The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-08-07
TRAVELS OF A TREE.
The PrOgenitOr of Many, If Not All, the
Weeping willows In America.

Anu AAObOhkGOE Oh IuhuyR H MOI ALL the
Weeping willows In America.
Salix Babylonica-the Weeping Will
LOWS a native of Asia, and previous
to the early part of the eighteenth cen
tury was unknown in Europe save from
descriptions by travellers. In the same
quarter of the globe fourishes the fig
tree, and vast quantities of dried figs
have for centuries been annually trans
ported. About the year 1925 box of
this fruit was sent by an Englishman,
who was seeking his fortune in the
East, to friend in England. This
friend was Alexander Pope, the poet.
Not long before, Pope had purchased
small estate near Twickenham, on
the Thames, ten miles from London,
and was now giving full sweep to his
poets fancy in embellishing it.
When the box of figs was opened, a
small twig was found among the fruit,
but evidently not belonging to it.
Prompted by his prevailing mania, Pope
stuck the twig carelessly into the oozy
ground on the bank of the river. The
location could not have been more for
tunate. The slip grew rapidly, and
Pope was in raptures when assured that
it was genuine Weeping Willow If the
East.
He cherished itwith the greatest care,
esteeming it one of his most precious
possessions. Before he died it had al
ready attained large size, and added
greatly to the attractiveness of the lawr
of his famous villa.
With its delicate boughs overhanging
the Thames, and dipping gracefully
into the water, it was beautiful tree,
and the admiration of hundreds who
came to Twickenham to see it; and thus
came the little twig to be the progenitor
of its race, which is now so abundant
along the streams and in the church
yards of the British Islands
Strange to say, Pope's tree became in
turn the parent of its race in America,
and the story of its second emigration
Is quite as interesting as that of the first.
When the war of the revolution broke
out, and the troops of King George were
embarking for New England, it was re-
garded as most propitious opening for
ambitious young officers. A few weeks
would suffice for the subsection of the
Colonies, after which some persons
looked forward to rare sport in forest
and stream, some to military exploits in
combats with the IDdians, while others,
more mercenary, hoped to wrench from
the wonderful resources of the New
World fortunes ample for themselves
and their successors. How speedily did
disenchantment follow!
With General Clinton came a young
aid-de-camp who cherished a more
modest scheme. An American planta-
tation of broad acres, with leisure, and
sufficient income to crafty love of en-
bellishment and adornment; this dream
had so taken possession of him that be-
fore his departure he visited Twicken-
ham.
Pope had then been long dead, but his
beautiful villa had passed into hands
that jealously guarded every thing con-
secrated to the poets memory. The
young officer dreamed day-dreams and
built air castles among it's beauties, and
on leaving cut vigorous shoot from the
now gigantic and gnarled willow This
he carefully wrapped in oiled silk, and
brought with him across the Atlantic to
adorn his American domain.
1t will be remembered that after the
battle of Bunker Hill General CIinton's
troops found themselves prisoners upon
the little peninsula, and guarded by
Washington's troops The officers of
the two armies had occasion for frequent
communications under flags of truce.
The officer most frequently employed
upon this errand by General Washing
ton was his step-son, John Parke Curtis,
then serving as his aide.
The noble mind and polished bearing
of young Custis speedily made friends
for him among the British officers.
Especially between him and the young
aide-de-camp of the willow-shoot a
strong attachment was formed. Per-
haps Custis told his military friend OF
the young wife awaiting his return in
Virginia, and conffded to him something
of his hopes for the future, when, peace
restored, he could retire with her to his
estate at Arlington.
However that may have been, when
the youthful Englishman's disillusion
came, and he left Boston with the
evacuating army in the spring of ire,
he gave his precious willow twig te
Custis. 1t was planted soon after neaI
Custis' house at Arlington, Va, and be
came in time as lordly tree as its an
cestor at Twickenham, and the progen-
itor of many, if not all, the Weeping
Willows in America, Youths Com
panion.
Mr. Ruskin an Anti-TobacconIst.
Mr.. Ruskin-who, by the way, un