the District of Columbia. "His cottage in the peaceful quiet 

 of the Botanical Gardens" served as a refuge for many a 

 prominent Washingtonian. Members of both Houses of Con- 

 gress strolled down from Capitol Hill not only to visit the 

 Garden, but also to spend time with the scholarly Smith. 

 While pointing out the Garden's botanical collections, Smith 

 would often quote Burns or share insights into his latest 

 acquisition of the late poet's work. 10 



He invited many of his prominent friends to plant 

 memorial trees in the Botanic Garden. But because he feared 

 that relic-hunting tourists might appropriate pieces of these 

 cherished trees as souvenirs, Smith left them unlabeled. 11 

 Still, he took great pride in escorting interested visitors 

 around the grounds and pointing out the living memorials. 

 Unfortunately, none of those trees has survived to the 

 present time. 12 



During his long tenure as superintendent of the Garden, 

 Smith met many Congressmen who believed the facilities 

 existed solely for their personal use. In each instance, Smith 

 gently but firmly informed them of the Garden's limitations. 



Once, while showing a group of Congressmen through 

 the conservatories, he spoke lovingly of the rare orchids 

 growing in one of the houses; whereupon one Member 

 spoke up and asked: "What are these darned things worth 

 anyhow?" Smith replied solemnly, "My dear sir, if the Great 

 Architect of the Universe had been considering economy 

 when he created you, he would have put you on four feet 

 and fed you on grass." 13 



"No doubt that [the] Congressman left the gardens vow- 

 ing vengeance" on the outspoken gardener, but nothing ever 

 came of the incident. Despite his outspokenness, one writer 

 in 1911 was prompted to suggest that the popular Smith was 

 "as secure in his position as the Chief Justice of the United 

 States." 14 His independent air even extended to an unwill- 



10 Ibid.; Cavanagh, A Great Champion of Burns and Masonry, p. 62; 

 and Answers Last Call, Sunday Star, July 7, 1912, p. 2, pt. 1. 



11 Cavanagh, A Great Champion of Burns and Masonry, p. 62. 



12 Descriptions of a number of these species are included in Appendix 4. 



13 Cavanagh, A Great Champion of Burns and Masonry, p. 62. 



14 Ibid. 



35 



