Smyrna times., 1859-07-28
Cheap and Lasting Monuments.

qulred, under penalty, to set out trees in front
Of his dwelling:
Cheap and Lasting Monuments.
Unless very weary with life it is always
pleasant to man to fancy that he will be Ia Tx.
ed about after he is gone. Hence he gives the
greater part Of his lIie to the consideration of
monument OF some sort to perpetuate his memo.
ry after DEATH One holds the newspapers Ia
ba considerably more enduring than Horace's
perennial marble, and is satisfied that posteritv
Will DO something handsome for him if only he
keeps himself before the public while alive
Another erccts all " Institute" which being
hre- proof is sure to be his memorial, at least
until 1t cracks, crumbles and powders down, a
ruin, or at least until the march of improve.
ment, avaIllng itself of the aid of Street Com.
InSsloherS VINO want Job, aud OF the Common
Council. order lis removal. Another founds
college, and is sure al every Commencement of
toast drunk standing TO his honor Another
endows hospital, aud So insures line anru-
lilly In the Directory. Another creates libra
ry, and mikes his fame with the springs out of
which The streams of literature will flow for
years to come. But Elliott Cresson, when he
left the legacy of $1,000, which has lust been
paid over to the City of Phiade phla, for the
purpose of planting shade trees in the streets.
S""HiHSIJ ue"loCu d pIuu lOI tue erection OF
fifty or sixty monuments a year to his blessed
and erratc memory. Some of them will be
badly put up, no doubt, and come TO nothing.
but IT the PhadephIan Fathers study Down
ing with care, judIclously invest the capital,
and scrupuIously devote interest according to
the the bequest, his monuments will stretch
through miles OF avenues, and be their chief
ornament many years hence. 1t will bud anew
every spring, clOthe itself in veTdure, aud Weld
a grateful shade 10 thousands of waylurers
we cannot think of another investment of so
small sum that would bring back so many al
ways musical voices of thanks 10 the giver
We do favor 10 Wealthy people who are
casting about for the pattern of a monument to
commemorate their virtues and philanthropy
by suggesting that there Is room enough in The
city tor many of the same sor: that CressoD de.
vlsed in his will A pretty fair forest is already
growing on Manhattan Island, though the views
are good deal Obstructed by the piles of brick
and brown stone. But it would add greatly to
the value of property, and immensely to our
enjoyment, if every street, as soon as opened
and graded, were planted with trees. The
owners of lots generally are wise enough to
enhance the value OF the property that they
mean to leave vacant for many years by setting
out pies, buttonwoods or elms before it. A
started avenues of chestnuts and elms; but too
many whole streets where trees will be sadly
wanted are still left implanted. "The boys"
who are the Vandals Of our day, are the worst
enemies TO such Improvements, making catal-
pas, which they value for their blossoms-wil-
lows, for their 1.-the twigs-and some of the
locust tribes, for their pods-almost i'm practical
BILE, unless the owner of the property lives in
The vicinity, and either keeps dog with bad
reputation, or starts mission school. But
with all the difficulties that stand in the way of
newly planted trees, they are so rich an orna-
nent, aud SO essential TO streets from an appear.
ance of premature desolation, that no efforts
should be spared to line with them all the side
walks Of the streets that are not business tho.
roughfares. We bespeak generation of Cres.
sons for our emergency, that all coming gene.
ratlOns OF citizens may walk in the shade of
their generous monuments.
But # CITY looks dusty, dirty, and repulsive
without trees, that country village or parish
that does not abound in them III sensible sum.
mer ramblers will avoid. Nothing atones for
their lack but the immediate vicinity of the
ocean; and we do not believe that Nature is
always responsible for the apparent repugnance
between these two greatest dog day luxures,
as the dwellers by the seaside hold few
years ago tree planting clubs W ere fashionable
of late; we hope we shall hear more soon.-
This is just the season to start them, and to
make them permanent"
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The citizens of Sacramento, California, have
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