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.
Mr. Beach (at his seashore cot
tage) My dear, please tell our
daughter to sing something less
doleful.
Mrs. Beach That's not Helen;
that's the foghorn.
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