The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-21
Evening Chat
whose Garden, and Where?

IN the heart Of our city, in the
midst Of the noisy traffic, almost at
the intersection Of two Of our busiest
streets there lies garden. Busy feet
hurry by constantly uncaring, I'M
needing, unaware OF its very exist
prce. D.,
Perhaps a fragrant breath Of 1t
comes vaguely to some absorbed indi-
= Vi .ual, stirring heeting memories OF
DAYS when tangled wood gave up It's
treasures to youthful hands-laden-
ing them with scented spells OF the
WiidsS II so, that one wondered
what drift of mind drew aside the
curtain Of time to present these mem
ories. never dreaming that only few
steps aside would bring him face to
face with the exquisite counterparts
81 those priced blossoms OF the past.
Like all gardens that are the ex-
preston Of the heart Of their posses
Sof, this one sweetly grows in seclu-
sion. and like all gardens true to ro-
nance and poetry, this one has a
vail. The seclusion does not mean
exclusion, nor does the wall forbid
for those Woh ahve sought 1t out have
been made courteously welcome by
It's silYery-haired owner and gladden.
ed by the vision which his LOVING
hands have brought INTO being. Over
f1e wall the garden lovingly spreads
Va treasures, for 1t is pressed down
and running over with beauty. A
yellow spice bush lights the first lamp
az spring, and eagerly following come
bridal wreath and mock orange
lilacs are there-and snowballs NOD
In their season to a slender young ma
Die tree, which fingers by the pave
lnent below. ,
lust now the althea is shedding It's
faded flowers. They lie like crumpled
fragments Of tinted crepe paper be-
meath the feet of the passer-by.
All these in turn lift their blossoms
IN the breeze and call to deaf ears
"see! We are the outward sign OF an
inward garden"
No brazen geraniums, no Haunting
nasturtiums, no railWay-station flow
er effects, in cannas and colens pro-
fame this sanctuary, for this Is true
Garden. not combined for a summer
fash of color, but slowly growing
year by year, to wealth OF tuill-
ment. which does not diminish, but
only increases as time goes on. At
the sound Of approach on the red
brick walk, if you come to visit in the
garden. a black-robed figure advances
10 meet you. This is the owner OF
the garden-it needs only glance to
realize that. He will look at you
keenly with his very dark eyes, and
bis wide experience with all classes
be people, which makes him adept at
character reading, will tell him at
once whether you have come for curl
osity or whether an humble love for
ais fower-chlldren has led you hither.
You will stand entranced by the
riot Of beauty, and spell bound by the
wonderful fragrance. Your host Will
lead you from plant to plant and In
troduce them as one friend to an
other. Their botanical names flow
smoothly from his tongue, for his
birth and calling have given him pro-
ficiency in Latin, and his great love
for his flowers has made. their sclen-
tlfc study delight. Every living
thing in the garden has a real per-
sonality to him, for his hands have
borne them from many rugged
point in West Virginia woodlands and
have skilfully planted them and ten
Derby nurtured them, watching over
their welfare with unfalling constan'
cy. IN,
Look at these asaleas, lifted bodily
from our forests, white, gorgeously
scented ones, orange yellow ones, and
the more common pink ones, growing
above your head in sturdy perfec-
ton not to be found in the wilds,
where they are constantly broken and
torn by careless bouquet gatherers.
The solemn, waX-leaVed Thododen-
dron and our gay, sparkling laurel,
with that exquisite coloring live here;
they crowd to the walk as if to touch
the garments of him who cares for
them. Such fern fourishes here, mi
such variety and luxuriancy! Tall
reathery madenhair. and wide frond-
ed tree fern, and Others sweet scent
ed, like meadow new mown. Tril-
llums love this garden, they Will
scarce await April's call to open their
white flowers. Sweet Williams, and
blue bells, and columbiues sway in
the wind, and there are multitudes OF
all kinds of Vioiets.
The gardener will show you stu
pendous arums from his beloved
France. He will touch their foliage
and be pleased at your exclamation
over the unfurled bloom with its
enormous spike. "Ah! Curious-yes.
But the odor is very bad" he will say.
There is little pool with real forget
menots growing round it. Timid,
shy, blue t.ings with the most per-
feet p ,rfume! You will hear the story
Of this plant, and that one, as you
proceed. Some steps lead you up to
walk under the owners beloved
magnolia trees. If you are fortunate
enouyh to be there when they are
blooming you will long remember It,
Great, heavy, waXy flowers, foot in
uiameter, unfolding to the warm SUM-
shine. A never-tobe-forgotten flower.
And then there are other magnolias,
kmall ones, like dazzling white roses,
full of such fragrance as you have
never conceived.
Bordering this walk are canterbury
4 bells. Real ones such as you have
read about but never saw growing,
and there are few splendid red and
pink roses. If the owner of the gar
den gathers you wee boquet OF the