The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-06-07
TRAVELS OE a TREE.
The Progenitor of Many, IL Not All, th
weeping willows in America,

Tne PrOgenibor vi MahyyIt Not All, tho
Weeping Willows in America.
Salix Babylonica-tke 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 flourishes the fig
tree, and vast quantities of dried figs
have for centuries been annually trans
ported. About the year 1725 a 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 a large size, and added
greatly to the attractiveness of the lawn
of his famous villa.
lo1 tn H., ,s,i,
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 it's race, which is now so abundant
along the streams and in the church.
yards of the British Islands.
Strange to say, Popes tree became in
turn the parent of it's race in America,
and the story of it's 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 subjection of the
Colonies, after which some persons
looked forward to rare sport in forest
and stream, some to military exploits in
combats with the Indians, 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 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 Clinton'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.
between him and the young
of the willow-shoot
strong attachment was formed Per-
haps Custis told his military friend of
the young wife awaiting his return in
Virginia, and confided to him something
of his hopes for the future, when, peace
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
army in the spring of 1776,l
he gave his precious willow twig to
Custis. 1t was planted soon after near
Custis' house at Arlington, Va, and be-
,ame in time as lordly tree as it's an
,estor at Twickenham, and the progen-
tor of many, if not all, the Weeping
Willows in America. Youths Com
,anion.