Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-05

!
fortunel' Again, In April, 1888: "(Married) on
Saturday last, Mr.. George Doursthorne to the
agreeable Mrs Mary Bowker. both of this
, town."
The Eucaiyptt. in California.
THE Family's Defender.l
One OF the most beautiful and attractive
features OF Oakland's eDvirons is found In their
rapidly multiplying and exceedingly thrifty
forests or Australian blue gums.
III is species OF che Eucalyptus, and vas first
imported to California from Australia many
years after the annexation OF this country TO
the United States.
The blue gum is usually propagated fro n the
SEED, which grows In little cup very much
resembling the cup or exterior covering Of an
acorn ana about the same size. But iuJsead OF
one germ to the cup. as is the case with the
acorn, each cup contains In one little cluster
nurserymen readily produce the young trees.
The tree is an evergreen The leaves OF the
first year or twO'S growth are not long but
very broad, and wear an ashy blue tint, but the
leaves OF later growth are quite narrow and long,
some OF them being from nine Inches to a foot
In length, and of q darkish green color, so that
II often happens that we find two branches OF
the same tree; one Immediately over the other,
clothed In foliage so different In appe arance,
both as to shape and color, that they do not
seem to belong to the same species of tree. The
ieaVeS are quite aromatic and emit fragrance
winch 10 many persons Is very agreeable The
Dark OF the tree Is OF gray or reddish color.
smooth Ike that OF the sycamore. and some
parent trunk and falls In thin flakes to the
ground. The foliage of the blue gum acts as
powerful condenser upon the moisture Of the
atmosphere tInl SO that during the dry season the
ground under the spreading branches of the
blue gum, particularly near the seacOast where
logs prevail, is often wet from the water which
lncessantly drlps from the overhangtng foliage.
Without drop OF rainfall, the water from this
cause alone sometimes accumulates under
these trees in such quantities as to stand In
pools, or run In small riyulets, as If fed by re-
20 ~
ours during the prevalence OF heavy rogs and
under trees OF large growth
One OF the most wonderful qualities OF this
tree is Its extraordinary rapid growth. In our
city of oakland, on the west side of Telegraph
avenue. stands clump Of blue gums, which
were planted little less than sixteen years ago.
Tney were then about the size OF an ordinary
CABBAGE plant, and Low they reach some IS or
30 rect In height, and the largest one In the
group, at point one foot above the ground
measures Just 10 feet and inches In clrcum-
ference, Or 34 feet in diameter. What seems
stu more remarkable Is that. notwithst anding
the very rapid growth OF the blue gum, its Tin.
Der Is endowed With a most eXtraOrdin airy
toughpess, and VIII doubtless prove very val
uaoe 1Or many purposes. Ii Is said to make
excellent f1re-wood but when dry is very hard
70 cut, and burns away rapidly. The leaves OF
the blue gum contain volatile oil, and possess
many valuable medicinal properties. They
have already been somewhat extensively
used In the manufacture OF medicines for
the cure both OF rheumatic and pulmonary
pro or con as to the efficacy of the blue gum as
remedy for disease, but we can say froIn per
sonal experience that It's leaves are the very
best absorbentS OF bad odOrS we ever saw for
Which reason IL is generally conceded that this
tree possesses peculiar value In malarlous dis
trlcts. On the north and east of Oakland In
plain view OF the city, are quite a number OF
Dlie gum forests covering several acres each.
Macy OF these trees, Of not more than from
elght 10 ten years growth, are from foot to
eighteen inches or two feet In diameter, and
oil ~ IN.nl
nelght as TO form very prominent as well as
one OF the most beautifully picturesque fea-
lures OF oaklandS surroundings The blue
gum, however, cannot endure a cold climate
Even IN so mild all atmosphere as that OF Oak
land. some OF them were 100 young and tender
to withstand our unusually heavy frosts OF last
winter.
on account OF The chronic dampness which
usually prevails In the vicinity OF these trees tr
Is hot well TO plant them near ones dwelling,
Ibe Wreck of the ssEnsiiau Chief,
Outward bound IN the Indian Chief with skinner
and pilot, Northern man, -
1hrty all told from the Yorkshire coast we sailed
80, for Pc Channel, t. make Japan,
iciF cola rom the nor nor east. the wind like an
be stars stood sharp by a frozen moon and III.
moon stared whitc N = frosty Sky:
ttcF good lookout do YOU unserstand.
We must strain our eyes tor the bright Kaock
i'e sailed on q fouler night my lads but Inaay
yesseI ha, coIne 70 grief,
here's good luck TO the Ladian Chief"
II emed so strange that starlit sky should look
tts4 so calm on a stetilinz sea
And a crpeiIer wind never shiycred the skin. or
W., mi. made tle inast ike a bending tree.
w., and our conrsc set clear of the Kentish Knock
Hsr and then came a crash and sickening shock;
"e.kneW What II meant when. without amy fuss
And the fdekt4 Sn@ pilot 5@ I'D haHds
u had struck m on me bar OF the Goodwin Sands!
,rudderf No troacherous reef i''"' u sou u
QUO ever prlson with tirmer grip than the sands
that swallowed tie Indian Uhief!
1t didn't take long for the end to come when the
go We lighted a fare, as IA desperate chance. to
~, guide brave men 10 our hopeless wreck.
The pilot, the skipper, his brother the mate and
the thirty odd souls in desperate plight, '''S'
Cfep int the mas s ia the scar seasehns cold looking
One 10y one as the masts gave way, thep dropped
~, Ike Ike birds from frozen tree,
hen tue SKIPPER, WHO chung To his brother the
mate. sang ont, Thank God! There's the
~. a distant speck, like floating leaf;
IT'S branch of olive the pilot cried and the
message is hopefor the Indian Chief.'
Lashcd to their oars in the binding storm. ont
they had come in 4 steamers wake,
Ramsgate men, with never care for sailors
death, for sailors sake.
-, ough. Harslch, score Of hands.
breaking her back upon the goodwin sands ;"
Twas race for life, and the Bradford won. But
when the boat from the tug was cast,
The sea stood III front of the Ramsgate Iaen, as
they heard the shrieks from the sinking mast
Shouts of succor ACROSS the waves, and cries of
agony past belief;
What is the use of a lifeboat manned when the sea
has prize III the Indian Chief?
The skipper lay dead by his brother the mate with
smile OH his face for the wife at home,
And the morning broke to the moan, - How long,"
and the endless cry, "WIl the ifo- boat
Gomez"
But the evening closed conquered sea, and
masts where never sailor clings
And they run to the end of the Ramsgate Pier to
see the prlZe that lhe life boat brings.
II isn't i'll money, gold, that's paid the terrible
debt of the enemy SEA,
But flesh and blood of shipwrecked crew is
richer reward, you'll all agree.
Many ship, the year rolls on, with skipper and
pilot aud faithful hands,
viii sail from home on winter sea, and drift TO
death upon Goodwin Sands.
But when the plea for the life boat comes, therel
not be many to grudge relief
To the men who answered to duty'a call, and stood
by the wreck of the Indian Chief,
OBSTRUCTION in the house OF commons is moth
ing new, but It usually Is a serious matter. A
most amusing exception, however. Is men
toned In one OF Macaulay's letters to his SIS
tiers. The year was 1882; the bill was one pro-
hibting Orange professions, and the obstruc-
UonfSt-an IrtShnan of cOurSe-waS by name