The Southern herald., 1912-11-01

ting forth OF sober fact;
though it is none the less q
fact Of due and attested So M
briefly, and even, in all kind. W
ness. of some solemnity. NJ
The rose was created" as
the phrase goes. in George
Bancroft's famous rose gar
den, by the HISTORIANS errat-
ic old English gardener, John
Brady; 1t was a legacy to
Brady at Mr.. Bancroft's
death, in token of long and
honorable service, and OF the
fact that Brady had brought
1t to perfection only after years Of In
exhaustible patience and care; and 1t
was sold for pittance, but that is
getting ahead of the story.
Once upon time, in 1889, to be pre-
else, after George Bancroft had re-
turned from long diplomatic service in
Germany, and had settled down to
tranquilizing old age In his home in
Washington, there grew UP among the
flower enthusiasts of England, Amer
lea and the continent jealous quest
for a red rose which could be made to
bloom in winter.
Mr.. Bancroft's ascendency as rose
culturist in this country had been be-
yond dispute for half a century.
At the time of the inauguration Of
Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln de-
SPARED of pleasing herself In the ar
rangements of the White House gar
den, SO she called on Mr.. Bancroft for
help. This she received in such good
and flowing measure that, In acknowl-
edgment Of her debt. she sent to the
historian a splendid bouquet Of ja-
ponicas. In reply he wrote her that
for magnifcence, the bouquet was a
fair counterpart of Mr.. Lincoln's
brains"
What of official recognition then was
still lacking for Mr.. Bancroft's genius
as . rose grower was supplied by
Herr Bismarck, who so admired the
American minister to Berlin that he
supplied him with roses and rose cut
tings from the great Bismarck estates
In Pomerania.
But all this while, despite the genial
international cooperation of rose
growers, diplomats and statesmen,
the red rose refused to grow in win.
ter. Its wintertime behavior was, in
fact, exasperating beyond all words,
II, after months of herculean effort, q
branch could be made to put forth q
bud some fine morning, 1t was q sickly
purple by noon, and brown by sunset
Little yellow roses had thrived, time
out of mind, and these, with camellias
and 1aponicas, we're the sole reliance
Of those who would have flowers for
winter decoration.
Matters we're In this state when Mr.
Bancroft moved to Washington, bring
ing into his charming old house on
Lafayette square two trusted servants:
Herman, who came from Berlin, and
John Brady, the gardener, from Eng
land.
John Brady was installed in tbs
quaint L-shaped garden, which rar
back to Seventeenth street, and he wa.
instructed, among other things. t
reap the glory Of creating a tractablc
red rose.
The task was one which iumpet
with his own desires. The Bancroft
garden was scarcely less persona
pride to Brady than to Bancroft, ans
both secretly believed that no prais,
Of It could be really to extravagant
It became rendezvous for Washing
tons most distinguished persons
how much 30, one can guess from
President Arthur's dictum that "Th'
president is permitted to accept tht
invitations Of members Of his cabinet
Supreme court judges. and Mr.
George Bancroft
DozeHg Of times John Brady saamai