Williams news., 1921-02-18

The home of George Washington is 8
 tranquil place; it belongs to frame o1 1 mind almost vanished. But when the pilgrimage through the house is com pleted and the eyes have begun to 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 i;
 hung buiIdings-an 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 its matchless sweep of
 river and shore, is the dazzling frame
 for it. 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.
 It is Wordsworth's "brotherhood of
 venerable trees" As Washington planted and planned so, due to rev. erent posterity, are the gardens and lawns today. In simplicity and fra grance the first of shrines in repose- full influence the tonic of a nation.
 There are today POO important trees standing near the mansion, many of them planted during Washington's life time; others were added, but also fn- | variably in sympathy with his original | plans for the estate, so far as these l were known. Washington himself | searched far and wide for the trees he wanted; he wrote his friends in va rious parts of America and abroad. Thus 1t was that the estate is spot 1 beloved of forester and horticulturist, and the less sophisticated visitor gazes up into the spreading trees, lets the eye finger on green sward and shelv- ing shores, and gives over his spiritual burdens to the bosom of the Potomac
 Washington's diary informs us he was active in January of 17S5, locat- ing elm trees for the grounds The majestic American elm on the west avn probably was one of the trees ob- aimed at that time. He was fond of he American elm, and there are at east ten of these trees near the man. '1on, some of them, however, of the ater planting. Of the original eIms, l wo flank the walls, fringing the bowl ng green. on the east side. They are 'icturesquely placed between the of ice and the gardeners house, although his pair may be more recent. A fine 2 I'm stands on the east lawn.
 The bowling green. between the two [ ardens, is an attractive study. At nee attention is attracted to the twin eech trees planted by Washington in he corners of the narrow end near ne mansion. Their height is accentu- ted by their tall, straight trunks, and ley form impressive focusing col a mns for the opening sweep of lawn d between the two gardens. n the west side the next tree is-an sh, planted by Washington. and across 'om them two coffee bean trees, the lree forming an impressive group.
 Of four notable honey locusts, one anding between the kitchen garden nd the Sefpentine walk Is credited to 'aShington- This is a fast-growing - Id short-lived tree. and others prob |, ply disappeared. He makes note in .. s diary that on March 23. 17S6. he ., anted "between 17.OOO and 1SOOO eds of the honey locust" se The seven buckeyes have a special ns terest. for, instead of the normal llOw flowers. these have red, pink - Id fiesh-cOlOred flowers, cOlOrs not - und anywhere else. Moreover the .. cords show Washington gathered the [ eds from which the trees were grown be ar the mouth of Cheet river, in what Ja now West Virginia. xi1 diary also mentions VI anting four horse chestnuts, but it considered doubtful if either of the Ca rec big trees there now were among e3 em. o.' The three pecan trees. all on the tS, 'nt lawns. are trees of history. They nj. re given tO Washington by Jeffer- l, who in 17S4 first published tech m. al description Of this tree. and ap- ia rently was the first distributor of afl ing plants brought from the Mis- sippi valley. They are the oldest of tai trees planted by Washington Two curiosties may be noted. One