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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 1922)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, TORTLAND, JUNE 25, 1923 0 SOME AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS PROVE TO BE SURPRISING TO MARGOT ASQUITH Gooo Feeling Between America and Great Britain Declared to Be Vital to Peace of World, and, Though Some Things Are Strange, icitor Finds Much to Admire Here. BY MARGOT ASQUITH. Wife of the Ex-Premier of Great Britain. ARTICLE NO. XII. T F I were to finish this record of my impressions of America with out criticism, it might be said that these pages should not have been called "Impressions," but "Ex periences"; and against this I have not only been warned, but abjured. Nevertheless it is difficult, with out appearing: unfriendly, to write with candor upon matters that have moved me in my American tour. It must be said that American architecture, regulations of street traffic, arrangement of flower shops, plumbers and telephone service are infinitely superior to our own. But these are not criti cisms they are statements of facts, the truth of which is not disputed. I realize that there is not a nation In the world that extends such a generous welcome -to the many strangers that go there as the United States. But admiration for my husband and the publication of my autobiography which aroused in America both favorable and un favorable comment prevented me at the outset from being a complete tranger. Speaker Seem Different. Indeed many of the people who at tended my lectures seemed to know all about me; and I was surprised when crowding on to the stage they sometimes exclaimed: "But you are so different to what we expected you would be; and you haven't told us what "you think : of us." - I begged them to be frank and tell me without fear of offense what . they had Imagined I would like; but they could only repeat: "I don't know! But somehow we thought you would be the very op posite of what you are." If I tried a little clumsy chaff by saying: "I am sorry to have disappointed you." it was always met with protest. On one occasion I heard a man say to the woman who was with him: "There you are! I told you all along; but you wouldn't read the book!" At which the woman grasped me by the hand and said: , "You are writing another volume of your life aren't you, Mrs. Asquith, in which you will tell us everything you think about us? I explained that I was writing an article On my impressions of Amer ica for publication in the news ; paper and the second and final vol- ume of my life, which would come out in the winter. Cuttings were sent to me- from papers, some of a very flattering kind and others which said it was abundantly clear that I was in a chastened humor; that, by guarding - myself from my critics, I was exer cising a caution that deprived me of all spontaniety. ' These remarks are of little inter est in themselves, but they tend to show how much some people and nations depend on the approbation of others; and are the reason why I am going to finish with a short summing-up. It is probably wiser in writing Impressions to keep the conclusions you arrive at secret; and many may ask with justice: "What can a woman who spent only 13 weeks in their country know Of America or her people?" In answer to this I can only say that in these 13 weeks, because I was constantly traveling, I saw and talked to a more varied type of per- eon than I could have done had I " remained in either New York, Chi cago or Washington for as many " months. I met and conversed with senators and negroes, farmers and 1 reporters, judges and preachers, ho tel proprietors, mayors, solicitors, soldiers, shopmen, doctors, men of science and commerce, and a few of both the fashionable and the leis- ' ured. During this experience there are "certain things I observed that 1 ' shall take the risk of writing down. I have spoken before of the Amer ican interest in trivial things. Ques ' Hons asked ma at my lectures and In letters emphasized the importance placed on such matters as "Princess ' Mary's lingerie" and on Intimate de tails of "the mode of life of the aristocracy." Neimpaper Proves Surprise. ! If these letters and questions had been merely the cackle of the com- mon feminine geese who like writ ing to an advertised person I would have disregarded them. out they were sometimes signed by men and often expressed the opinions of im portant local editors. One night after I was in bed, hav ing had a long talk, with an intel lectual reporter upon the dearth of great literature in his country, he rang me up to say his paper was annoved that he had not brought hack an accurate description of my Clothes, Apologizing profusely, he said that information concerning hat and gown was what' the public really cared for; that none of our discus sion 'upon Lincoln, Edgar Allen Poe or William James' fine style, or anything else of interest would be printed in the morning paper. But he added, what I had said to one of the lady reporters (when we were left to ourselves) about Princess Mary's marriage being one of love would probably be enlarged by head lines into a paragraph. I said I forgave him for waking me up, but was quite unaware that I had even mentioned our royal family. The next day I read that I had said I was "on smoking terms with Queen Mary." You may say that certain jour . nallsm of a similar kind In England panders to the same curiosity in what is low and vulgar, but it is more harmful in the states because the press there has more power. So far from guiding public opin ion, the papers in America stimulate all that is worthless and credulous: and you may search in vain to find "I met and conversed with senators and. nrgfor, farmer and reporters, judges and preachers, hotel proprietors, mayors, solicitors, soldiers, showmen, doctors, men ot science and commerce, and a few of both the fashionable and the leisured, "- careful criticism upon art, music or international affairs. The papers- are likely, too, to give their readers the wrong impression of one's attitude on various things. For instance, in Indianapolis I was surprised to see in the papers that I had said among other things that in Scotland we were not only highly educated, but able to study in our schools both the French and the Spanish languages, and "were I the queen of America I would restore drink!" . I began to fear that, though un crowned, I must have in a fit of absence usurped some of the powers I had indicated ought to be restored to the United States. The aftermath of that incident, and one of the unpleasant features of railroad travel, made two of the following' days most disagreeable to me. After traveling all day we had arrived at our destination in a sous ing rain at night to hear there were no. porters at the station. On Inquiring if they were on strike, I was told that there never had been any porters at Kalamazoo! : So, loaded with luggage, we paddled like ducks in the mud to an inferior hotel. . . As we had lunched at midday and there was no dining " car on the train, we were annoyed to hear that no one could get any food after 8:30 P: M., but luckily for us there were still 10 minutes before the .res taurant closed, so we devoured what we could. On the next day I was told by re porters and other people that an eminent divine had said in a sermon that, thanks to my belief in intem THE MARRIED LIFE OF Helen's Strategic Efforts to Collect it D EAR, I'm going to speak about it! It's' been two months now that's long enough." You can't dun Carrie for a couple of dollars," grumped Warren. "It's seven ninety-eight!" persist ed Helen, straightening the papers he had thrown down. "She's just forgotten she'll think of It," he always defended his sister. "I'm not so sure she's forgotten. Carrie has a very convenient mem ory." "Huh, you've always got it in for her. Never miss a chance to " "Sh-sh, she'll hear you," cautioned Helen. "Do give me a clear wire,- Central," shrilly .from the library, "Hello? That you Lawrence? I'm staying in for dinner. I'll be home on the 9:40." The next moment Carrie flounced Into the front room with a fretful, "You can't hear a thing over that phone. Is it always like that?" "Long distance is never so dis tinct," resented Helen. "You don't call Eas.t Lynwood long distance?" The telephone company bills It as long distance," pointedly, for Carrie was always calling up her home and never thinking of the 30-cent toll. Ordinarily Helen did not care, but this was the second call within an hour. Besides, the thought of that eight dollars rankled more and more. It wai two months now since they had gone shopping, when Carrie, running short of money, had a pair of oxfords at Ardman's charged to Helen's account. "What is that smell?" snified Car rie. "You don't let her-use garlic?" "Sometimes a very little with roast lamb," defended Helen. "I won't allow it in the house! The very odor makes me sick." "Aw, come off," grinned Warren. "You've eaten garlic here many a time." His sister's tart denial was Inter rupted by Nora announcing dinner. As they went in, the table looked most attractive. Helen's use of the good china and silver when Carrie dined with them was not an expres sion of glowing hospitality, but of the "housekeping feud" that existed between them. The tomato bisque was really de licious, though a slight curdle was perceptible. "If she'd put a pinch of soda In this before she stirred in the cream it wouldn't have curdled." instructed Carrie with her most exasperating air. "I've told her that," flushed Helen "She usually makes it very smooth." The roast lamb brought on. War ren carved into it with hungry en ergy "You like it well done, don't you, Carrie?' "Yes, but I can't bear garlic. Cut me an inside piece a very little. "Guess you can get away with ' ter call right now I'll catch him at ' perance, I was not a fit and proper person to give a lecture! In consequence, my audience on that evening was not all that I could .have desired. I had some thing to say about bearing false witness against your neighbor, and the few that were there were more than enthusiastic. After the lecture I was embraced by a woman from peemeshire: There was a surprising lack of unanimity in my hearers' opinion of my lecturing abilities. The most discouraging was that of the New York woman who, during my first talk, rose, said I had got her money for nothing and stalked out of the hall! On the other hand, I must have gained some skill as I went on. After one appearance I was intro duced to several people of the City of Kansas at supper (all of whom I found interesting). One man said to me: "I knew you had charm and per sonanty, Mrs. Asquith, but you must have spoken on a hundred platforms to have acquired such courage and eloquence. I gazed at hii in dumb surpr'se! Many were the suggestions I re ceived as to subjects for my talks "Prohibition," "Flappers," "Short Skirts,". "Women Smoking" that was the sort of thing that the audi ences wanted to hear about. The day before I sailed for Eng land I went out to buy toys to en tertain my grandchild on our voy age and had an Interesting talk with one of the many civil salesmen that i have met all over the United States in their beautiful ShoDs. He said he regretted that he would not be able to attend my last lecture BY MABEL' HERBERT tRlVER. Debt From Her Sister-in-Law Lend that," slashing a thick, generous slice. Helen welcomed the vegetables. There was nothing Carrie could criticise In the flaky riced potatoes and the small tender string beans. "Oh, while I think of it, Wardner's are having a sale of bed linens this week. Are they good on linens? I need some sheets." "Mrs. Stevens buys all her linens there," observed Helen. Then, catch ing at this opening, "Oh, how did you like those oxfords you got at Ardman's?" "They were all right," disinterest edly. "I want some extra long sheets for Lawrence's bed. He likes them to turn way over so the blan ket can't touch him. A hundred and eight inches isn't that the longest that s made?" "I believe It Is." Then with point ed persistency, "What did you pay ror those oxfords7 I was thinking of getting a pair." "Seven something, wasn't it? War ren, I'd like some of that jelly." "Oh, yes, it was seven ninety- eight," recalled Helen with undue emphasis. "Yes, something like that. This the apple jelly you made last year?" Was Carrie deliberately ignoring her hints, or had she really forgot ten?' Had the debt been the other way her. memory would have been most acute. The only time she had ever owed Carrie was a "dutch treat" matinee. As soon as they were settled In their balcony seats Helen had started to pay for her ticket, but had only a $10 bill. And before the final cur tain Carrie had rushed off to catch the 6:30. - The next Sunday she and Law rence had driven in. for the after noon and her first remark as she laid off her wraps was: "Oh, by the way, Helen, don't forget you owe me a dollar and a half for that matinee." Helen had handed her an envelope marked "Carrie" with a defensive: "1 laid this out so I wouldn't forget. I try to be very exact about money." And now for two months Carrie had owed her this (8, and she was deliberately ignoring every intima tion to recall the debt. With inflamed resentment,. Helen made one more suggestive reminder. "Have you seen those new bronze pumps with the one strap? I've been wanting a pair, but I'm wait ing till next month, rve had so many things charged at Ardman's lately and last month's bill was something awful!"- "She didn't exert herself stringing these beans," was Carrie's response. "I haven't found any strings mine," curbing her indignation. "I can't eat beans that aren'tstrun "I can't eat beans that aren't strung well they get into my teeth. Oh, that reminds me, I forgot to call up the dentist. Ive got an appointment ii the morning, and I can't go. I'd bet his dinner before he goes out,' throwing down her napkin. (although he had been to my other three in New York) because he feared the daughter of a friend of his was dying. She was a little girl living in a suburb, who had fainted some weeks before. Her mother had given her the only stim ulant they had in the house; since then-- she had suffered from blood poisoning and was lying in a crit ical condition. "I do hope, madame, you will deal in your lecture tonight with the abominable law of prohibition," he said. "It has encouraged this coun try to manufacture liquors of the most dangerous kind." I told him I had heard the same complaint wherever I had been, and while sympathizing deeply with him, feared I could do no more, as I had dealt freely and at length upon the subject. (It was about this time that we read in the papers "Balfour Accepts Peerage: Will Enter Lords as Earl." This was pleasant news about my life-long friend.) 1 was advertised by the following card to make my last speech: FAREWELL, LECTURE . I Under the Auspices of THE SOCIETY OP FRIENDS OF 1 ROUMANIA. Found d under the august patronase of her majesty. Queen Marie of Roumania. MARGOT ASQUITH Will close her brilliant and successful. tour by dftllverinr a lecture entltiea IMPRESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CAICADA. I put on my best dress, and. armed with a bouquet of rare orchids given to me by my chair man, made my final public appear ance in America. As Nelson Cromwell, who intro- ducedVme, is a fluent orator and had a great deal to say, while pay ing a fine tribute to my husband, and knowing that I was to hold a reception afterward, I cut my lec ture as short as I could. I give some of its features here as a sort of summing up of my American experiences.) Among the subjects I dealt with the exaggerated belief in America in commercial success; and the dangerous self-interest and lack of leisure whih was encouraging not only that country but every nation to materialism. Good Feeling Is Wanted. ' I told them what I had observed at the Niagara falls, and spoke of the many hideous billboards and advertisements that desecrated the scenery wherever I had been, and, pausing over the one among others that had really interested me: "A Good Name," was interrupted by my chairman, who exclaimed in a clear voice: j "Asquith!" This met with immense success. England has been called a nation of shop-keepers, but I think we spend as much time upon moors and playing fields as Americans do in elevators and offices. Perhaps we waste too much time on grass and games; but it has en couraged a certain aloofness and leisure, which produces a . quiet mind. Americans many of them are aware of their faults. And many are prone to enlarge upon them, forgetting the splendid Amer ican virtues of generosity, chivalry and hospitality. I am told that "The American Credo," written by H. H. Mensken and O. J. Nathan (given to me by my friend Paul Anderson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch), deals, with searching fidelity, with the "aver age American's outlook." I dare say when I read it I shall learn where I have been wrong; but in criticising as I, have, I am merely fulfilling the -promise I made to write my impressions, which as best can be but superficial. Among thoughtful people there is a great deal of pro-American propaganda going on in Great Britain, and in conclusion I would like to say that there is -so much that is fine and keen In the Amer ican race, so much that is disarming and lovable, that If I have written anything exaggerated or erroneous, I should feel of all people the most ungrateful. I can only plead to be forgiven where I have erred; and I was not only shown unforgettable courtesy and friendship, but I feel it is vital to the peace of the world that our people and those of . the United States should understand and care for one another. HELEN AND WARREN Spice to Domestic Life Telephone Another 30-cent call to the East Lynwood dentist! "Dear, it's an imposition," flamed Helen, as Carrie hurried into the library. "For the love of Lulu, don't be so blamed small!" growled Warren. "You throw a fit at a telephone call! 'Shove over that mint sauce." "She's made three 30-cent calls this evening!" "Well, what of it? Punch that bell I want some of that brown bread." "Isn't that provoking?" com plained Carrie, coming back to the table. "He's just left not five minutes ago. Now he'll charge for the time he always dies if you I don't let him know the day be fore." Helen ached to make some com ment about Carrie's solicitude for her own pocketbook. But a menac ing scowl from Warren kept her silent. "Mrs. Wesley wants to borrow half a dozen eggs for breakfast," Nora swung in from the pantry. "The man that brings their butter an eggs didn t come." "Very well, let her have them. There's a dozen we haven't opened." "If she wants them for breakfast, I should think she could send out for them," shrugged Carrie. "Thank goodness, we haven't any borrow ing neighbors." Eagerly Helen caught at this un expected opening. "I don't mind lending if people would return what they owe. But when they deliberately ignore any kind of a debt that makes me wild. Hereafter, I'm going to come right out and remind them." tes, why don t you? I cer tainly would. If there's any garlic In that salad dressing, I dln't want any." I "Why, you didn't seem to mind It In the meat." Helen's thrust was effective, for Carrie had disposed of two generous slices of the iamb - Fortunately, the prune whip and cocoanut layer cake could not be criticised, so the dinner ended with out further clash. "Helen, where did you get that dress?' demanded Carrie, as they returned to the library. "You're not tall enough to wear those long waisted effects. I'd have it altered if I were you." "I like it very well as it is," flared Helen, who always fiercely resented her sister-in-law's criticism of her clothes. "You needn't be so touchy! I like to be told when I don't look well a thing." .."Do you? Then you won't mind if I say that purple hat is unbe coming. It makes you look so sal low." "Sallow? Why, everybody says that's the most becoming hat I ever had. Really, Helen, you can be awfully catty." BY A. GARDEN GROWER. THE roe show at the armory was the big floral event of last week and while-It was larger than last year's show it came a week too late to fit the majority of the gardens of the city.. While I there were many magnificent blooms exhibited the quaJlty as a whole was not up to what Portland can produce. Among the prize win ners were several' new exhibitors, showing that if the people of Port land would Only "show their roses they would have an opportunity of winning prizes. To my mind there were two big outstanding features of the show, aside from the fine displays made by the florists, and these features were the Seattle exhibit and the displays made by the variouB library districts of the city. All kinds of credit is due Seattle for its remarkable effort, as it is no small thing to stage an exhibit of the size and wide variety that Seattle did. Credit for It is due C. H. Collier, president of the Seattle Rose so ciety, and A. H. Brackett, one of its enthusiastic members, but standing solidly back of them was the entire organization of Seattle, which Mon day afternoon collected the choicest blooms from the gardens, hardened them off, wrapped' each flower in oiled paper, packed them and had them at the train when Mr. Collier and Mr. Brackett were ready to de part They brought with them 500 choice blooms and while they were working in Portland the Seattle forces were busy gathering new blooms, so that the exhibit could be restaged Wednesday morning. It was a remarkable display of com munity spirit and since seeing it I have often wondered if Portland could do the same. The one flower In the Seattle ex hibit which seemed to. attract the greatest attention was a vase of four or five blooms of the rose Kitchner of Khartoum, and I heard many Portlanders rave over it, yet two years ago when it-was shown in our own rose show by a Port- lander, and the blooms then were finer than those from Seattle, for they were maidens, they attracted no attention. I have wondered if Portlanders do not appreciate some thing from a distance' rather than something home grown. I only wish that those persons with large gar dens in Portland who fail to exhibit and who have the same rose in their gardens had made a display of it, so as to see if the public really was interested in the rose and not in the place from which it came. The folk of Portland owe a debt to Seattle for staging such an ex hibit, as It was of great educational value and it is to be hoped that our citizens will profit by it. Many have become so smug in their be lief that Portland is the rose city and about the only place where roses can grow perfectly, that the Seattle display may convince them that we have a dangerous rival for rose honors. It is to be hoped that the Seattle effort will awaken our citizens from their self-complacency, and that next year there will be an united effort to produce a better rose show; but better still, it will awaken our citizens to the necessity of planting more roses and those of the modern type, than they have done for several years.' Seattle by its exhibit has shown that it Is after the rose honors of the Pacific Northwest and that they will gain them unless Portland makes a greater effort than they have for years. Parades, rose showers, coronation of queens and other events may go to make up a rose festival, but you cannot have such a festival unless you have the roses, and while the greater part of our citizens, the chamber of com merce and other organizations have been boosting the rose festival and what it means they have overlooked Charges Also Ruffle Temper Here, don't you two start squab ling," cut in Warren. "Where's that seed catalogue that came the other day? I said we'd save it for Lawrence." Helen produced it from under a pile of magazines. . "Oh, we have that one every body gets that," was Carrie's un gracious comment. "There, that's twice I've turned my ankle. These slippery floors!" "It's your high heels!" Then in spirationally, "Why dont you wear those oxfords-you got at Ardman's? They'd give you more support. I wish I'd bought a pair. They were oargains- only seven ninety-eight. Wasn't it? You had them charged to me the bill's here somewhere," turning to the desk. "Oh, don't bother, Helen. Show me your new front lace cdrset." The brazen effrontery with which Carrie ignored even this flagrant hint! She was deliberately evading the debt. - " The pink brocade corset submit ted to her critical Inspection, was pronounced too short in the hips and too high in the bust. "Don',t want to hurry you, dar rie," called Warren from the library. "But If you want to make that 9:40, you'd better get a move on." "Call, a taxi, will you? I don't feel like struggling with the sub way." Helen, always painfully econom ical about taxis, could hardly re press her disapproval. The money Carrie squandered on cabs should be applied to her debts. The taxi announced, they were In the hall seeing Carrie to the eleva tor, when abruptly she opened her purse. "Yes, Helen, I'm going to pay you for those oxfords " sarcastic ally. - "I thought I'd wait" just to see how many times you'd hint about it. You were really very in genious. Managed to drag it in five times, didn't you?" Here the door of the elevator clanged open, but; Carrie, with un hurried deliberation, calmly counted out seven $1 bills, a 60-cent piece, four dimes, a nickel and 3 pennies. "There you are," thrusting the money at Helen, who shrank back, her face aflame. "If I'd known you were losing sleep over it I'd have sent you a check." Then with a hateful laugh as she entered ,the car: "I hope Mrs. Wesley returns those eggs. If she should forget, I'd like to be. around, Helen, when you're trying to remind her. The oxfords weren't easy to drag In but you'll have to work even harder to keep steering the conversation around to eggs!" (Copyright. b Mabel Herbert . Harper.) Next Week "Helen, an Efficient Sleuth." rp tor the fact that the thing they have; been boosting would not be pos-) sible but for the amateur growers, and these have received little en couragement or support.- ' - The annual allotment for the rose, show has been cut down to a mere , pittance and yet the little handful of enthusiastic growers have strug gled along doing the best they can without' the support they 'deserve, until. I know that many of them personally are disheartened and every year sees brie' or two of them drop out. . ' ' .. . This next year is going to see some of those who have been en thusiastic workers' for ten years or mote in staging rose shows retire, therefore new workers will have to be f ound. These ' undoubtedly will have to be recruited from the bands of workers who this year staged the districts exhibitsv which were a fea ture of the show. The ; work of Miss Mulheron, li brarian, and Miss Fox' her assistant In charge of branch libraries and all the branch librarian, was most en thusiastic .and it was due to their effort in enrolling- the committees in each distriet that -the big display representative of Portland's typical gardens was possible. There were in these district displays hundreds of blooms which easily would have been prize winmejrs in the big show, but :the growers of them either Jacked Interest, did not want to; make the. effort or. were afraid to: go into competition. The district exhibits; wee. noticeable both , for the quality of blooms .d the en thusiasm -and interest of the work ers. It was the- first time that such a display, based on ; quality alone, had been attempted and from it can be gathered several lessons. The displays were a little crowded, so that the individuality of each was not as clear as it should be, but this could not be avoided because the rose sihow committee is not given sufficient financial support to make the artistic display that it would like. . , . , Experience is the best, teacher, and with such av force back of tHem as the district show committees an organization, can be formed that W'ill make future district displays just what, the show committee seeks. The, show as a whole was a, success from the point of blooms exhibited, but it lacked in artistic merit of some former shows, due no doubt to the fact that it was combined With the tourist and outdoor show. The latter was nothing except ' a 4ig boosting proposition, but it- in were some yery good features. - The sections of this show which were secured by the rose show com mittee, such as the automobile camp by Frank C. Riggs, the Boy Scouts display and the exhibit of the bu reau of parks were artistic and well staged, Jjut the other displays ' in the main hall, while having some educational advantage, were any thing but artistic and have no place in a rose show, while the exhibits In the outer hall were simply a side show. Portland's annual rose show is an event of sufficient importance and merit to have proper surroundings and should be a feature of the rose festival week instead of a mere in cident. The directors of the Rose Festival, few of, whom are Inter ested in rose-growing, or under stand ' the work and effort the growers put into their gardens for a whole year, seem for the last five or six years to have overlooked the fact that a rose festival, is not pos sible unless we have roses and the only way . to have roses is to en courage and support the flower growers to the greatest extent. I had occasion to observe the handling of roses for the visiting Rotarians last week, when the port land Rotary club greeted the dele gates returning from the convention 4c Los Angeles and I was so im pressed with the high-grade roses which were given to the visitors that I feel the Rotary club members deserve recognition and the thanks of the community for the way they handled this event. It .was undoubt edly the best handled rose distribu tion that has occurred In the city, for the blooms were not only of a high-class, but were so handled as to impress the vlBltor with the value of the gift and everyone who re ceived some of the flowers did ap preciate It. So well was'iit handled that I made an investigation,, for usually rose distribution to visitors Is handled in such a slipshod way that the visitors do not get good blooms, and while they are too po lite to say so I know from personal experience that many of them feel they are receiving something that we want to. get rid , of, instead of considering it a gift. With the idea of following out their motto of "service," the Rotary club tackled the distribution of roses on a well-organized basis and the collection and distribution was in charge of Channing Schienck. First of all he consulted a leading rose expert of the city and a letter was drafted telling each one how I to cut roses and care for them, and this one educational phase in itself was worth all the effort. As the roses came from- gardens of others than Rotarians everyone sending in roses was given a tag which was attached to the basket or bundle of flowers. The object of this tag was not only to give directions for deliv ering but It gave the club a record of those, who helped to entertain the visitors with roses. I understand that since the event letters of thanks have been sent to, all those persons who remembered to fasten tags to their contribution. This one feature itself is most striking, for while people generally like to give roses it is seldom they receive thanks from the organization they have helped, and this little courtesy on the part of the Rotary club to the rose growers is one of the nicest things I have heard of in connection with rose dltsribution. The real act of service follows: After the roses were delivered at the hotel the club engaged and paid for expert flower workers, who Imme diately took hold of all flowers, stripped them of surplus foliage, rubbed out the thorns, placed them in water of proper temperature and then Chairman Schienck had them placed in the cold storage room of the Multnomah hotel, where they were allowed to harden off. The re sult of this work was that the visi tor received a rose clear of thorns and pleasant to handle, blooms that had been properly cut and cared for in .excellent shape due to the ad vance information sent out the flow ers were so hardened off that they carried for a long time. Under these conditions every rose distributed, and there were thousands of them, was appreciated. The roses the Rotary club gave away were a credit to the Rose City and were not withered and dropping Diooms so frequently seen at such events. The real value of the Rotary club plan is that it carried to hun dreds of persons in Portland Infor mation as to how to cut and handle roses, and this one feature alone worth every particle of the effort, aside from the advertising Value to the city of giving guests well pre served and brilliantly-colored blooms, which were a credit to Portland. A few days ago I went to West over terraces and it is astonishing the progress made In many gardens in that section, for while it is a new district and not favored with good soil the residents have struggled and there are now many fine gar dens in that section, which are de serving of more detailed observation than can be given from passing in an automobile. On the way to Westover terraces. ! as you go along Cornell road, there i is presented to your view a continu-! ous floral picture. The hedge of Gruss au Teplitz roses in front of Henry Hahn's residence is particu larly striking and is different from the usual hedges of the city, the bushes now being "quite massive and pruned as they should be, like a pillar rose. There is undoubtedly some of the finest cotoneaster in the city topping the walls of some of the residences along Cornell road, that on the house of Senator Stan field, but which was planted by M. D. Hunt when he lived there, be ing among the best. Of the many fine hedges of Caro line Testout roses inthe city the one in front of Arthur Devers' house is among the best. As I turned to go up on the terraces I noticed that Dr. Samuel Slocum is making some improvement in his garden, includ ing a series of terraces and a rock garden, which in a few years un doubtedly will be quite a feature. Passing John A. Lee's home I no ticed he is taking to gardening with the same vigor that marks him as a mountain climber, and at his new home he is not only conditioning the soil this year by a good planting of potatoes and other vegetables, but also will enjoy the products of his labor. He has, however, not over looked the flowers for the season and has a good planting of annuals. The home of S. S. Wilson has as a feature, brilliant in colors just now, a rock garden which shows the result of careful study and good se lection to give a continuity of bloom. J. .R. Bowles also -has an attractive garden that I promise myself some day to investigate further, for the glimpse one gets from the streets is most attractive.- The terrace of the home of Ken neth Hauser is a riot of fine shrubs and contains many fine specimens. but the arrangement is not attrac tive. He has -a wealth of material and with little study could use it in a more attractive manner. T.-. H. Williams' garden is also worth a closer study, but the garden with a riot of color and continuity of bloom is that of Frank C. Riggs. hile it is still in the making much has been accomplished in the last year. A winding path goes up the terraces and both sides of It is rock garden filled with an unending variety of plants, while at intervals are rose beds, filled last" week with wonderful blooms. ' . . Quite a large section ot the h'iil side is covered with a robenia and topping it at the next terrace is a great spread of Silver .Moon roses, probably the finest - specimens of that great - rose in Portland. A glance from the street shows that -Mr. Rlggs is a most enthusiastic horticulturist and plant collector, his Iris garden on the lower eteps probably containing more varieties than any other private garden in Portland, while scattered all over the terraces are a multitude of plants of different varieties, the col lection of plants suitable for rock garden being most extensive." One thing I noticed was an astilbe about four feet high and with flower spikes of many branches about 18 Inches long. Curiosity being aroused by such a fir.e specimen telephoned Mr. Riggs later and he said it was a native- variety which he had found in the woods several years ago. I have not had an op portunity to examine it closely to determine its species, but the thing that struck me as interesting was that it was blooming so well on the west side of the house, where it is exposed to the great heat of the sun. Coming down from the terrace I went by the home of Helix Isher wood, which is always attractive and which long has been estaDiisnea and one thing I noticed as I passed was a border, evidently composed of armeria and from the bright rose color assumed it was the lajincheana rosea variety. It was very effec tlve. Mr. Isherwood is another en thusiastic amateur and keeps his grounds in excellent shape and with well-established plantings has really what I like to call "a charm gar den." Now is the time to start perenn'al seeds if you want blooming plants for next year, if you will collect seeds from such plants, as have been blooming and which you have al lowed to go to seed you can get a multitude of plants with little ef fort Take a corner of tho garden not in use but in which the soil can be made very fine and If this is im possible put in some good oil, such as you would use in a seed bed. Soak the larger seeds for 24 hours before planting them, as this will hasten germination. Cover the seed with fine soil just about the thickness of the sec-d and plant the seed thinly. After planting firm down the seed and then water every evening for two weeks. You may say that, do ing this, you will wash out the seed, and there is grave danger of this unless you are very careful. I have a friend who avoids this danger by laying a piece of burlap; in fact, he uses an old potato sack he has ripped apart, and spreading this over the seed bed he pours the water on it and in this way wets his seed bed. If you plant seed now, by Septem ber the plants will be ready to be moved into their permanent location. The department of agriculture has Issued a bulletin containing descrip tions of 285 plants from more than 30 countries which have been found lately by the explorers of the de partment and sent home for experi mental work. In view of the sue cess of the former introduction of Rhodes and. Sudan grass it will be of interest to farmers and stockmen to know that the explorers have sent in four new forage grasses from New South Wales and a collection from the Belgian Congo. From Guatemala they have sent an espe cially large form of avocada, known in that country as coye. Another novelty is a tropical vine, which" probably can be grown In southern California and Florida, that imparts the flavor of oysters to milk or potato soup. Other plants in the list are house palms that take on a graceful form while very small hardy palms, with showy, edible fruits, from Argentina: a tropical black walnut from Porto Rico which may have possibilities for timber production; a flowering cherry from Japan that may be grown even !n such a cold place as the Adirondack region, and a tree from Java that has nodules imbedded in the leaves that collect and fix nitrogen from the air Just as is done by the nod ules on the roots qf legumes. .-. A vast project for covering 205.000 acres of sand in Nebraska with trees is under way. It is estimated that 3, 000,000. 00-0 trees will be require- and there has been planted thi spring 600. out) young yellow pine and also jack pine. The undertak ing has been named the. Nebraska national forest and extensive -experiments have been carried on for sev eral years to determine what woulil grow on these sandy wastes. Horses and tractors have been used' In th-3 planting, and with a largo force of mer? 1000 acres were planted in six weeks. ProbleniM of the Garden. Win you please tell me on what moun tains rhododendrons grow, and are they the same color or are there different colors? : Is the camellia a native flower? Can you tell me what makes my rose buds,.' when about half out. seem to get hard lumps in them .and do not bloom like they , should I It is -a-very pretty rose when It blooms all right, but .-this spring has not had one bice bloom on it. Answer. Rhododendrons" grow at a great many 'places ' in both the Coast and Cascade 'ranges of moun tains, there being quite extensive sections on the way to 'Government camp. . There is a slight, variation in color In the wild, or native rho dodendrons, while tn the cultivated varieties you can get a wide, varia tion in colors. 5 ' . Camellias are not 'native-flowers and due to the plant quarantine reg ulations now :in- force--are very scarce., They are slow growing and the American nurserymen have not yet, by propagation, caught up with the demand and probably will not do so for several years. , : -, It Is difficult to answer yourques-' 4ion .regarding the rose unless I know the variety. : There .are quite a .number of roses which very fre quently come with. .a hard center and due in the majority of cases to the fact that the . ground - Is too damp and cold, the soil not having been sufficiently warmed when the buds set. There are now so many good roses that it is -not worth while, except for a. collector with a large garden, to-waste time on roses which will not bloom properly. I. would like to know. If possible, what caused some of Tny turips to blight after they were In bud. - They seemed healthy until the bud curled down, and withered aayr: La Rene seemed especially af fected, obtaining: only four blooms out of a dosen. ,. . Also, what causes early tulips (these were some tiny bulbs given me) to send down a shoot, apparently, and the new bulb forming on this, the old bulb with ering away. The new bulb Is not 'as large as the original, .which., was- too small to bloom. To whom can' I send a blossom for Identification? I have a bulbous plant and I cannot find- anyone who has ever seen it before. It developed from a tiny seedling, evidently dropped by a bird, as it grew and deveolped in a tub burled in the earth where there had been noth ing planted but Easter lilies. I have now five bulbs.' . The flower is short stemmed, producing flowerets as the hya cinth, but a flat umbrella shape, the outer flowerets -blooming first; The color is a bright blue. The leaf is sml ilar to a hyacinth and the bulb is solid . . , MBS., R. :B. H. Answer. Regarding your problem as to tulips I would suggest ithat you write W. S. Dibble, Salem, Or., who can give you expert advice on the points you ask. ' As to having your bloom identi fied, will say that if you send one to me I 'will have the florists of Portland examine It and see if they can identify jt. . - I, too, am Interested -In astllbeX and seeing your answer to' E. B. .C. .yester day, am inclosing an addressed envelope and ask If you would kindly send , me the addresses of ( some growers in this country? If E. R. C. would read "Amer ican Flower Gardens" (Neltje Blanch ard) or "The Well-Considered Garden" (Mrs. Francis King), she would get a veritable storehouse of knowledge re garding the perennials or annuals. Both are obtainable at even a small - public library. Also in Mrs., King's "Little Gar den" there is a chart of hardy herba ceous perennials la blue. Xnswer. As you sent me a stamped envelope I have sent you the names of several producers of astilbes. I agree with you that the books you mentioned are well worth reading by every gardener, partic ularly Mrs. King's "Little Garden," for the person with the usual city ldt' I thank you- for your kind words regarding this department. Taking notice of the Rcedsport grow er's trouble with geum seed, would say that I agree with you that two weeks' time Is not long enough in which to ex pect results. Geum Is very slow In ger minating under the best conditions. If anyone desires seed of the Mrs. Bradshaw variety I will be glad to furnish it In exchange for any perennial novelty the grower may have, or exchange plants later if we can arrange factiities for shipping. L. VV. B., Vancouver. Answer Thanks for your offer to aid another grower, and if anyone wants to take advan.ta.ge of it and will send me a stamped, envelope I will give him your name and ad dress. A Foghorn Conclusion. 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