careful
10 impose bond of secrecy, for, she de-
cared none of her friends knew she was
raising canaries to sell The old attic of
the house, which, she declared, had never
been used save as a storeroom, had been
transformed into a great bird room. and
she stated there were 236 grown birds and
at least half that number of young ones.
The fact is she hadn't counted up the new
arrivals that day.
It's just the dearest fun in the world
to raise canaries,'' she said, land profitable
100. Why, you would scarcely believe IT,
but that baby grand piano you in the
drawing room was bought by my BIRDS and
besides that I have spending money too.
OF course, the financial end of Il has its
destinations, for it's awfully jolly to be in
dependent of ones parents; but l get any
amount Of pleasure watching the dear little
creatures keep house and raise q family
ii all men were as attentive to their wives
as the male canaries are 10 their little bet
ter halves / wouldn't mind trying welded
bliss myself. Such patient devotion, such
loving care you never see In our human
ia mly.
How did l go into the business? Well
as Kipling would say, that's another story.
No. indeed, / don't mind telling you It's
funny. Well. you see have always been
very fond of birds. Two years ago
started breeding cage OF canaries and be.
fore the end Of the summer / he'd sixteen
baby birds. They were such pretty darlings
that hated to part with them, but had no
place to keep them and so decided to sell
them. never dreaming I could get anything
much for them Guess my surprise when
the bird man handed me So. 1t seems the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
The Lithuanian Sherlock Holmes.

H. G. Wells. the novelist believes that
unrestricted immigration is bad thing for
America.
Il have watched the tide of immigration
flowing into New York" he said at din
ner during his American visit, land it
seemed to me that this great, turbid wave
would have been the better for a filtering.
Some Of your immigrants are uncon.
sciously unclean in their habits Looking at
them, | have often been reminded of the
Lithuanian Sherlock Holmes.
"A Lithuanian Sherlock Holmes said to a
neighbor:
you had for breakfast this morning.
"'I take that bet the other answered
promptly. What did have?
'The Sherlock Holmes ohuckled as he
gazed at the yellow streaks in his friends
long black beard.
"'You had eggs he cried.
"'You owe me a hat the reply. i
have not touched an egg for ten days.
Too Jealous by Half.
A Presbyterian clergyman was prais-
ing the late DR.. Henry Martyr Field of
Stockbridge. who for forty-four years edited
the Evangelist.
Or Field did so much good he said,
because he went about his work diplomat
ically, sensibly, reasonably.
II once heard him declare that reformers
failed often because, the moment they
started a reform, they dropped common
sense Common sense was swallowed up in
zeal.
He said that a nerve cure faddist once
entered a shop and, leading the proprietor
to one side, whispered mysteriously:
"'Ah, friend, friend, you cap do the race
untold good IL you will only take the agency
for our anti-tea preparation. 1t is warrant
ed to cure in a week the most confirmed
and nerve-racked tea tippler. Never
again
But the dealer laughed and drew away
".You have made mistake he said. L
can't take such an agency as that. Don't
you see that this Is a tea shop?
"'Oh, no mistake said the reformer
eagerly. It's because you run tea shop
that have sought you out You come into
constant contact with the very people we
are trying to reach. "
These Unpleasant Truths.
Senior Enrique Creel, the new Mexican
ambassador, said at a dinner in Washing
TON apronos Of unpleasant truths: