University of South Carolina Libraries
1 -Open Air Museum? Heavily Endowed (By I,aura I'l'iiiiiiM I iciiutiingway ill Thu State's SoHqultounlul Edition; Because winter usually is content to ir?*a<l light ly in the coaxial ?-.< ?! i<>ij of Soalii ('aroiina, and bn attKe iIu kj I line Hlill has a way c * I stepping l>IitIm I> i?11 < iisliinned feel, South Carolina has hecoine the owner of tlx nnfy ryprrr nfr TnirSTrrnr or I(hkind'Tff the world, of nature and urt. wiiii a Id! of philosophy thrown in. Six yea I'm lavi, Arehep Milton Hunt* iiiKton world traveler, parlon of art, author of many voluble* of poetry that have heon translated into several lungiiHges, humanitarian, lover of nature with Mrs. Huntington, wlio is internationally famed uh Anna Hyatt HuntiiiKton, sculptress eatne to Koutli Carolina in search of a quiet spot where they could cKcupc the rigors of a Northern winter, and where they could rent. Approximately halfway between Myrtle Beach and (Jcoitteiown, on the old King's hlKhway, Mr. and Mrs. i Huntington discovered Brookgreen,1 where it lay drouslng in the sunshine of Waccumuw Neck, They knew in-' stinctively that they had found Unquiet spot they had been Keeking, Mr. Huntington, who had establish ed already 11 museums of various kinds in the United States, and two in Spain, recognized in the open climate of this state, and in the topography of the old gardens on Brookgreen plantation, the requisites ideal toward the establishing of yet another museurn. Tills time It would he different. lie forgot he had come to rest! Mr. Huntington bought not only Hrookgreen, hut three other neighboring plantations, including Laurel Hill, Springfield and The Oaks, tlx- home of Thoodosia Burr for the brief period she lived in this state with her husband, (Inventor Joseph Alston. Kach of these plantations had prolonged formerly to one or another member of the Alston?or Allston ? family, as the individual possessor of that name chose to spell it. In spite of lost records, it can be said with assurance that each of these former rice plantations had been grants from King Cleorge II, who had taken the pains to reserve for his navy all white pine trees found growing thereon, a tree indigenous to a climate other than that of the Carolina coast! The estate purchased by Mr Huntington numbers 7.000 acres Of this he S<U aside 1.1 I I acres to he developed into the open-air museum, - with tiie intention of including the remaining acres gradually. His plan is to make o| this a museum of natural history running from the fiora and I it una of the Waccamaw river to tlxHora and fauna of the sen. a distance approximating three miles. I he plan has progressed to the extent that more than lit" specimens of native flora have been placed within tlx- garden, where they are thriving, and where they present the year round a spectacle of beauty through their variety of blossoms. Each is marked with a label of metal, giving the botanical mime and the gctttls of the plant. Eventually a catalog will be compiled and placed oil tile in the brick museum, wlx-re it will be available to nature students for reference. These plants are " exhibited" in open air eases" that are elevated beds arranged in tlx- curvatures of the high serpentine brick wall that incloses i lie open air museum The u all is : built ot bi n K. hoicy , i>nib fashion, to allow a I re.- < ireulatiun ul air around lite plants, and (?. prevent the danger "t it llei iitf le al during tin summer Native \ i ties , 11111! i o\ er p. both ? - - r ' it ! flowering, and .sott.n and I beaut Ify It The collection of native fauna is I growing hteailllIt is beginning to tal<> till SOJ#fet III His of the Uhp?'< t of 'a /.(K), with Iftf hears, wild turkeys, I swans, and other specimens. I one hundred thirty pieces of mati uury, worth $.'iOO,OOb, have been set up in Brook gteen garden*. Some are of h loll / ' and hollte of Stone. The bronzes are considered the linest American collection in lite world The io?i?eun?, bodF? HO't>OiiiK --To Spanish-Arable architecture, houses ; iu niches around Its oiyer walls the piuccy. . A rufTuugulur pool hi the center reflects In its still waters, that appear now blue, now green, the Intertwining tendrils of the na oive vim's thai clamber over the pergola roof. Wrought iron gaffes of bluish-green open in the walled museum, and smaller ones Into the art museum Flanking the lutter are two small | bronzes that represent favorite subjects of Mrs. Huntington's. These are 'the Joan of Arc and 101 ('id. Mrs. Huntington has a Joan of Arc in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine In New Yi^rk city, and a Chi also in New York and another in Seville, Spain. Her work, which has won for her many medals and honors, is found in j the Metropolitan Museum of Art In '.New York city, and in the Carnegie, Cleveland, Sun Francisco, San Diego, cuius. Luxembourg and Edinburgh intisAmong the sculptors represented at Brookgreen, all of whom have received number of honors, are Augustus Saint (laudcns, (Jraetno Cerere, James Harle Fraser, whose portrait bust of Augustus Saint (landaus is in the Hall of Fame, New York, and whose Alexander Hamilton is in the Culled States treasury building in Washington; Paul Jennewoin, Alvln Bleeskie, A. A. Weinman, Robert J. Aitkin, whose marine monument stands on Harris Island, and whoso busts of Thomas Jefferson, "Henry Clay. Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Webster are in the Hal) of Fame; Mario Korbel, whose "Night" in Brookgreen i is no less beautiful than his "Andante" in tiie Metropolitan Museum or Art, and whose "St. Therese" is in the Vatican In Rome; Ernest- W. j Keyser, a former secretary, and Ches- ! ter Beach, a former president, of the National Sculpture society; Herman MacNeil, who received the designer's medal at the Charleston exposition in D?e2; Harriot H. Mayor; Mrs. Henry Herring, Helen Journey. Abram Relskle. S. Walker Hancock and R Tait McKenzle, sculpture, editor, sur genu, who formerly was house physician to tin- governor-general of Canada I he subjects, vary, hut running through the entire collection is that common theme of the mystic bond of brotherhood between man and the dumb creatures of nature. This is j upheld by tablets, hearing excerpts I ol verse suggesting subtle philosophy, that are set into the entablatures on the columns in the wall. There are five placed, but the complete collection will Include Jit. No better example could he found than (leorge Sterling's "Bumas": "Hushed, ( ruel, ninher-oyed, Before III.- time of the danger of the da y, Dt at dusk on the boulder broken mountainside, I hf great cats seek their prey. i Soft padded, heavy limbed. With agate talons chiseled for R.v.-i or hate, I In desolate places, wood.-u ..p granite i bnnie.1, , iu< gfi.it cats seek their mate. j Rippling, as water swerved. To tangled coverts. o- el -hadow ed I and deep. I In great ( ats go tor sleep. I Seeking the mate or prey, out of th?- darkness glow the ill? satiate eyes Man, who is more terrible than tie y, ! I>r< a111m lie i? no otherwise," A lii'* >i/ and Iif - 1?K?- jaguar m bronze hv Anna Myall Huntington [reaches down Mann ih?' wall ledge above inls to a .'*? use ' Ii-11 I Willi 1 CttCtl. Mr. Huntington has laid out I ho garden inusouin after tho pattern of L* UilU*iU>, fuMhw- humh?hI??im 4h?* I bond wjih nature Concrete walks, outline the wings, the roHervoir cool .lui'UUi. tile huad, with the walks-rot?ning out to the pair of boat landings on tile rlv? r cuts inarking the antennae. The original garden, with its box-bordered walks, serves for the body, and the central walk leading underneath the patriarchal live oaks of the old plantation avenue to the entrance gate, Is the tail. When Mr. Huntington set about to build an open-air museum on Brookgrt'ifii plantation, he chose as its site t be original gardens. He recognized in the rolling contour of the land from tin- river toward the sea the ideal facility for the old Spanish system of irrigation, which he considered best for the native flora in a semitropical climate. Water Is pumped underground from the old rice canals back of the gardens to a large circular reservoir pool on the site of tlie original Alston dwelling. From this tile blue-green water is distributed through little trickling rills to every point of the garden. Here and there it is intercepted temporarily by a small fountain that furnishes the setting for a piece of statuary. Small lead conduits, following tlie natural slope of tiie garden, are caused to overflow whenever and wherever needed by throwing into these at the desired place a sand bag. The irrigation operates also thru hiiihII lead troughs alongside the conCrete walks. By means of tills system, Brookgreen gardens may be kept fresh and green the year round. Gravel walks are found in that part tbat forms the original gardens, but otherwise concrete walks are used. These are the old kind that in the I sandy soil of the coast, will sustain j tlie weight of the carts bearing the watering pots to the native flora. A waterproof spray has coated the bj?lck a "natural gray that harmonizes with the statuary, the concrete walks, tlie water, and the Spanish moss that festoons the spreading oaks and the towering magnolias. For the .sake of symmetry the original kitchen has been moved from just back of the resorvior pool to a spot opposite the art museum. This is the only part remaining of the plantation home in which George Washington was entertained while on his presidential tour of the South in the early days. In the kitchen are s?'Veral of the rooking implement in which, perhaps was prepared the food that was served "The Father of His Country" when he was a guest at Brookgreen. For the sake of symmetry again, a second boat landing and steps were built in the rear wall a proper distance from the original. There is a popular legend that it was down the old brick steps of the plantation landing that Theodosia Burr descended to take the small i rail that bore her to The Patriot, upon which. December 111, 1M2. she embarked upon her ill-fated journey to visit her father in New York, but ibis lacks historical backing. Beside the highway, near the entrance to Brookgreen, is a stone that t? IN ;i pathetic story in these simple wouis: A monument to Theodosia Burf. and graves- of her husband. Governor Joseph Alston, and their son. Aaron Burr Alston. Oaks cemetery, miles." The driveway into, Brookgreen is one mile long. It is broken by three circles beautified with native shrubbery. The first pool is large. It lias a waist-high coping of the honeycomb brick, and is planted with native water plants. In the center is a stone equestrian statue by Mrs. Huntington. The second pool is similiar. In the center of that is a bronze showing Diana, another of Mrs. Huntington's favorite subjects. This holds the center of an expansive terrnce. the entrance of which is guarded by a pair of stone lions holding within the security of their paws the globe. Mr. Huntington recently conveyed to the state of South Carolina, thru an eleemosynary corporation, Brookgreen gardens, and the deeds have been recorded. This corporation is composed of Archer M Huntington, president and treasurer; Anna Hyatt [Huntington, vice president. C F. 1 Bailev of Newport News. Va . sec re* I tary. In addition to these, the hoard | of directors consists of Francis Smyth j of New York City and C 1> Ford of | Georgetown j Tho cost of the 4,444 acres included | in brookgreen gardens ran to $200,. 000 and that of the imporvements and statuary to $800,000. For the purpose of providing permanent maintenance, Mr Huntington has endowed the garden* with a fund of $1,200,000, mak j in* the total value of this gift td the statu well above two million dollar*. What Mr. Huntington bus done for embryonie talent tin? yearn will tell. There seems something In the very j atmospherv of the place conducive to ] talent. It wuh there that Julia Peter- j kin found the inspiration for several | of her stories featuring the Gulluli ." gro that made her famous. For Kern-rations these Negroes have lived at ISrookgreen and on Handy Island ju*r hack of It, and Mr Huntington provides for their welfare by having a physician from a neighboring town attend their needs four days out of each week. Hrookgreen should hold an especial attraction for artists for it was there that Washington Alston, South Carolina's internationally famed painter, was born. Hut this gift to the state of Houth Carolina by a man, who came down from New York and found a climate more- satisfactory than any he had encountered on his world travels caiiv not be reckoned In the matter of dollars?so far as value is to he considered. Breeders Cross Oats For Disease Control In Improving the Binull grains, plant breeders in the United States Department of Agriculture in their cooperative work with the State Agricultural Experimental Stations seek varieties that yield well, resist lodging and shattering and are of good quality. These are general aims. Hut there are regional problems. For example: In the South there is demand for oat varieties resistant to crown rust, in the upper Mississippi Valley breeders work for resistance to stem rust. The development of smut-resistant oats Is a specific need In nearly all oat-growlng sections. The discovery <|hat there are definite races of the oat Bmuts has complicated the problem. Drought-resistant oats is a distinct need in the Great Plains, and where cereal hays are grown there is need for improved varieties for grazing and forage. The oat breeder, with his knowledge of genetics proceed^ with a high degree of certainty to combine, through hybridization, the characters he believes essential for new and better varieties. OPEN FLOOD GATES For the second time in its six years of existence, the spillway of the Lake Murray darn was opened Friday to release excess waters from recent rains. Since Friday it lias been necessary to open one gate off and on to keep the water from rising above the mark set by the government. Wednesday, with new water from recent rains pouring into the lake, another gate had to be raised. Employees of the Lexington Water Power Co., said the dam, reputedly the second largest earth structure of its kind, was in good condition. The gate was used about four years ago under similar conditions. A new kind of light, made by use of a synthetic dust made from rocks, combined with mercury and ultraviolet electric rays, developed into a brilliance equal to sunlight was shown to scientific society in New York this week. Baby Born to Giants Shreiveport, La., March 28.?Mfs. Gertrude Kama, 28, who weighs 74$ pounds and Is one of the world's largest women, gave birth to a daughter weighing nine poiuids and three ounces at a local sanitarium today. The baby's father is Cliff Karns who weighs 304. The combined weight , of her parents is 1,049 pounds. The Karns have been married several years and have traveled with shows over the country. Death of a Former Resident Hartsville, April 1.?W. C. Blackwell, 82, died late this afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G. B. Gardner, after an illness of several days. He -is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Nettie Melton of Camden; two brothers, J. L. Blackwell, of Camden, and Steve Blackwell, of-vShreveport, La. Funeral services will.be held at the Wateree Baptist church at Camden Thursday afternoon at four o'clock. Interment will be in the Quaker cemetery. STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF THE MERCHANTS ANI) FARMERS BANK i.or.\tki> at bkt1 h'ne. s. c.. at the close of business MARCH \. l ASSETS and Discounts $15,557.94 Overdrafts Secured by Cotton 4,897.63 Bonds and Stocks owned by Bank 8,225.00 Furniture and Fixtures 2.060.47 Banking House 1,068.75 Other Real Estate Owned 8,023.84 Cash on Hand and Due from Banks 36.274.68 Cheeks and Cash Items 455.70 Other Assets. Collection Account 85.00 TOT AI $77,558.01 LIABILITIES Capital Stock Bald In $20,000.00 Surplus 8,000.00 Undivided Profits Hess Expenses and Taxes 3.423.41 Heposlts Demand $34,021.35 Time 11.175.61 Cashier's and Certified Checks... - 620.14 Total Deposits 4;>.S26.10 Other Inabilities: Fertilizer Account 30$.at) TOT AI $77,558.01 State of South Carolina. County of Kershaw Before me came (J. B. McKinnon, CashffT of the above named bank, who, upon beinK duly sworn, says that the above is a true statement of the condition of said bank, as shown by the books of the bank. O. B. McKinnon Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of March. 1936 Correct Attest: ~ l>oring W. M. Stevens Notary- Public for South Carolina T. M. Clyburn looting Davis I Directors. WHEN BUYING j FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY Bear in mind that some day replacements will be necessary and when they are needed, usually they ar needed promptly. BUY FROM US: McCORMICK?DEERING MOWERS TRACTORS > REAPERS AND BINDERS POWER UNITS HAY RAKES ENGINES HAY PRESSES * WAGONS STALK CUTTERS DISTRIBUTORS HARROWS, PLOWS, ETC We Carry a Large Stock of REPAIRS For All Machines Made By: INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY j WHITAKER & CO. Rutledge Street Telephone 4 j -W ..f~? 1 I r -V \7T N0N ACID 17 i V"V> HJRMING JL CVttllZCYS \ G row E| etterCotton and Corn j V-C Fertilizers do more than just supply needed plant-foods. They provide them in many different forms for different stages of growth. They contain the minerals that are so necessary/ They contain abundant magnesia?the fourth element?that keeps your soil sweet. It takes more than a shovel and a pair of scales to compound such mixtures. Into every bag go forty years of experience. It is because of this, that in competitive tests, they have repeatedly grown bigger and better yields. Talk your fertilizer needs over with the V-C Agent. He's a good man to know. Virginia-Carolina Chemical Corp. ?COLUMBIA, S. C. / 35 million ton* ol experience beck of erer? be| of V*C Tine Tested Fertilisers. o LEWIS & CHRISTMAS AGENT CAMDEN, S. C