The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-27
ARBoR DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY.


| the several classes, Joe Wooten speaking
| for the Sophomore d. E. Simmons, for the
Junior, G. +. Thomas, for the Junior Law
X. Il. Davenport for Senior Law and r. J.
Swearingen for Senior Academic. Besides
| these class trees Judge Gould had a num-
Der of live oak and blackberry trees set out,
and number of people, DIR. +. ID. Wooten
shrubbery to be set out to keep the town
cow in good condition and the citizens of
the Sixth ward in milk until February %
next year.
During the ceremonies Mr.. @. F.
Thomas of the Junior Law Glass, de-
livered the following:
Fellow Students, Ladies and Gentlemen:
"Who does his duty is question
Too complex to be solved by me;
But he, venture the suggestion,
Does part of his who plants tree"
1t shall not be ours today to dye into
philosophy deeper than the roots of the
| tree we have planted nor attempt flights
of fancy higher than its branches. Nor
shall we preach didactic discourse on the
duties of observing Arbor day. However,
we Ca;lnot refrain from referring briefly to
theut- ity of trees-a utility known in all
times and recognized in every cline.
| OF tree, sirs, was made the bucket
"The I'D oaken bucket, the iron bound
bucket, the moss covered that hangs in the
we'll"
Ofat-ce, sirs, was carved the bow that
| sped the arrow that pierced the apple that
was on the head of William Tells boy.
OF trees srs, was built the burning deck
on which stood hero boy eating peanuts
| by the peck.
1t was for burning trees on the Sabbath
day that the IN an i'll the pale-faced moon
| is to be gazed at by young Romeos and Ju-
| liets for all time to come.
Today sirs, we doubt not that had Rich
ard III. been able to climb one half as well
as the average American girl his Distress
| ing Cry would have been: "a tree A tree /!
Ny kingdom for treeP'
In truth, inseparably with trees are the
grandest events recorded by the pen of
| Clio. Away back in the Garden Of Eden 1t
was the tasting of the fruits of q forbidden
tree that brought death into the world
and all our VICE."
1t was q sycamore tree that Zacheus
| climbed the better to see his Saviour.
1t was cherry tree that Master George
| Washington hewed down with his own lit
tie hatchet-known for all time in song and
story and McGuffey's Fourth Reader.
1t was an apple tree up which the bad
boy in Webster spelling book had climbed,
to be induced to come down by rocks anG
stones when the kind words of the old man
availed not.
1t is the pine tree that makes the tar that
clings to the heels that belong to people
that come from North Car'liny.
1t was o hickory tree that seemed the
favorite haunt of the coons i'll Tennessee
that Davy Crockett hunted.
1t was charter oak tree most famous III
Colonial days preserved in the traditions
of our country and advertisements for
Charter Oak stoves.
And finally it was a live oak tree in East
err Texas, under which Gov. Roberts held
Court-a lone, live oak in the centre of the
surrounding country.
Enough for other trees in other lands.
Here we are grouped about our blackberry
tree planted today by the jolly Juniors OF
the Law Glass of '9l.
About it will cluster in coming years, like
trailing vines the tenderest of class memo
ries. Uncer it will gather in playful groups
our children and grandchildren to call us
blessed. Beneath it will be trysting place
for mated pairs, verifying the old, old
story:
There's nothing half so sweet in life,
AS loves young dream"
We know we but voice the hope of all
when we wish that like Mr.. Finney,s tur-
nip, our tree may grow and grew and grow
"A thing of beauty, JOY forever"
Grow on oh young and tender tree;
Our hearts and hopes are all with thee.
May your roots be moistened by weeping
skies, and your branches clothed in garb
of green. Amid your bows let the summer
breezes sigh, but may you ever be preserved
from cyclones that destroy and drouths
that blight. More than all may you be pre-
served by those in high places from the
ravages of the barbarous town COW:
Town COW, spare that tree,
Eat not a single bough
In youth we planted it
Do not destroy 1t now.
The class procured the tree:
The Proctor fixed the spot;
Them town COW, let il stand
Thy teeth shall harm it not.
Twas Arbor Day we gathered round
The hole already made;
The top went up, the roots went down,
And then we had a shade.
Our sweetheart kissed us here,
And tenderly pressed our hand
Town COW, for e'er, beware
And let that blackberry stand.
Our heartstrings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, young tree:
Here shall we our best girl bring
To have jubilee.
Long may you stand, unhurt, unharm d,
In root and trunk and bough,
Our grounds TO adorn ara beautify,
Unclaimed by a town COW.
THE AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Tree planting, as the State law directs,