Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04

Venus fly trap. II is popularity called
Mr.. Smith said
Il have watched fly crawl on its leaves
and just so soon as a nerve center ~
touched the leaf closes UP and thereupon
follows precisely the same process which
goes on in the digestive organs OF an an
imal And You know OF the sensitive
plant, how il quivers. OF course" But he
exploded the theory that the sunfiower
turns 10 the sun" as so much poetic
Imagination.
Mr.. Smith has also edited a typical
small town newspaper I'm England and
says he got much fun out OF it, imply
ing that the measure OF his amusement
was In no way equaled by his financial
compensation
But il is as Capt Arthur Smith. wEo
entered the Imperial Yeomanry-a branch
of what corresponds 10 our cavalry-as 4
private. and rose in rank through sheer
bravery and heroism. that he will most APP
peal TO the hearts of Washington iuve-
niles. among whom he expects to spend
so much OF his time. Asked what he had
done 10 win three mentions" In dis
patches sent home by Lord Kitchener, he
replied indifferently:
.'Oh. for gallantry in action
And IL was only by persistent question
ing that IL developed he had been the
highest commanding officer at one point
of a particularly bloody battle and hal
led a charge through the mountains. 50
encouraging the troops behind him that
they followed to a victory. He had two
horses shot from under him, but kept on.
having. as he blandly put it: the very
good luck not 10 be killed" He has two
medals for this action, and reluctantly
agreed to lend a picture of himself in uni
form that they might be seen.
But / am only a civilian now" he ex-
planned. so il is not really good form 10
pose as a soldier. Gardening and war
are so very far opposed"
He has taken a house down in the
southeast section OF Washington, and was
only just moving in when the interviewer
called. His wife. who has that exquisitely
clear-tinted complexion of the English
woman, made clock tea. and insisted
that it be drunk. Mr. Smith cast a re-
gretfu eye over the struggling grass OF
his front yard plot and said he would
have 10 get very busy lest the Washing
ton folk belittle my ability TO improve
their homes when my own looks so be-
draggled."
He had drawn up a list OF the require
ments for the prize competition TO be
held later. and in nothing was the English
love for fair play more strongly displayeI
than in the setting aside OF fifteen points
out of a possible hundred in favor OF
detrimental conditions outside control.
such as too much shade in a yard, too
little air, or smoky atmosphere" Other
wise. he explained, no matter how hard
one citizen might try. he could not have
an equal chance with some one else whose
yard conditions are ideal
Asked what he thought of the situation
here. he declared he considers IL excep-
tional as city for raising flowers since
the climate is not rugged, and there is
none of that murky atmosphere so deadly
to plant life and encountered fin every
city where there are manufacturing in
terests.
People who desire TO improve their
knowledge of gardening will have rare
opportunity in Mr.. Smith. for he Is here
In sort of Robin Hood role to assist in
beautifying the homes of the rich as they
pay for il, and the homes Of the poor for
nothing