The daily gazette., 1879-04-18
THE LARGEST SOUTHERN TREE

The "big tree" In Washington, Geor-
gia, is probably the Oldest and largest
in the Southern States. The town of
Washington has always been the home of
culture and refinement, and Robert
Toombs, Alexander Stephens and other
Georgia celebrities have from Its borders
passed their names into history. In
visiting various points of interest round
the place, we walked mile or so
through the beautiful unbroken forest,
crossed valley meadow with Its wind
ing stream, and assembled All eIninence,
the footstool of the forest monarch. Some
distance from the big tree is a giant bro
ther, which, towering broad and high
above its neighbors aud concealed at a
distance by foliage, impresses you on its
appearance as being the monarch him
self; but when you reach the little
knoll, with Its open space, on which
stands the compact mass Of bark and
timber, and gaze aloit Oh the huge limbs,
themselves larger than surrounding trees,
you stand before the largest representa-
tive of the vegetable kingdom in the
Southern States. The 'big tree" which
Is on the grounds of Mr.. Adam Alexan-
der, prominent citizen and devoted ell
der Of the Presbyterian church, is tulip
bearing poplar (Liriodendren Tulipifera) }
with height of 155 feet, diameter of .
feet, circumference of 2S feet, and Its
lowest branches are IS feet from the
ground. Mr.. Alexander told me that one
day, while riding, he and Major Anthony
Porter drew up their horses sidewise on
opposite sides of the tree, and could not
around it, see even the tips of each others
horses heads or tails.
This grove was Gods first Presbyter-
ian temple in Georgia, for about the
year 1890 the South Carolina presbytsry
sent delegates, who held meeting and
ordained Rev. William Springer, the
first Presbyterian pastor in Georgia
under the branches of the tree. Among
the officiating members Of this open-ail
presby terry was Rev. John Brown, d. d,
the frat president OF Franklin college
now the university of Georgia.
DR.. Brown and his fried, DR.. Lorenzo
Taylor, of the Baptist church, were boti
emi inent for their piety; both were ful
| of animal spirits, and both were grea
music clans. DR.. Taylor b-ing able. to play
| any instrument from An organ TO Jew'
harp. Being together on some occasion
DR. Brown called for music, whereupoI
1 LIT. Taylor sel Zeu MS nuule ana asked
what he would have. "Well," replied
DR.. Brown, ~ suppose something devo
nonal," can right" answered DR.. Tay
lor. striking up a jig, 81 can get Just a.
much devotion out of Scotch reel a
any other style Of music"
In the month of July, 1865, the biI
tree was struck by lightning, shiverinl
its top and blasting its vitality for SOM
distance below, and now occasionally 1
limb which the blight OF decay has rsacl
ed, comes rattling and crashing down
Bnt still the gnarled and powerful
branches stretch their shade over thu
| ground of sacred associations; still mel
approach the massive trunk with rever
ence, and gaze up into the fronded spir'
whose amounting has not been by crust
ofoil, but storm and tempest, and oI
whose tresses the lightning flung its gilt
tering coronet.
Trees spring up and die beside 1t
companions of its youth have all fade'
and fallen away. But summer and win
ter, seed time and harvest, 1t stand
grandly and peerlessly on its centurie'
foundations; and will long retain its dis
tinction-the leaty monarch of tn
Southern forests.