The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-04
BY VICTOR FLAMBEAU.

snow. ladies and gentlemen, don't
forget, before we enter the three
monumental doors Of bronze that an
American sculptor. Gutzon Borg.
hum. made the North America"
group. ia marble, and it's on the
right side. the north. matched on
the south Of the entrance by Isidore
Konti's South America" On the
Pyion. above the Borglum. observe
"Washington's Farewell to His Gen.
erals" and complementing 1t oppo-
site. meet San Martin and Bolivar,
"Liberators Of South American
Remember the Spanish American
patio, which greets US just inside the
gates. with tho luxurious tropical
plants and gay-plumaged birds. An
American woman sculptor. Mrs. Ger
trude Vanderbilt Whitney. made the
fascinating fountain, Of pink Georgia
marble, with its weird design, based
on the feathered serpent Aztec di.
vinity. Glad we don't worship it.
though! Still. it's nice to look at!
The rough stuccc walls Of the patio
support terra Gotta frieze that dis
plays in brilliant colors the coats-of-
arms Of the nations that Comprise
the Pan-American Union.
The guides have been more than
busy the past weeks with the end.
less throng of visitors, and their
pockets are more than full. Get your
quarters ready. They receive no
other salary but the tips.
Now the guide is explaining the
luxuriant shrubbery. brought most
of It direct from South America by
visiting members Of the Pan-Ameri-
can staff.
Here's a little hint Of home to
each South American ambassador"
we are told. Franklin Adams, who
returned last year, procured many.
The peculiar shrub indigenous to
each particular country is always
tho fhnu trxy 70
Here's the banana tree. "See the
new bunch Of bananas. They grow
very fast" the guide says That
is the Croton plant from which
Croton oil Is made. And there is the
Century plant. And from this fiber
plant comes the fiber silk. Here is
the manioc of Brazil. which is the
cassava tree of Florida and is re-
lated to the Irish potato. That one
produces the alligator pear, and
here is a date palm. There is the
coca plant, from which cocaine is
manufactured; the natives chew
the leaves to give them endurance
for long marches. Here is a plume
cocoanut tree and there Ia
Papayan melon. This is a coffee
tree. Yes, we have actually grown
coffee here. This year we had to
cut the tree back, 80 that 1t has
only new leaves now.
BRAZILIAN MACAWS.
1.-THE tropical birds with red and
blue plumage are Brazilian macaws.
We clip their wings to prevent
them from flying away. There were
five, but they proved so noisy that
we disposed of all but two. Oh, yes.
they can talk. No, not altogether
in Spanish. They speak English,
too Halloo, Polly!
This is a fish-tail palm. The
natives make fish nets from Il.
There Is a silver palm. and that is
a bread-fruit tree. one variety. Here
Is the palm tree from which panama
hats are made. called by the natives,
'toquilla.' And that very tall tree
is a Royal Palm.
Now here is the Peace Tree
planted by President Taft at the
dedication Of the building. April 2s.
1910. II is hybrid fig tree. Mr..
Carnegief Oh, yes, he was present
then. You know his genero~s gift.
ss5o.ooo. toward building the Pan.
American. Yes. sir. he was a great
believer in peace. Mr.. Carnegie was
You might call this his American
y..ara DalarA