New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
The Spring Drive
By Emma Buobee
CoMEwHERE IN NEW YORK =,

COMEWHERE IN NEW YORK NJ.
~ indications that the great snr;,@
drive, so long anticipated bv n.as NV
and fiat dwellers, is about to begin Nv
apparent at an Atlantic port TO-DAY
Trailing arbutus was seen on -.
known avenue. It's appearance .,.,
of small strategic value in the fight .,.,sa ssa
coal bills and the high cost of rhin;t;s As'
the signal for a great outpourine Of ;ou was
the part of the populace of the w;..' ~
ravaged city. Women bent over md IL.
the fragile blossoms when they could ~
afford to buy them, and many proud lors'
on the way to purchase roses at four a., s
lars a dozen tor his sweetheart yielded !.
sudden sentimental impulse and bon,h.
her arbutus at thirty-five cents q hsas hu.sss
These ere the little human interest" thin.
which are recognized as being of the hieS' ss
est importance IN keeping up the morale 80
the nation, so much weakened by tba ~ "
paralleled severity of winters rec>n. 1''
tacks, aided as they we're by the scarcN, ~,
coal and other enemies within tbo VI
For this reason the flower outposts M "
avenue will doubtless be maintained ~ m VIC
cost. aay
1t was announced that certain persons H.,
been overheard spreading the story m .sS
tops of buses that the arbutus was fs.N
the far South, and therefore not t,"l
indication of spring in these parts. Tho..
were denied by the home office. All nas
sons were warned that these stories w...
only part of the subtle propaganda c.r-;.s
on by winter, in an effort to terroriza 49,.
people by making them think snrine wv.
never coming.
In view of the prevalence of this terr..
the authorities made public last night o.,
tam other announcements which had boa,
kept secret up to this time. They permttsa
1T to be known that reports from their 6o,s
marshals up in Westchester County a.
clare whole gardens to be entirely clearoa
of ice and snow. What ice remains !.
deeply intrenched on north facing sloros
or in few dark corners from which tha
sun scouts have been unable to drive thor
as yet. Several detachments of new preen
grass have advanced on tAe sunnv s,on..
facing toward the south, particularly alons
the Bronx River. In the swamps are manv
listening posts manned by pussy willows
Some OF the most courageous work of H..
whole campaign has been done by the tu,ins
and daffodls. These daring little nlants
nave penetrated often as far as half m
inch from their trenches, quite indifferent
to the dangers Of snow and wind and freev.
IN 6 temperature. On one occasion a Young
crimson tulip plant thrust his head above
the embankment of dead leaves and was
struck down by a SNOWFALL thrown bv soma
children scuffling in the snow rift which
lay just beyond in No Mans Land-,hat
strange and unlovely barren covered With
dead grasses. old orange peel and grav blne
chunks Of melting ice
The tulips sent wireless arnea1s for m
'nforcements of sunbeams. and two davs
after the sacrifice of the crimson tulip thai
entire sector free of enenv snow.
drifts One of the most satisfactory ele
ments OF this victory was the fact that the
children, always neutral between tho ioys
OF snowballs and skating and the promises
OF marbles and maple sugar, had been won
py the story Of the smashed tulip and had
knelt down and patted the tiny growing
things lovingly.
Large numbers of wild geese were seen
flying north over Great South Bav some
two weeks ago, but the authorities did not
put much confidence in them, dis,nissinc
them with the remark that that was all one
could expect Of geese. Recently. however
there has been much activity among bird
scouts of more reliable nature The star
llngs, crows, and woodpeckers. which have
been with us all winter but inactive. are
flying far afeld. and bring reports Of large
areas already tinged with the warm yellow
and red Of waking willow trees. Some
even declare that in the swamps the red
naples are hanging out their crimson flags
to welcome the return of spring
An unconfirmed rumor published bv "The
Evening Posts" CORES spondent at st.
PauFs Eaves announces the coming of the
nrst robin. If this be true, spring is indeed
in the air.