Springtime is Cherry Blossom Time in Washington

The Springtime is Cherry Blossom Time in Washington 

By AGNES WINN 
Washington DC 

Cherry Blossom Time in Washington! What a delightful picture words bring to those who have  been in the Nation's Capital during charming season, which has become as famous as Tulip Time in Holland, and Apple Blossom Time in Normandy.

Spring in Washington is beautiful everywhere but in no spot does it present such an exquisite picture as in lovely Potomac Park. Here along the river front and the Tidal Basin has been created a scene of enchanting beauty. Until the park was laid out the river was practically unapproachable to modern Washingtonians and its beauties unseen, but now as one approaches a marvelous panorama greets the eye.

The grass, pale and delicate, is green beyond belief in the long field that forms the center which has the appearance of an island in a river. Encircling the park is a wonderful drive, picturesque, with large boled willows hanging gracefully over the waters edge, and a great garden of perennials, of iris, of jonquils, and masses of forsythia. But it is the bowers of pink blossoms on the small gray Japanese cherry trees that fur nish the famous and lovely setting unequalled in America for its beauty. The waterside becomes an exquisite dream of beauty peculiarly suited to the colors of Washington at this time.

The story of the trees is an interesting one. Learning of Mrs. William Howard Taft's admiration for the cherry trees when she was on a trip to the East, the Japanese government sent a shipment to America but these were condemned and destroyed. Later on, however undaunted by this apparent lack of appreciation, the mayor of the city of Tokio, upon the suggestion of a Japanese gentleman who had spent much of his life in America, presented her with three thou sand of them. This second shipment arrived in the spring of 1912. the last year of the Taft administration, and with simple ceremonies in the presence of Mrs. Taft, the Japanese ambassador and a few others, the first tree was planted on Potomac drive, or the Speedway, as it is familiarly known to residents of Washington.

Now with the first warm winds of spring. the pink and white blossoms of thousands of these flowering cherry trees, planted in irregular groups, stand out against the marble whiteness of the stately Washington Monument and the impressive Lincoln Memorial in the Speedway Park of Washington. Then it is that Potomac Park becomes a mecca for not only the residents of the Capital but for the many thousands of others who journey to Washington to join the annual pilgrimage to see this panorama of nature-some in motors, some on foot, and others galloping along the alluring bridle paths. The trees are cherished as a priceless asset and no one ever breaks a twig.

It is easy for one walking beneath these graceful flowering trees to understand how deeply there lies in the Japanese character love for the beautiful. It must be a great satisfaction to the people of Japan to know that throughout America there is a growing love and appreciation of their national flower. As soon as the blossoms burst forth, the Japanese Ambassador and his family may be seen strolling beneath the trees in native dress, which no doubt bring back happy memories of their homeland.

Japan takes the keenest interest in observing the enthusiasm of our people for the flowering trees and they are considered a real link of friend ship between the two nations. Those who have seen the beautiful cherry blossom scenes in Japan, say, that the setting of the trees around the Tidal Basin, forming a delicate pink fringe around the edge, is as charming as any view in Japan. Someone has spoken of it as an "entrancing gar land of pink and white petals".

There has never been a real cherry blossom festival in Washington, although now and then a pageant has been staged by a group of energetic citizens. Next year it is proposed to have under civic authority an artistic festival of music, dancing, and pageantry, woven around the story of the gift, and emphasizing the deep significance of international friendship, expressed by the flowering trees. In this way it is hoped to glorify the gift, and to give color and life to the spirit of springtime.

Three years after this gift to America, it was arranged to send a shipment of American dogwood to Japan. The trees were planted in Tokio, in the city parks, and were also distributed to the schools. Later on, thousands of dogwood seedlings were sent over, so that now an American, visiting Japan in the springtime, has the pleasure of walking under a profusion of the lovely dogwood, and dreaming of his homeland. And each spring as the school children of America admire the cherry blossoms from Japan along the Potomac, the school children of Japan look in admiration and wonder at the flowering dogwood of America.  

References:

Seattle Grade Club Magazine Official Organ of the Seattle Grade Teachers Club 1912

         

COLUMBIA'S BANNER

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL ODE TO THE COLUMBUS DAY- WHICH IS OFFICIALLY KNOW AS " COLUMBIA'S BANNER" SINCE 1892. FIRST TIME THIS ODE WAS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  AS A PART OF THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY OF THE  OFFICIAL CELEBRATIONS OF THE COLUMBUS DAY ON THE 12TH OF OCTOBER 1892. THIS OFFICIAL CEREMONY IS CELEBRATED EACH YEAR IN THE WHOLE TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND  THE COLUMBUS DAY IS OFFICIALLY CALLED THE FLAG DAY, AS THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS RAISED OFFICIALLY THAT DAY IN ALL THE COUNTRY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE COLUMBUS DAY AS WELL IS CALLED THE DISCOVERY DAY AS THIS IS OFFICIAL CELEBRATION OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONTINENT OF AMERICA BY THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN 1492.

 Contributed by The Youth's Companion 

THE ODE FOR COLUMBUS DAY. 

"COLUMBIA'S BANNER." 

"God helping me,"-cried Columbus, "though fair or foul the breeze," 
I will sail and sail till I find the land beyond the western seas!"- 
So an eagle might leave its eyrie, bent though the blue should bar, 
To fold its wings on the loftiest peak of an undiscovered star !
And into the vast and void abyss he followed the setting sun; 

Nor gulfs nor gales could fright his sails till the wondrous quest was done.

But O the weary vigils, the murmuring, torturing days, 

Till the Pinta's gun, and the shout of "Land!" set the black night ablaze! 

Till the shore lay fair as Paradise in morning's balm and gold, 

And a world was won from the conquered deep, and the tale of the ages told!

Uplift the starry Banner! The best age is begun!

We are the heirs of the mariners whose voyage that morn was done. 

Measureless lands Columbus gave, and rivers through zones that roll,

But his rarest, noblest bounty was a New World for the Soul! 

For he sailed from the Past with its stifling walls, to the Future's open sky,

And the ghosts of gloom and fear were laid as the breath of heaven went by;

And the pedant's pride and the lordling's scorn were lost,in that vital air,

As fogs are lost when sun and wind sweep ocean blue and bare;

 And Freedom and larger Knowledge dawned clear,the sky to span,

The birthright, not of priest or king, but of every child of man!

Uplift the New World's Banner to greet the exultant sun! 

Let its rosy gleams still follow his beams as swift to west they run, 

Till the wide air rings with shout and hymn to welcome it shining high, 

And our eagle from lone Katahdin to Shasta's snow can fly 

In the light of its stars as fold on fold is flung to the autumn sky! 

Uplift it, Youth and Maidens, with songs and loving cheers; 

Through triumph's, raptures, it has waved, through agonies and tears.

Columbia looks from sea to sea and thrills with joy to know 

Her myriad sons, as one, would leap to shield it from a foe!

And you who soon will be the State, and shape each great decree, 

Oh,vow to live and die for it, if glorious death must be! 

The brave of all the centuries gone this starry Flag have wrought; 

In dungeons dim, on gory fields, its light and peace were bought;

And you who front the future-whose days our dreams fulfill- 

On Liberty's immortal height, oh plant it firmer still!

For it floats for broadest learning; for the soul's supreme release; 

For law disdaining license; for righteousness and peace; 

For valor born of justice; and its amplest scope and plan 

Makes a queen of every woman, a king of every man! 

While forever, like Columbus, o'er Truth's unfathomed main 

It pilots to the hidden isles, a grander realm to gain.

Ah! what a mighty trust is ours, the noblest ever sung, 

To keep this Banner spotless its kindred stars among! 

Our fleets may throng the oceans-our forts the headlands crown- 

Our mines their treasures lavish for mint and mart and town- 

Rich fields and flocks and busy looms bring plenty, far and wide-

And statelier temples deck the land than Rome's or Athens pride-

And science dare the mysteries of earth and wave and sky-

Till none with us in splendor and strength and skill can vie; 

Yet, should we reckon Liberty and Manhood less than these, 

And slight the right of the humblest between our circling seas,-

Should we be false to our sacred past, our fathers God forgetting, 

This Banner would lose its lustre, our sun be nigh his setting! 

But the dawn will sooner forget the east, the tides their ebb and flow, 

Than you forget our radiant Flag, and its matchless gifts forego!

Nay!you will keep it high-advanced with ever-brightening sway- 

The Banner whose light betokens the Lord's diviner day- 

Leading the nations gloriously in Freedom's holy way! 

No cloud on the field of azure-no stain on the rosy bars- 

God bless you, Youths and Maidens, as you guard the Stripes and Stars!   

THIS HYMN WAS OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AS THE OFFICIAL PLAY AND CONCERT ON THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION EVENT OF THE CRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DAY ON THE DAY OF THE 12TH OF OCTOBER OF  THE YEAR 1908.   

References

THE HYMN IS PRESENTED AS IT IS AS IT WAS FOUND IN THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE OF THE MINISTERY OF THE EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR TEACHERS-THE INDIANA SCHOOL JOURNAL 1892, VOLUME NUMBER 10, MONTH OF OCTOBER.

The Discovery of America

 

The Discovery of America 

By BESSIE F. DODGE.

  OFFICIAL HYMN AND OFFICIAL POEM FOR THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION OF THE COLUMBUS DAY ON THE OCTOBER TWELFTH,  IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS DAY IS OFFICIALLY CALLED THE DISCOVERY DAY AND AS WELL THIS IS THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IS CALLED THE FLAG DAY. ON THE COLUMBUS DAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS RAISED.

A PLAY - For thirteen children each reciting one verse - one child at a time.

THIS PLAY IS COMMEMORATION OF THE REAL HISTORICAL EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED ON THE SHIPS OF THE CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN 1492.

October twelfth is Discovery Day; 
And I'll tell you one thing more- 
To discover is to find out 
What was not known before.

Hundreds of years ago, 

In fourteen-ninety-two, 

Christopher Columbus 

Sailed over the ocean blue.

Before that time, white people 

Lived on the other side, 

And between them and America 

Lay the Atlantic, deep and wide.

Columbus was an Italian, 

His home was near the sea; 

In school he studied geography, 

That he a sailor might be.

All but this Columbus 

Thought the world was small and_flat,

And if they traveled very far, 

Would come to the edge-think of that.  

He tried to prove to learned men 

That the earth is like a ball, 

But only a very few 

Would listen to him at all.

At last, Queen Isabella,

Said she believed him any way, 

And helped to fit out three small ships 

To sail westward without delay.

After sailing for many weeks, 

The men were filled with alarm, 

And planned if Columbus did not turn back,

To do him cruel harm.

Columbus understood how they felt, 

And said if in three days more 

They did not see signs of land, 

They would return to their homeward shore.

But before the time was over, 

Land was in full view, 

Indians were here and there, 

In wigwam and canoe.

Columbus in a scarlet robe, 

With Spain's banner in his hand, 

With the sailors went on shore 

And thanked God for the beautiful land.      

This country was named America, 

But some people think-do you?- 

That it should have been Columbia, 

For Columbus brave and true.

This fact then do not forget, 

Whatever else you do;

 Columbus discovered America

In 1492.     

THE HYMN IS PRESENTED AS IT IS AS IT WAS FOUND IN THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE OF THE MINISTERY OF THE EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR TEACHERS- PRIMARY EDUCATION, YEAR 1908, VOLUME NUMBER 10, MONTH OF OCTOBER.

Rereferences:

1.THIS HYMN WAS OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AS THE OFFICIAL PLAY AND CONCERT ON THE OFFICIAL CELEBRATION EVENT OF THE CRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DAY ON THE DAY OF THE 12TH OF OCTOBER OF  THE YEAR 1908.

2,The Real America in Romance 
BEYOND SUNSET SEAS THE AGE OF DISCOVERY 1435-1506 

EDITED BY EDWIN MARKHAM 

Autumn Leaves

 Autumn Leaves 

(HYMN)

By Eula G Lincoln 

The leaves have turned from green gold 
And red and orange and brown; 
Whenever gentle breezes blow 
They come a-dancing down.

I watch them floating in the brook 

And make believe they're ships, 

With fairy crews and precious loads, 

On long and dangerous trips.

I like to wander in the woods, 

For there it smells so sweet, 

And where the leaves are lying thick, 

To walk with lagging feet.

I like the little leaves of spring. 

They re green and fresh and bright, 

But autumn leaves in colors gay 

Are such a pretty sight.    

ORIGINAL HYMN AND SCHOOL SONG  OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS FOUND IN THIS  HISTORICAL MAGAZINE

NORMAL INSTRUCTOR OCTOBER  1927 

ORIGINAL  HYMN SONG WAS FOUND IN THIS HISTORICAL  MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

NORMAL INSTRUCTOR OCTOBER  1927 

THE ORIGINAL  HYMN OF THE PURITAN SCHOOL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE ORIGINAL  RECITATION AND THE  MOTION SONG WAS FOUND IN THIS HISTORICAL MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

NORMAL INSTRUCTOR OCTOBER  1927 

THIS HYMN WAS WRITTEN BY THE POETESSE EULA G. LINCOLN AND WAS  RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS THE MOTION SONG FOR THE PLAYS ABOUT THE PILGRIMS, NATIVE AMERICAN INDIANS AND  FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE COLUMBUS DAY. 

Columbus Day

 Columbus Day Exercise 

(HYMN) 

By Alice E Allen 

(May be recited by four children each giving one stanza or by three all giving last.)

A little ship, 
An ocean wide,
 A troubled crew, 
So terrified.

A captain who, 

From dusk to dawn, 

Gave this command- 

"Sail on! Sail on!"

A bird, a branch,

With berries red, 

A light-oh joy, 

Land, land ahead!

The flag of Spain 

Proudly unfurled- 

Columbus finds 

Our own New World!

(Our own School sings first and last of "America")  
 

ORIGINAL  HYMN SONG WAS FOUND IN THIS HISTORICAL  MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

NORMAL INSTRUCTOR OCTOBER  1927 

THE ORIGINAL  HYMN OF THE PURITAN SCHOOL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE ORIGINAL  RECITATION AND THE  MOTION SONG WAS FOUND IN THIS HISTORICAL MAGAZINE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

NORMAL INSTRUCTOR OCTOBER  1927 

THIS HYMN WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS THE MOTION SONG FOR THE PLAY ABOUT THE PILGRIMS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE COLUMBUS DAY.