Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
By MARGARET B. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.
It must rejoice the heart of Bishop
Freeman and those who so ably CO.
operated with him and his predecessors
in establishing the beautiful arrange
ment and planting of the close of the
Cathedral of SIS. Peter and Paul that
a church garden club has recently been
established on Staten Island, and that
already meetings are being held in
various parts of the island to form the
same sort of organization as that of
the local garden guild. The Cathedral
Close is one of the most beautiful gar
dens attached to any ecclesiastical edi-
fee in this country. and as the builders
of this stately minister gave abundant
elbow room for grounds and buildings,
the foundation bids fair to become one
of the most impressive in all the United
States. Bishop Manning of New York
has accomplished much for beautifying
church grounds and has freely placed
the landscape artists employed by the
Cathedral of st. John the Divine at the
pleasure of perturbed pastors and of
any denomination wishing to improve
the aspect of their churches. The first
recorded church garden club, which, OF
course, must be ASSOCIATED from the
many guilds and special societies OF
much older origin, has been established
at New Brighton, Staten Island, ana
its members propose to spend the dead
months of Winter in getting correct
PROSPECTUS on their grounds and Its
relation to the church. When Spring
breaks they will make their first at
tempt at Identification in the Spring
bulbs, which are to be raised in hot
houses and then transplanted. Sum-
mer bulbs also will be planted as soon
as possible, but the main activity will
be planting OF shrubs and ornamental
trees.
Countess Scherr-Thoss, who is divid-
ing the Winter pleasantly between
Washington and New York City, has
been bending her energies In behait OF
the nursing sisters of the Franciscan
orders, who are seeking an establish
ment under Cardinal Hayes. The
countess. a daughter of the late Henry
White. diplomat and statesman, taxes
kindly interest in the little brown
sisters because her husband, Count
Herman Scherr-Thoss; descends IN . un-
broken line from the beloved st. Eliza
beth of Hungary, who also belonged to
the FranciScans as a lay member. the
pictured lives of the saints in tableaus
wants. which were so enthusiastically
received in Washington, and which nave
been repeated in certain features In
New York CITY, are to be arranged TO
Include certain lovely scenes in the lie
of st Clare, who was the associate OF
st. Francis of Assist in founding the
feminine branch of the order. some
''Fioretti." or Little Flowers of ST.
Francis" one of the most beloved OF
books, and which shares with THE Fol-
lowing of Christ by Thomas attempts,
the honor of having place on the
reading table of all the piously inclined.
Countess Scherr- ThoSs has not yet de-
cided whether the newly added por-
lions of the tableaus given last Spring
in association with Lady Isabella How
ard will be shown in washington DUR
ing the Lenten season, but she VIII
Canadian border and into Montreal and
Quebec.
Charles Darwin is to be signally hon.
ored at his old home at Down, in Kent,
the coming Spring, when the seventeen
anniversary of his publication of THE
Origin of the Species" will be COM
memorated in scientific circles of Lon
den and the world. The residence OF
the naturalist in the pretty seaside
village of Down, in Surrey, has recently
been restored to the exact condition 1t
presented when the great evolutionist
rested there from his intensive studies.
It is a rambling stucco house OF three
stories, except on the eastern wing, and
Is almost completely covered with rare
vines brought from alien lands during
his travels. DR.. Darwin bought the
place because of its fine orchard Of
cherry trees, a few sturdy, well bearing
apple trees and grove of black wal
nuts. The house he altered, with the
purpose of large, light rooms for his
laboratory and equally airy quarters
for the sleeping chambers and living
quarters. Orchids had been favorite
floral study, and the naturalist has re-
corded in several places the fact that
when wearied of the profound re-
searches into the origin of the human
kind he drew recreation and inspira-
ton through studying the intricacies
of orchids. The house at Down will be
used as scientific shrine, and will be
in readiness for the anniversary in the
Spring. A commission Of scientists and
physicians obtained the necessary fund
to buy Down House and restore it.
4 X X
President Doumergue of the French
republic has among the other duties
pertaining to his Office that of enter
tanning during the Christmas holidays