Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-05

Useful. The married men of truck = are
the artists who designed, work and profit
by 1t, and it comes pretty near keeping
their families supplied with vegetables;
Thirteen tall, gaunt, yellow-blossomed
plants of the golden-glow variety stand
like sentinels at the front. They do not
hide anything or add much beauty to the
scene. but they have sort of forbiddlng
appearance. that, with the watchful eyes
of the f1remen, keep intruders at bay.
Within the Enclosure Of probably half
acre long lines Of cabbage plants. beets.
onions, tomatoes. parsley, cucumbers, car
rots. potatoes and other vegetables give
promise of good dinners to come. There
is even a good-siZed bed of mint, but
the fire laddies declare that it is cult
waited for export trade. and the neighbors
are willing to take the blame.
Capt. T. 7. Warren, Lieut. A. II. VOL
ter Assistant Driver E. Dipple, Driver II.
W. Hollidge and Privates H. T. Davis, NJ.
Y. Griffin and F. ]. Sylvester are the
hayseeds that harvest this crop. Each
man gets what he raises. but there Is
reciprocity among them which gives to
each a share of all. The farmers are just
getting in their late cabbage plants.
Earlier in the season they had two messes
Of peas apiece and nine pecks Of string
beans, some of them without strings and
mighty good eating, to say nothing OF
radishes, spring onions and the like.
This truck garden has been operated for
about six years. Heretofore there was a
beauty SPOT in front of it on Park road
Last year Lieut.. Wolter. who is prac-
teal florist. laid out in block letters form
ed of varicolored coleus plants the in
scription TRUCK Co.. No. s. in the
midst of a pretty stretch of parking: but
this year there were difficulties in getting
the plants and the beauty side of the gar
dening was omitted. Next year the men
are afraid that building operations on
their garden SPOT may rob them of their
land, and then the truck gardening will
go the way of the flower gardening.
Lieut.. Wolter. who is somewhat of a
wit. declared that SO far as he has been
able to observe the single men of the
company have not been tempted to COM
nit niatrimony on account of the truck
garden. They usually spend their time
laughing at the farmers. but do serve
from time to time their regular trick of
duty in watching and protecting the
growing plants.
All Take a Hand in Work.
In the rear of the truckhouse the men
keep clean cut plot of lawn with a few
rose bushes. There seemed to be NINA
ture rabbit warren on the premises yes
terday but the reporter was assured it
was not permanent institution.
The abandonment of the beauty side of
their agricultural work, the reporter was
given to understand, was not due to lazi-
ness. Oh. no. those fire ladies are not
lazy. ouL VI IIleiF OWL buckets tuey
contributed the money and with their
own hands painted and frescoed the
walls Of their living room. making it
beautiful and habitable. Capt. Warren,
with his own hands, constructed and
painted a large fire alarm board, showing
the first-call stations in the district. While
Lieut.. VOTERS and Private l.. w. Tower.
with considerable skill. constructed an
electric turnout board which indicates
by red, white and purple electric discs the
kind of alarm turned in and on other
discs in figures the numbers of the en-
gines. trucks. chemical engines and fuel
wagons called to duty. 1t is very use
full instrument for the company, say the
boys.
Thus do the men of the District fire de-
partment put in their time when there is
nothing else TO do. Some of them are
blessed with libraries. billiard rooms and
the like, the generosity of the neighbors
and others who have proffted by their
protection; but those who are not so for
tunate turn their hands to other lines of
work. some OF it beautiful, some of it
useful, but all going to show that idle
hands are seldom found and willing ones
are always ready.