Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-07-13
Why Ohis is Called the Rsekeye
State.

On the 18th Of December, 1893, the
forty-fifth anniversary of the settle
ment of Cincinnati was celebrated by
natives of Ohio by what was called a
'sBuckeye dinner" On that occasion
the late DIR. Daniel Drake, of Cinein-
natl, gave most humorous and ingen-
ious description of the Buckeye tree.
We extract from his explanation as
follows: -e.,i.cs s.a-sslg.s-
The tree which you have toasted, Mr.
President, has the distinction of being
one of family of plants, but few spe-
cies of which exist on earth. They
constitute the genus Hsculus of the
botanists, which belongs to the class
Heptendria. Now the latter, Greek
phrase, signifies seven men; and there
happens to be exactly seven species of
the genus-thus they constitute the
seven wise men of the woods, in proof
of which l may say that there is not
another family of plants on the whole
earth that possesses these talismanic
attributes of wisdom. But this is not
all. OF the seven species, our emblem
tree was discovered last-it is the youn-
and who does not know the virtues of a
seventh son? ai-.
Neither Europe or Africa has a sim
gle native species of 4E3sculus, and Asia
but one. This is the zEsculus Hippo
castanum, or Horsechestnut. Nearly
three hundred years since member of
one of the western courts of Europe to
that of Russia, found this tree growing
in MOc0Ovry xrybifhor II bod hon,1
from Siberia. He was struck with its
country. 1t spread with astonishing
rapidity over the that part Of the contf,
nent, and crossing the channel, became
one of the favorite shade trees of our
English ancestors.
Every native in the valley of the
Ohio land of the Miama) should feel
lproud of the appellation, which from
the infancy of our settlements, has heen
lconfeFred upon him, for the Buckeye
has many qualities which may be re-
Igarded as typical of a noble character
1t is not merely native of the west
but peculiar to it; has received. from
the botanist the specific name of Ohio
ensis, and is the only tree of our whole
forest that does not grow elsewhere.
What other tree could be so fit an en-
blem of our native population? g
In all our woods there is no tree so
hard to kill as the Buckeye. The deep
est girding will not deaden it, and even
otter it is cut down and worked up into
the side of cabin it will send out little
branches to all the world
that Buckeyes are not easily conquered
and could with difficulty be destroyed.
The Buckeye has generally been con-
sidered unfit for fuel, but its very in
cOmbustibility has been found an ad-
Vantage; for no tree of the forest is
equally valuable for t'back logs,"f that
are the sine qua non of every good cab
in fire. Thus treated it may be finally
but slowly burned; when another of its
virtues appears, as no other Tree of Oul
woods afford so great quantity of al
kali; thus there is piquancy in its We
ry ashes. usl1...:1. -z-k .a.lti =ti41
The bark of our emblem-plan ha:
some striking properties. Under {
proper method of preparation and use
it is said to be efficious in the cure o
lague and fever; but unskifully emploed
Iitproyesa violent emetic; which indi
Gates that heWho tampers with a Buck
leye, will not do it with impunity.
Who has not looked with admiration
on the fine foliage of the Buckeye il
early spring while the sluggish tenant
of the forest remain torpid in their win
ter quarters; and what tree in all ou
wild woods bears flower which cal
be compared with that of our favorit
We may fearlessly challenge for it tn
closest comparison. Its early putting
forth, and the beauty of its leaves and
blossoms, are appropriate types of ou
native population, whose rapid an,
beautiful developement will not be de
MED by those whom I am now addres
ing, nor disproved by reference tt
their character ,..-, st..a.s
Finally, the Buckeye derives it
name from the resemblance of its nu
to the eye of a buck, the finest organ O
Jour noblest wild animal; while the
N name itself is composed of Welsh an,
|: Saxon word, belonging, therefore Il
the oldest portions of our vernacula
tongue, and connecting us with tn
primitive stocks of which our father
were but scions, planted in the New
World. .ss''g "a. AZ > f1'-"ei'-