The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-06-05
THE FLOWER FETE

the cllluT0u Ill Tic plduIlHS vi now .
the ultimate object being to instill
in them love for flowers and to
make Ocala "a city beautiful"
Several months ago a committee
consisting of Mrs. T. R. Bridges, Mrs.
George Bitch and Mrs. Otis T. Green,
procured seed and distributed them
among number of children and Of
fered prizes fer the best kept flower
beds and the hest exhibition OF
flowers.
Children to the number c. eighty or
more entered the contest but unfortu-
nately the season proved most Jun
favorable.
We have the authority of the At
lanta Georgian that is breaks all
records for a long continued drouth.
Many of the children had no hose
connection With the water plant and
were compelled to water their little
flower beds by hand.
In number of instances the neigh
bors chickens preyed upon the
flowers just as they were peeping
through the ground and in other in
stances, taking advantage of our mo
fence law" the cows became passion
ately enamored of flowers and
greedily devoured a number of I'M
protected beds.
A committe of judges consisting Of
Judge David S. Williams, Major L.
T. Izlar and Mr.. Frank Harris, was
appointed to visit the homes of the
contestants and Inspect the flower
beds, gather data concerning same,
and from this data make the awards
of the prizes given by the Woman's
club.
Mrs. Green and Mrs. Bitch &C
companied the committee on it's
rounds to see that every home was
visited.
The committee endeavored to per-
form its duty thoroughly and con-
scientiously and while pleased and
greatly encouraged with the faithful
ness of many of the children who
had entered the contest they had mol
hesitation in awarding the boys
prizes to Lindsey and Walter Troxler
who from first to last worked like
little Trojans to capture the prizes.
Among the girls the first prize was
awarded to Alice Colbert and to-
Louise Bowler, the second prize.
On Friday afternoon all the con-
testants were required to send con-
tribution of their flowers to the court
house lawn where they were arranged
to the very best advantage in the
band stand.
Special prizes were offered for the
best collection. A gold watch was Of
fered by Mrs. H. c.. Groves for the
best boys collection and a gold lava
liere by the Commercial bank for the
girls best collection.
A committee of ladies consisting
of Mrs. w. K Zewadski, Mrs. D. E.
McIver and Mrs. R. A. Burford was
appointed to perform the delicate
and difficult task of inspecting this
massive collection and agree upon
the winners.
In order to prevent even the ap-
pearance of partially each exhibit
was judged by numbers.
The boys number fell to the lot of
Eugene Potter and the lucky young
lady was Louise Bowler.
There was also prize in the shape
of brass jardaniere offered by the
ladies for the best general exhibit
of flowers open to all entries which
was won by Mrs. F. E. McClane.
Major Izlar, in behalf of the COM
mittee, was selected to tell in flowers
of rhetoric how the ladies cimposing
the civic department of the Woman's
club, the special committee who as
sisted in the awarding of the prizes
and the people generally, felt concern
ing the institution of this beautiful
feature in our social life.
Major Izlar was equal to the occa-
sion and he told how it was flowers
that made the garden of Eden beauti-
full and it is largely flowers that make
our homes beautiful and at
tractive. Judge David S. Williams
told how the decision of the judges
was reached and in a happy and
graceful manner delivered the prizes.
We are glad to know that this is
to become an annual feature and we
hope that the next year will be more
favorable, that the seeds will be en-
tirely adapted to our climatic condi-
! lions and the fete will be earlier in
Nav Whnn fl,1