Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03
Around the City
The Fort Sumter lily:

The Fort Sumter lily:
FOrty-niDe years ago il was the only
living thing the Union navy found in the
deserted fort A gunner dug it from the
earth and took il TO the captain of his
ship. When the war was over the cap
tain carried il home to his wife.
Today the lily is blooming on Maple
View porch, set high on Anacostia
Heights.
The world has aged a half-century
since Fort Sumter day. Only the lily
defies time.
Each spring it has its triumphal resur-
reetiOn from a root that has slept all
wintere It's pink white blossoms
cluster at the top of stalk that rises
from out-reaching leaves that are SO
many tongues of tropical green.
Because no one has ever seen its like
il is named after the fort from which
il was taken. The pride of the old
south is in lis stately bearing, the
beauty of the old south Is in las pink
flushed chalice and the new life OF the
old south has its symbol in the seed pod
which the plant is developing for the
nrsr time in its long and lonely career.
And the seed-pod is the most wonderful
happening OF all. for il suggests that the
scientists who wrote about the conscious
mss of plants may be right. and that
ptrhaps-Just perhapS-the floral found
ing remember that day ar Fort Sumter
ship-and the gunner-and the captain
VINO sleeps under the green of Arlington
And perEaps-just perhaps-it realizes
The tender care of hands that have chang
20 rom youth to widowed age. and feels
perhaps-the need OF younger generations
Of Fort Sumter lilies TO which the story
may be handed down.
Then again. il may he just a brainless
mule weed that owes its beauty To the
care Of its owner. You can never know
q thing like that in this world
In either case. il began IT'S known his
tory ~ Fort Sumter half century ago
and IS now blooming. fresh and beautiful
y young. on Maple View perch sci
Eigh on Anacostia Heights.
! he was a small boy in white frock.
The hat on his curly head had an elastic
under the chin and the bits of feet h.
was swinging about four inches below
The car seat were shod in baby-whfte
slippers.
The-caflow young mother on his right
vas entirely absorbed in the lights and
saturday night crowds of the Avenue
But his thin and rather paflid father
vas demonstraiiveiy fond OF his boy
AZ one point, as cool wind blew
across the car. he drew the child to
him with cuddling motion that was
~oInanish in its tenderness. The boy
f1dgeted away
Bud is pops own boy. Isn't he?"
-Nuh.
iHdt ~ mamma 5 nov. are yOu?
Nun
Whose hoy are you. them"
Il III my own boy.
pop chuckled and drew Bud closer
Bud fdgeted loose again and swung his
feet with the independence of one who
has just defined his position and sticks
TO IT.
Well, like that. Next thint ] know
you'll grow up 10 he a democrat instead
OF q republican. like pop"
Il IN q democrat now
My. my. my Tell pop what else yot
are going 10 be when you grow up?'
I'm going to be "A man"
The thin and rather pallid father start
ed another chuckle. But the cool wint
had put sinister huskiness in his voic,
that made the callow young mother
flash around with the warning
Pop. turn up your coat collar
oughtn't TO a-let YOU come out in tn,
night air.
Pop obey ed, smiled at the woman pat
ted the boys shoulder. coughed a bi
and then seemed TO thing of some sudden
fearful thing that made him Iool
straight ahead.
What about il all? Oh. just a gIimps.
at everyday human nature as the ca
Whizzed On
A young man in store window wa!