Minnesota weekly times., 1855-06-12

WAS HE WRONG .:

WAS HE WRONG:
Nearly half century ago, in an Eastern
town which contained some 5000 or 1000 IN
gun to appreciate straight and wide streets and
well laid out Parks, a modest gentleman -rc-
paired TO the public green. which had been do
mated to the Town by several wealthy residents,
and there began to plant Two rows Of Young
elm trees. The spot was Z barren one and had
hitherto attracted but little attention; now hun
dreds gathered about him, and some in dcrS;o.l
sought 10 divert him from his purpose, lut he
withstoed their ridicule, sanguine in his own
belief that the day ro,dd come wnen those who
laughed at him then would admire HIM Tor hls
foresight "NYhat good will 1t do you?" asked
one, You will not live long enough to ENJOY
the shade OF those trees, and that land is worth
considerable 10 raise potatoes on what motive
then have You TO spend your time and money
on that which will not pay you!" ''Motive!'
exclaimed the gentleman, motive. what motive
has a man TO live unless lie can leave behind
him some thing to be appreciated and admired
bv the generation which follows him. may
not enjoy the shade oi these trees, but my chill
drcn will. and that is sufficient motive for me to
spend a little time and money in the adornment
of this public park" The gentleman continued
his labor from day 10 day until two rows
OF Young and vigorous elms encirclcd the
enclosure. Then admiration began 10 take the
place OF ridicule, and from that time forward he
was looked upon as one OF the greatest benc-
factors to the present beautiful city of New Ila-
ven, Connecticut. While the trees grew and
spread their Young branches over the green
sward. he who nurtlucd them grew in the es-
teen and estimation Of his iellow-citizens, and
it was not long before ne became Il member OF
the Congress Of the United States. Even now
there is no more honored name on the pages
of history, and one whose memory is more
deeply cherished in ':the Land of Steady Hab-
it's than that Of Hon. JANIS II. HILLuousr,
the originator and Eeautiticr Of one Of the most
magnificent Parks in the world. No student
of Old Yale, who has left his Alma Mater, can
forget the noble elns whose branches entwin-
cd and shut out the midday sun and beneath
whose shade he has often loitered with those
who are now scattered in all parts Of the world
Neither can the traveller, the artist, OF even the
day laborcr resist the acknowledgements that
some of their most pleasant hours have been
heguiled by the foresight and hberalty of only
one man. Does the city value these trees?"
perhaps you ask. Why they could not be
bought and the land upon which they stand. if
it should be coycred three feet deep with gold.
"Valuc the trees" Each year the city faith
ers nomish them with Il tenderness equalled
only 10 that OF mothers solicitude for the well
fare Of her child. "Value thcm!' Money
can't buy them, nor would the city part with one
foot OF land whercon they stand.
"Bm what does all this signify" asks spec
ulator who looks only TO dollars and cents as
the ultimatum Of all his hopes and desires--
Simply this, sir, that what james II. Hllhousc
did for New Haven, you can do for St. Paul,
by preserving that Bluff in St. anthony street
free from all those nuisanccs which will ncces-
sariy arise from the erection of buildings there
ON; and more than this, you can hand down Il
name to posterty which will be revered through
all time. VIII you do it? You may pile up
your pondcrous brick buildings, with their glar-
ing show windows--you may name the build
ings after yourselves, in hopes to perpctuate the
names of Dolrs or Snobs, but Of wnu, avail will
it be? Ina few years you will die and be for
gotten and your buildings will crlmblc to dust;
lut
ga thing of Beauty is joy forever.'
Gentlemen, we are in earnest. We desire
TO give ST. Paul name abroad which will in
ducc thousands to visit us if for no other reason
than TO loiter on the banks of the Mississippi at
the head of navigation on the great "Father of
Waters" Is not this a good cause and worthy
the attention of our citizens? They NAV not
think so now, but the day will come when they
mM think SO, and deeply regret the disfg,re-
ment of That BLUFF.
WESTWARD no.
For two weeks past, more than thirty emf