The New York herald., 1922-07-23
By H. S. GILLESPIE.


ornamentation of the for
NAL garden with it's fountains, sun
diais, benches and flower vases, its
bay trees and lockwood hedges. jar
dinieres and pergolas, a new and
highly amusing form of garden
decoration comes to light in the
form of personal totem pole.
Modelled in clay and then repro
duced in some more substantial and
weatherproof material such as con-
crete, it provides an interesting point
OF interest for the owner and his
family. since it is designed to COM
memorate such events of domestic
importance as would ordinarily be
hung on the genealogical family
tree.
To make ones own totem pole is,
therefore, the newest form of diver
sion among garden lovers. Alfred c.
Bosom, New York architect, in
troduced the idea upon his return
from an extended trip to Alaska and
British Columbia. While there he
became interested in these symbolic
ornaments used by the natives living
in southwestern Alaska and along
the north coast of British Columbia
to tell the world they came of good
stock.
Mr.. Bosom points out that totem
pole lore is primitive heraldry, to
commemorate families or events. The
thought occurred to him why not
model ones own totem pole, develop
ing it according to the important
happenings of ones family history.
This he proceeded to do and the re-
suit is more than ordinarily interest
ing. The Bosom totem is to-day do
faithful chronicle Of events from the
time of his arrival from England
some fifteen years ago, but forms a
whimsical garden ornament for the
owners country home.
Totem poles" said Mr.. Bosom,
were made to commemorate families
or events, but only in the case of
deserving persons. A famous chief,
for example, would have potlatch,
which consisted of party wherein
he gave away everything he pos
sessed. Later, however, his posses
sions were all returned to him at
other potlaches held by his friends.
To celebrate the event a great red
cedar tree would be carved, using
his family symbol or tribal insignia,
so to speak, on the top Of the pole.
1.-The other events would then be
carved, reading from the top down.
ward in all cases, describing the man.
his parents, where he came from, his
family, his associates, his ambitions,
how he became famous, and in fact
all of the intimate personal events
that go to make up q life history.
This is precisely what European
heraldry has always consisted of in
more or less strained form. There
is no reason in the world why an
American should not adopt his or
her own heraldry and fashion it after
the North American totem pole"
Mr. Bosom brought with him a
large and valuable collection OF totem
poles; one. the Thunder Bird, is said
to be more than 100 years old. This
fearsome creature was bought from
the Bimikish Indians of Albert Bay,
British Columbia, and is supposed to
give a man strength to build houses
and afterward remains to support
him. He is supposed to carry lake
on his back and when angry shakes
himself, and thus brings on thun-
der storm.
Totem poles are used only by the
Indian tribes of southeastern Alaska
and those on the north coast of Brit
ish Columbia The Hydas, inhabiting
Queen Charlotte and the Prince of
Wales Islands, excelled in the carving
of totem poles and in their villages
can still be found some as high as
o;r1.+,, .foo% x,,anu - fhapa hundreds