Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-31
THE walnut will be our national
nut. il one tree-planting
scheme takes root in this

nut II one tree-plant1nS
scheme takes root in this
town.
Commissioner Boardman's ideal to
make Washington the city beautiful
has enlisted the enthusiasm of a re-
tired government clerk. who has sug-
gested to her that the black walnut
be planted in our streets. parks and
other public reservations, and even
in home yards wherever there is room.
citixen-he likes Boy Scouts to call
him Uncle Billy-the walnut gives
beautiful shade. supplies healthy food
and is the most valuable of our ma.
tive woods. He visions field days
ahead when boys and girls will gath.
err and store nuts for home treats, and
Of commercial marketings that will
go a long way toward paying the
Districts annual dues.
The nature books go farther and
tell US that the walnut yields fine
oil and the leaves can be distilled
into medicinal alcohol-but never
mind about that.
The cabinetmaker will add to
these advantages his own knowledge
that the superior grain of the wal
nut has made it SO popular that the
timber has now become rare and
high-priced, though the tree belongs
to this immediate section. Also, the
locksmith will show you that it is
the strength and elasticity of the
walnut that makes IT the best known
wood for gunstocks.
If you have ever gone nutting down
in old Maryland. say. you will recall
that the black walnut of your child
hood was majestic tree that shot up
into the bluelike Jacks beanstalk,
and that 1t had gracefully rounded
top and a bole as militarily straight as
q soldier on parade. but
1t Is to folklore that we must look
for the temperamental charm of the
black walnut. neighbors-since you
remember 1t was the only tree in all
christendom-way hack-that a GER
tain enchanted princess could sing in
by the wicked ash. Its loyal branches
protected her from the arrows OF
the demon huntsman. and its leaves
waited her song to the prince, who
rescued her from the spell put upon
her by the ash witch.
Even that peSsimiStic Spanish prov
erb about "a woman. spaniel and
walnut tree. the more you beat them
the better they be-" is a boost for the
nut. because that's the way you hull
them. But the very best recommend
alton that any authority from any
Commissioner, is the one that puts
even dear Omar in the shade:
Love. to be tfuest and sweetest, must be
Pledged under 4 spreading walnut tree.
Prosaically considered, the patient
est Scout might be excused for get
ting restless while waiting the TWEEN
ty years it takes to put nuts on a
comes to him who waits-and if you
don't believe it, look at the Grant
statue.
1t has arrived.
A GRAND dame of Washington's
old regime left her home here a
few weeks ago for better one in
heaven. And a friend, in recalling
little personalities of the forever
gone lady, said, with other things:
observed by custom. that no one shall
be seated in the presence of the first
lady of the land SO long as she is
My friend. who was quite
m elderly woman even at that time.
was attending an afternoon reception
course, she stood. The Presidents
wife. with quick kindness. left her
place in the center of everything.
went in the next room, brought out
a chair and insisted that the older
woman take 1t. Then she went back
to her social obligations and. doubt
less. forgot all about the incident" But:
The old lady praised Mrs. Cleveland
forever after for her thoughtfulness;
the friend who was telling about it
kept the kindness alive, and the
woman who listened. is passing 1t on
to you. I
Which seems to prove the truth of
the proverb that good action never !
dies.
y + 4
CH-H-! Cross your fingers and !
~ turn in your toes, or the COLLINS