Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-15


The fine trees of the promenades. public gar
dens and squares of Paris are suffering more
and more every year, and they wither away
with deplorable rapidity. The Pare Monceau
has suffered less. Being on an elevated situa-
ton, its lofty trees are growing in salubrious
air. The same may be said of the MOnthOIOn.
Trnite and Saint Augustin squares; but on the
Place de la BOurse. Place du Chatelet, Place
Saint Germain rAuxerrois Tuileries and Lux
enbOurg Gardens, and on many other spots, the
trees are. in fact, nearly destroyed. To what
cause must be attributed this whitening of fine
and noble trees? Is it gas the bad quality or
the want of air which destroys the splendid
lime trees chestnuts and elms Of the Tuileries,
Champs Elysees. Luxembourg or Jardn DIES
Plantes? These species have. it appears lived
their time. and. like everything in this world,
ancient trees must pass away in their turn to
make room for newly -acclimatised specimens
This is especially noticeable on the line of boul-
evards and quays The plantains recently
employed to adorn the public thorough
fares are full of life and ketf, their
leaves until the middle of autumn
still. on close examination. several of them
may be noticed to have but few yellowish
leaves and to show every sign Of decay which
destroyed their predecessors. The only trees
Wihcn seem to weather all the bad Influences of
rariSian climate are the Ailantus or Japanese
varnish trees' their appearance on the Boule-
H na On the race de la Republique, or the
splendid bearing, as stout and lofty as that of
walnut trees; their numerous branches covered
Win hShl green leaves, render them one of the
most pleasing ornaments of public gardens This
Tree was introduced into France in It'll. il came
| from Eastern Asia. With the Ailaptus which
will before long become the only species nsed in
large towns. there is also the Judas tree which
produces magnificent effect with its brilliant
red flowers, thck and dark green foliage Sew
eral fine specimens Of this species NAV be seen
in the Paris prOmenadeS. There is also the Tri-
acanthos. or thorn tree, which attains a height
of Is metres. and is well fit for bordering ave
nneS. bunch Of thorn shoots out from it's
center. and it is used in America to protect fields
and orchards; planted close together they form
an impe aetrahle fence This tree has long been
considered as having supplied the thOrns with
which the crown OF Christ was made.
GOVERNOR PLAIsrkp, of Maine. has declired
to approve the report made by the executive
council providing for the payment Of the quar-
terly salary of J. w. Spalding, the reporter of
decisions notwithstanding the recent declara-
ton OF the supreme court that the governor had
no power to remove this officer without the con-
sent of the executive council. This is the third
time that the governor has taken such action.
AN Ex-BANKER CONVICTED OF SwINDLING.
The trial. in Troy, NY, of Lorenzo Baker,
charged with swiniling the Rev. W. II. Meeker
OIL Hoosick Falls, out of So It's, which he in
trusted to Baker to invest in railroad stocks
mas Deen conciuded. The jury rendered ver-
dict of guilty. The prisoner will be sentenced
to-day. Baker was at one time one of the most
prominent citizens of northern New York. He
kept banking establishment at Schauhticokc.
and was reputed to be worth great amount of
| money. In 1880 he became embarrassed and
transferred his property to relatives. leaving
Mr.. Meeker and others out In the cold. Meeker
had such implicit confidence in Baker that he
never called for the bonds which the latter gre
tended to have purchased for him.
WALTER SHUTTER, young hut reckless man
Eof HAacock eounty, T6nn-, hot end killed his
Wife during . dKunken quarrel Tuesday.