42 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



When I first saw the Garden it was already inscribed 

 over the gate, "The Missouri Garden." Even then Mr. 

 Shaw always spoke of it as the Garden. But the people 

 called it Shaw's Garden, and they always will. It was his 

 in a higher sense than that of legal ownership. It was his 

 creation, as he said in his will, " his thought and care and 

 labor." No workmen were abroad there till his morning- 

 bell called them up. Nothing was done by hand that his 

 head had not planned. When Michael Angelo was asked 

 why he did not carve his name on his statues he answered, 

 " I mark them all over." Thus too, Shaw's characteristics 

 are unmistakable upon all his gifts. 



The crowning merit of Caesar, as Mark Antony extolled 

 it to the Romans, was : — 



He hath left you all his walks, 

 His private arbors and new-planted orchards; 

 On this side Tiber; he hath left them you 

 And to your heirs forever; common pleasures, 

 To walk abroad and recreate yourselves. 

 Here was a Cassar: when comes such another? 



Another more worthy to be first in the hearts of his 

 countrymen — thanks to personal garden-service, — his 

 action enriching his gift, came to St. Louis in Henry Shaw. 

 Here was a Caesar; when comes such another? 



In royal gardens I see sovereigns who have never lifted a 

 finger to elaborate them praised for munificence. It is 

 nothing but the old story of the fox exalted to be second in 

 the kingdom because he had prescribed for the lion a plaster 

 to be torn from the back of the bear. Shaw's offering on 

 the other hand was not so much of his silver and gold as of 

 himself — his whole self. That is the best gift which has 

 in it the most of the o-iver. 



Had Mr. Shaw given his fortune for a garden and park 



with nothing more — nothing of time, toil, talent — we 

 should always honor his memory. He would stand among 

 those few millionaires who, as Burke said : Not content to 

 reign in the dispensation of happiness during the limit of 



