The Idaho Republican., 1914-03-27

classify my friends according to the
way they act when l talk about my
garden. On this basis, there are three
sorts of people.
First there are those who are OBJ
viously not interested. Such as these
feel no answering thrill, even at the
sight of florists spring catalogue.
A weed inspires in them no desire to
pull it. They may, however, be real
ly nice people If they are still young;
for, except by special grace, no one
under thirty need be expected to care
about gardens-it is matur taste.
But in the meantime I turn our talk
in other channels.
Then there are the people who,
when approach the subject. bright
en- up, look intelligent even eager,
but in a moment make it clear that
what they are eager for is chance
to talk about their own gardens.
Mine is merely the stepping-stone,
the bridge, the handle. This is better
than Indifference, yet it is some times
trying. One of my dearest friends
thus tests my love now and then
when she walks in my garden.
Aren't those peonies lovely?" I
suggest.
"Yes," dreamily; "you know l
can't have that shade in my garden
because--" and she trails off into
Al disQuisition that / could, just at
that moment, do without.
Look at the height of that lark
spur!" say.
''Yes-but, you know, it wouldn't
do for me to have larkspur when l
go away SO early. What need is
things for April and May"
\ well, I am not trying to sell you
any, I am sometimes goaded into
protesting. II only wanted you to
say they are pretty-pretty right
here in my garden
'Yes-yes-of course they are
pretty-they're lovely-you have a
lovely garden, you know" She pulls
herself up to give this tribute, but
soon her eyes get the far-away look
in them again, and she is murmuring,
ooh, I must write Edward to see
about that hedge. Tell me, my dear,
if you had brick wall, would you
have vines on it or wall-fruit?"
1t is of no use ! cannot mold her
long. | sometimes think she was
nicer when she had no garden of her
own. Perhaps she thinks was nicer
when I had none
But there is another kind of gar
den Manners kind that subtly
soothes, cheers, perhaps inebriates.
1t Is the manner of the friend who
may indeed, have a garden, but who
looks at mine with the eye of adop-
tion, temporarily at least. She walks
down its paths, singing out this or,
that for notice. She suggests, she
even criticizes, tenderly, as one who
tells you an "even more becoming
way" to arrange your little daughters
hair. She offers you roots and seeds
and seedlings from her garden, and
last touch of fatter-she begs
seeds and seedlings from you.
For garden purposes, give me the
manners of this third class. And,
indeed, not for garden purposes alone.
They are useful as applied to many
things-children particularly and
houses.
Undoubtedly the demand that ]
make upon my friends is form of
vanity, yet I cannot seem to feel
ashamed of it. ! admit at once that
not the least part of my pleasure in
my flowers, is the attention they get
from others. Moreover, it is not only
from friends that 7 seek this but
from every passer-by along my
country road. Some, set about with
hedges tall and thick, offer the de-
lights of eXclusiveness and solitude.
But exclusiveness and solitude are
easily had on a Connecticut farm and
my garden will none of them; it filings
forth its appeal to every wayfarer.
And I like it. I like my garden to
"get notice" AS people drive by
] hope they enjoy my phlox. I fur
lively glance to see if they have an
eye for the foxglove. I wonder if
the calendulas are so tall that they
hide the asters. And if, as ] bend
over my wedding, an automobile
whirling past let's fly an apprecia-
tive phrase-'lovely flowers ="
wonderful yellow Of" garden
there" my ears are quick to re-
ceive it and forgive the eddies of
gasoline and dust that are also left
by the vanishing visitant.
About few things can one be SO
brazen in enes enjoyment of recogni-