The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-12-30
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Roses That Inspired George Ban
croft's Great Work.
Famous Historian Declared That He
Owed to Them Great Happiness
and Something Of His Sue
cess In Life.

! cess In Life.
The statement has been made from
time to time that George Bancroft. the
historian. was among the foremost au.
thorities Of his day on the cultivation.
varieties, habits and characteristics OF
roses. II is also true-as has been
stated-that the love of roses amount.
ed almost to a passion with Mr.. Ban.
croft. But have never seen It print.
ed that his roses frequently inspired
Mr.. Bancroft In this great work. Yet
II was my good fortune to have him
naively make this confession to me
under very Interesting circumstances.
One balmy June morning a matter
OF business took me to the Washing
ton residence of the venerable man,
then engaged in putting the final
touches on his monumental history of
the United States. With gracious
and cordial dignity he received me in
his library, fragrant with the perfume
from vase full of roses resting on a
table. Indeed, so beautiful were the
flowers that ] could not help remark.
ing to Mr. Bancroft even before the
business in hand was finished What
exquisite roses, Mr.. Bancroft"
He had been all attention before,
but now his eyes shone with the fire
of enthusiasm.
DO you like rose?" he asked with
almost childish eagerness.
YES" replied, they are my favor.
lite flower"
Then come with me-" he said sim.
ply.
A minute or two later, as we left the
house by the rear door, found myself
standing on the edge of a luxuriantly
blooming rose garden, occupying the
whole of the rear yard, about rs feet
In depth and so in width, as | remem.
Der 1t. 1t was plain even to lay eyes
that Mr.. Bancroft had made artistic
and economic use Of every foot of the
plot at his command.
AS we walked along the little wind.
| ing paths that gave easy access to
each bush, Mr.. Bancrofts hands were
prodigal with caresses for his roses,
and his touch upon them was like that
of fond fathers upon the head of a
favorite child.
They are my children, the cempan-
ions of my leisure hours" he told me
with charming simplicity. Some
times they have tempted me away
when / should have been at my desk.
Do you know that they sleep. getting
drowsy at twilight, and falling sound
asleep when darkness comes? And,
though l love them all, do you know
that sometimes | think the neighbor.
ing blossoms pout when | caress one
of their fellows? | can't help thinking
that these friends and companions
have some sub-corscious intelligence,
and / know of surety that to them
| owe great happiness and something
OF whatever success have had in life
for they have been true healers of
many of my momentary infirmities."
He stopped before some blossoms of
exquisitely delicate tint With both
hands he lovingly stroked them.
"Ah, how they have refreshed me-"
he went on. Invariably | come to
them when work on my history has
wearied me- talk with them, l fancy
they know what | say and like my
caresses, and they send me bacl; to
my desk with my body refreshed and
my mind stimulated for further work"
Again he stopped, this time before
bush laden with blossoms magnifi-
Gently red.
"They helped me with battle once
I had reached a point where the ex.
element of the theme no longer sus.
tanned me. Suddenly, laid down my
pen and sought out this tall, defiant
bush, with it's blood-red blooms that
have always seemed to me to be
! sprung from some great battlefield.
And as | stood before them | was
filed with the militant spirit of bush
and roses-I fairly glowed with IT,
Then / returned to my desk, picked
up my pen, and the task that had been
hard was easy"
Thus this charming old gentleman
of 80 odd years chatted with child
like frankness of his beloved flower
friends as we walked along the little
paths winding among them; and when
finally l left him l could not help
taking away with me the thought that
recurs to my mind whenever / hear
the name of George Bancroft men,
toned: 1.-THE roses-they have helped
him to make his name"
Copyright, 1903. by E. J. Edwards)
Oil Foils Bloodhounds.