The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-06-15
JEAN ELIOTs NEWS AND GOSSIP OF WASHINGTON SOCIETY

tirely too strenuous for her. So
two men finished the canvas.
AS the Smithsonian Institution
was founded for 1.-The increase and
diffusion OF knowledge" there can
be no copyright on this work OF
Mrs. Walcott.
The first volume of the work to
be entitled North American Wild
Flowers will contain about 200
pages. On one page will be brief
history of the flower written for
popular comprehension by Mrs.
Walcott and on the opposite page
will be the reproduction of the
blossom as originally sketched in
water colors by Mrs. Walcott.
History of Flowers Accompanies
Plates; Hardships Mark Trips.
These sketches are done entirely
with the brush and have no harsh
outlines to mar their beauty. AS
works of art they have won the
admiration Of professional art critics
and as such have been exhibited IN
the art galleries Of Washington,
New York. and other cities. AS
scientific achievements they have
won the admiration Of professional
botanists.
Mrs. Walcott, however, makes no
claims to being professional in either
branch. And yet she gives her wild
flower studies the "truth-f-beauty"
touch OF the true artist and scien-
fist. She has no interest in botany
as an analytical study--does not
care 10 diesect the flowers and
plants she knows so well. It is
rather the plan as a whole that APP
peals to her and holds her attention
so well that she Is able to express
perfectly on canvas what she has
seen in its native SOIL
81 am neither an artist nor
botanist," says Mrs Walcott, 'but
i know my plants and can mix
my colors."
And certainly from her sketches
that Il all she needa to know.
During the last ten years Mrs.
Walcott has spent from three to
four months on the trail In the
gone with Doctor Walcott on his
geological explorations. However,
she knew much Of the Canadian
Rockies before from summers spent
in that region in the company of
her father and hrothers-she and
her brothers venturing farther into
the mountains than any Of the
tourists" staying at the hotels on
the edge Of civilization in that d.
rection. AS her father was semi
invalid he could not accompany
his children on their hazardous
trims. He enjoyed, however, hav
ing them come back sand tell about
them.
during the summers tina. the Wal
colts have been on these camping
trips in the Canadian Rockies they
have covered more tinn 5000 miles
in distance.
And these trips have not been
the lazy, easy-going, aimless kind
that inspire some poets to eulogistic
abandon in verse. On the contrary,
to any but the persistent scientist,
who can work for years to get the
tiniest bit Of truth, ant the real
lover of the glory and beauty OF the
Rockies. such camping jaunts would
be hardships not likely to be en-
dured.
In thsi camping party there are
usually four or five people, count
ing Doctor and Mrs. Walcott,
which means necessarily InaI Ooc-
tor and Mrs. WaIcott must do much
Of the work essential to such
camping tours, Fifteen horses go
along-ten pack horses and five
riding horses.
Anew years, ago the Walcotts
took with them q pseudo-scientist,
who insisted upon going on the
trail, but he only lasted a few
days out in the WiIds after which
he was equally insistent to return
to the land Of weekend camping
trips in easily accessible places.