The Washington herald., 1913-03-24

show is to be heidi in the botanical world
dates from 1T3. In the year preceding
King George III of England was in
duced to send one of the gardeners to
the Cape of Good Hope, who brought
back with him 400 sepcies of new plants.
This great collection being altogether
new to Europe. placed the gardens at
Kew above all those on the European
continent
Similar expeditions were sent out at
the expense Of the government to India,
China. Brazil, Fiji, Australia, and the
Philippines. Before the close of the
eighteenth century Kew Gardens were
generally admitted to possess the finest
variety of plants in Europe. Till then
this distinction was claimed both by the
Taris Jardin des Plantes and the Cpsala
Botanic Gardens.
Kew Gardens had one sight a century
ago which cannot be paralleled in mod
ern London. In 1916 a disabled sailor had
drawn on the long boundary wall in
chalk the effiges OF the whole British
navy. and over each representation ap-
peared the name OF the vessel and the
number OF her guns. He had in this way
depicted about 500 vessels. each five or six
feet long. and extending. with interven-
ing distances. above a mile and a half
As the work OF one man. the whole was
an extraordinary Performance. and the
decreptt craftsman received a competency
from passing travellers.
\ claimant has appeared to the Scot
tish Earldom OF Lindsay. His name is
Henry James Hamilton Bethune Lindsay,
he is an elderly man and lives at Mel
bourne. Australia He asserts that he is
the brother to the tenth earl. who in 1894
was succeeded by his counsin. because
the tenth earls brother. Henry James
Hamilton. was believed to be dead ard
is recorded in Burke's Peerages as hav-
ing passed away at Marseilles In 1852.
Mr.. Lindsay declares that he is that
brother. Instead OF going to France. as
had been supposed. he went out to Aus
tralia, because of an unhappy love af-
fair. He declares that he sought oblivion
on account of his ill-treatment by his
family.
Mr.. Lindsay relates that he arrived at
Adelaide in the eos. and became over
seer at a ranch at Cinnawigra. While
there he received a copy of the Scots
man, containing n portrait Of the tenth
earl About the same time man named
Hayes visited Australia to find him, il
having become known to the family that
he had not died in Marseilles. His iden-
tity was unknown to Hayes. but he met
him several times and learned about his
quest, but he kept the secret Inquiries
also were made in the papers. but he
took no notice OF the efforts TO find him
and moved about from one part of Aus
tralia to another.
Mr. Lindsay says that eventually he
went to Gippsland. where he lived a
lonely life. his only companions being a
dozen cats. The loneliness was too much
for him. SO he went to Melbourne. where
he stayed at a boarding house, and
q fha 1ndDer4 a whn fe
now his wife.
It was not his intention to disclose his
aristocratic connections to his wife. but.
like woman" sshe got a clew a few
weeks ago, and he yielded reluctantly
to make his story known and claim his
title.
Mr. Lindsay, who is a man about sew
enty years OF age. also asserts that in his
youth he was a lieutenant in the royal
navy and served on the Hercules, under
Capt. Simpson. FLANEUR.
Copyright. 1911, by Court Gossip syndicate.l