The Washington herald., 1911-01-01

by other noted persons. Stevens looked
at the tree, at the spot where 1t was to
be planted. at his feet and hands. and
then thrust his hand down into his pocket
and pulled up a silver dollar. Here" he
said. you get some niger to plant that
tree for me-" The next day he sent down
a bottle Of whisky with a note saying
that Scotchman would not be likely to
water his whisky, but that in case Smith
should be so minded he wanted to inform
him that the water in Tiber Creek would
not improve 1t.
have been few Senators OF Representa-
tives who have not believed, with Emer-
son. that flowers were made for the
service of the SOUL" and they have been
generous in advocating the Botanic
Garden and voting for its needs in Con-
gress, but now and then there has ap-
peared a man among the peoples rep
resentatives. to whom
"A primrose by the rivers brim
A yellow primrose was to him;
Twas that, and nothing more"
When Mr.. Smith was conducting one
of these Philistines through the garden
one day, the Philistine wanted to know
what was the use Of spending SO much
money-the nations money-on flowers.
When he came to the orchid bed. his
are the darned things worth, anyhow"
he asked. Whereupon Mr.. Smith said.
My dear sir, if the Great Architect of
the Universe had been studying economy
when He made you, He would have put
you on four feet and fed you on grass"
which silenced Mr.. Philistine.
A Carnegie Episode.
Andrew Carnegie, a countryman of Mr..
Smith, is his great friend and crony, and
rarely misses an opportunity to visit the
public gardener. Il remember once"
said Mr.. Smith, Il put my paw down
on the table and said. Here's the paw OF
laboring man and he's not ashamed
of it. Quick as q flash Carnegie put
his hand down on it and said, And
here's another"
Among the women in public life, Mrs.
Hayes was Mr.. Smiths favorite while
she was in the White House. She was
constant visitor to the garden and
showed the keenest interest in whatever
work was going on.
But of all the men. small or great.
who have been Mr.. Smiths guests. the
late Charles A. Dana he insists knew
the most about plants. He was, in
fact, trained botanist and could give
every leaf and flower its scientific
name in passing through the hot
houses. The first time he visited the
orchid house he examined the plants
with the keenest interest, and finally,
stopping before what was at that time
a rare variety. he asked. Where did
you get your Percilivianar' Now
what layman in the world" asks Mr..
Smith in telling the story, would
recognize a Perciliviana%
Visitors to Washington, noting the
square devoted to The Botanic Garden,
which is fenced iH-bA, high. unsiRhtly
brick wall, ask what is the good Of
It, or what use is 1t in the economy of
the government? II we must have botan.
ic gardens why hedge them in. cut them
on from public view SO that no one can
enjoy their treasures? Why. indeed? Mr.
Smith will tell yoJ that the garden has q
great practical work in distributing
different species of plants and flowers
throughout the United States and that
the high fences are required to keep
the wind from his delicate plants
Absurd Site for Garden.
AS matter of fact, the presence Of
the Botanic Garden at the foot Of the
Capitol il absurd This SPOT was.
doubtless well chosen in the first
place. but now, in the center of a great
city, 1t is entirely out of place Sooner
Or later this will come to be recognized
and the garden will be moved to the
only logical place for 1t, the National
Park.
While the great passion of his life Is
Burns and Burns writings. Mr. Smith
has not confined himself to this one
sreat writer. All his life he has been an
lncessant reader and Is versed in the
classics as well as the moderns. Goethe.
next to Burns. 10 his favorite poet
Drawn to him, In the hrst place. because
Of the great mans interest in botany.
Mr.. Smith came to love his writings for
their rare charm, and Goethe finally
came to occupy place side by side with
Burns IN his affections Emerson is an
other Of his fav0rites. and in the
speeches which he was In earlier days
30 often called upon to make before hor-
ticulturai societies he quoted from Emer-
son. more than any other writer. And
Mr., Smiths speeches were filed with
quotations He could not see. he; said.
why he should not use the other mans
words II the other man put the idea pet-
ter than he (Smith) could put II.
It II . happy old age Mr.. Smith b hav-
ng among his beloved plants <Gnd his
beloved books. Which Of the two ere the
iearer to him he h unwilling to eqofess:
but his time d, pretty evenly divided be-
tween the two. The plants. need him.
be needs the books. b the way ho putS
1. and he snjoys thssn both. 70 IL FULL
y much u0W tAat ~ has pAssed u
aipe<isth milsetcne = - - 1e,y ysose