Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-02-17


dence. He saw the President constant
ly and they became real friends.
The first time the general met the
President. Lincoln, who had heard that
the Huidekopers came from Holland,
inquired: "What is the difference be-
tween an Amsterdam Dutchman and
any other damn Dutchman?"
And the general. who admired Lin
coin above all other Americans. adds:
IF had had any awe of the Presi-
dent 1t was then and there forever
sone"--Girarl. In Philadelphia Ledger
The home Of George Washington lisa
tranquil place, il belongs to frame OF
mind almost vanished. But when the
pilgrimage through the house>fs COM =
pleted and the eyes have begun 10.
peer in vain for figures which are no
more, but whose presence seems so
wildly suggested, one steps out to
meet spring sunshine, and the foliage
that is. indeed, in keeping with the
spirit of the past. observes writer in
the Detroit News.
The venerable barn, wrapped in ivy;.
the peaceful farm yards; the lazy low
hung buildings-all of these echo with
steps that vanish just ahead, around
each twist of wall.
But the intimate work Of Washing
TONS heart is in the surrounding
grounds. The noble view from the
portico, with it's matchless sweep of
river and shore. is the dazzling frame
for 1t. It begins this work with the
stately circle of the bowling green and
ends down below the rolling deer run.
where the willows weep over into the
Potomac. =
1t is Wordsworth's ".brotherhood OF
venerable trees AS Washington
planted and planned so, due to a. rev.
erent posterity, are the gardens and
lawns today. In simplicity and fra
GRANGE the first of shrines; in repose
full influence the tonic of nation.
There are today POO important trees
standing near the mansion, many of
them planted during Washington's life
time: others We're added, but also in
plans for the estate. SO far as these
We're . known. Washington himself
searched far and wide for the trees
lie wanted: he wrote his friends in va
rinils parts of America and abroad.
Thus it was that the estate is a spot
beloved Of forester and hortculturist,
and the less sophisticated visitor gazes
~. al;
eye linger on green sward and shelv
ing shores. and gives over his spiritual
burdens TO the bosom of the Potomac.
Washlngtons diary informs us he
was active in January of 1855, locat-
ing elm trees for the grounds. The
majestic American elm on the west
lawn probably was one of the trees OBJ
tanned at that time. He was fond Of
| The American elm. and there are at
| leaS, Ten of these trees near the man
sion. some of them, however, of the
later planting. OF the original elns,
| two flank the walls. fringing the bowl
! Ing; green, on the east side. They are
picmresquely placed between the Of
! flee ani the, gardeners house. although
+ this pair may be more recent. A fine
| elm stands on the east lawn.
| The bowling green. between the two
4 gardens, is An attractive study. At
once attention Is attracted to the twin
beech trees planted by Washington in
! the corners of the narrow end near
I the mansion. Their height Is accentu-
4 ated by their tall. straight trunks. and
l. they form impressive focusing col
umns for the opening sweep of lawn
stretching between the two gardens.
/ On the vest iside#the next tree is an
ash, planted NY Washington. aud across
from them two coffee bean trees. the
three forming an impressive group
OF four notable honey focusts. one
standing between the Kitchen garden
and the Serpentine walk is credited to
i Washington. This is a faSt-grOwing
and short-lived tree. and others prob
! ably disappeared. He makes note il,
his diary that on March %. 1856. h.
planted "between 1900 and $4,000
seeds of the honey locust
The seven buckeyes have special
interest, for, instead of the normal
yellow flowers, these have red, pink
and flesh-colored flowers. colors not
found anywhere else. Moreover, the
records show Washington gathered the
seeds from which the trees We're grown
near the mouth of Cheet river in wfa,
is now West Virginia.
WashingtOns diary also mentions
planting four horse chestnuts. hut il
s considered doubtful if either of the
Ihree big trees there now were anon:
them.
The three pecan trees. all on tn,
front lawns, are trees of history. They
We're given TO Washington by .Jeffer
son, who in 1854 first published tech
meal description of this tree, and ap
rarenlly was the first distributor O
living plants brought from the Mis-
sissippi valley. They are the oldest o
the trees planted by Washington.
Two curosities may be noted. On,