University of Virginia Library

Pied Beauty

How lucky we are that Mr. Jefferson was
born in April. What could possible be a more
beautiful time of the year to celebrate his
memory than that we are enjoying now.
Every flowering plant in Charlottesville, it
seems, is at or near the peak of its glory,
and as a result the whole world is a panorama
of pied beauty. Not the least glorious
member of this spectacle is the Lawn itself.
No one can forget the horror with which
we first observed that dust bowl which had
been the Lawn when we returned to school
last September. There were widespread
rumors of an incredible botch-up by the
Department of Building and Grounds in
which an attempt to kill an undesirable
variety of grass had revealed that it was the
only variety then growing on the Lawn. In
spite of the furor, however, the men of
Buildings and Grounds plunged on, installed
their sprinkles, put up their "Keep
Off the Grass (or Whatever)" signs, and
nursed the sick focal point back to a health
which it had not previously enjoyed. Today
we have a uniformly green (so green that
it looks artificial), carefully manicured Lawn
which rivals the Rotunda itself for most
marvelous member of the University community.
For all this we must thank the men
of Buildings and Grounds. Because of their
efforts, so often belittled, we must surely
have one of the most beautiful and best
kept college campus in the country.