The Washington herald., 1912-06-17
Entertaining Gossip of DOings of
Royalty in Lands across the Sea

world on account OF the famous "phy-
sic garden planted there by Sir Hans
Sloane and handed over TO the Apoth-
ecaries' Society in 1721, on condition
that they should maintain It at all
times in such manner that It should
enable apprentices TO distinguish be-
tween useful and harmful plants. In
the old Physlc Garden, afterward the
Royal Botanic Garden. was raised the
first chrysanthemum ever grown in
England.
At Chelsea also was opened the 9TH
er day. by King George and Queen
Mary. the Royal International HortI-
cultural Exhibition, which is said by
connoisseurs to be the finest flower
show ever seen in the whole world.
The exhibition has been housed in
the Royal Hospital Gardens, Chelsea.
Here many tents have been put up
one OF them as spacious as a palace.
covering three and a half acres of
ground. 1t was into this central pa
vilion that the King and Queen first
came with their automobiles.
On either side there were waves of
color from the banks Of rich blossom
which breathed exquisite perfumes. In
the center OF the aisle. built round a
tall pillar, was an immense bower Of
blossom, a harmony OF tints more deli
cate than fne-spun silks. II was a
mass of cinearias, with their star-like
petals, each one a perfect specimen,
and together a tapestry Of pale
threads woven into a fancjful patterns.
On either side Of the central avenue
the same flower played through all the
gamut Of the color scale, from purple
to white. Here also were masses of
roses, gloxinias, lObelias. and bego-
Mas in rich profusion OF beauty. so
that ones eyes were bewitched.
The King and Queen fingered before
the roses. as often before in history
English Kings and Queens have stayed
before the beauty of those fiowers
which they have chosen for their en-
blems. But no such roses as these
bloomed in English gardens when Tu-
dors and Plantagenets plucked them.
II Is perilOus TO single out this one or
that as incompatible, because every rose
lover has his own favorite. Yet what
could be more perfect than the Frau
Karl Druschh. which called forth the
Queens praise, soft and pure az new
fallen snow, so that one might believe
its fiaky petals would melt In the sun
shine? Or what more beautiful than the
Mrs John Laing. in which the rich red
glow Of a sunset in June seems TO have
shed all its glory? Or what more won
derful than the UlriCh Brunner. on fre
with crimson flame?
This royal family Of flowers. all Of
them Of noble breed. have not been born
by accident. They come Of a long line
OF ancestors, chosen by the gardeners OF
life. They owe some OF their present
splendOr to men and women Of long ago
who. in old English gardens and the fair
gardens Of France. loved roses and all
gentle plants, and with a loving tyranny
prevented those mesalliances by which
even the family flowers may he degraded
10 a common stock Here is the triumph
OF heredity and selection
Yet such thoughts do not come to one
as one stands for the first time upon
the threshold Of these banquet chambers
Of nature. gazing up the great aisle Of the
most spacious pavilion into which one
first enters All theories. all facts OF
science are annihilated by the great wave
OF sensuous delight which thrills one tn
the presence OF this panorama OF living
color
A statue Of Pan smiles down upon
white hymphs and dryads and the spirit
OF Bacchus haunts a little grove. where
upon an overhanging trellis hang great
bunches OF black grapes. But Cor sheer
wonderment at the phantasies Of nature,
the orchids captivate ones eyes. There
are great banks Of them. filed with
startling varieties They seem like living
insects with gorgeous wings 1uttering
upon slender stems.
The Canadian and Austrian pavilions
are tempting displays OF cereals and
fruits harvested in those lands. But one
always goes back TO the flowers to bath
Opes spirit in their beauty. to great
tents full Of flowers from the gardens
OF old England. Of fair rance. Belgium
Holland. and its wondroUs tulips, Ger
many and its glorious blossoms and field
flowers, and. Switzerland and Bavaria
with their rare Alpine "Edelweiss."
FLANECR.
Copyright, 1872. by Court Gossip syndicatsJ