Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-08-25
OUR TREE FRIENDS.

1t takes long time to make fine tree
often longer than it takes to make fine
human being. And there are trees in
whose presencs the period of growth and
endurance of human beings seems trivial
In comparison with the centuries which
the life of those trees covers. And what
an impressive thing fine tree Is, whether
1t stands in the company of its own kind
In the forest, or towers in strong silence
over the busy city street. In Its youth 1t
was surrounded by as many dangers as lie
in wait for the young of the human race.
But by good luck or caro- 1t escaped them
and grew up to where 1t could take It's
own part in the contest for life which
everything that lives has to engage In.
Year after year 1t gained in the STRIFE,
holding what 1t had slowly and patiently
acquired and adding slowly and patiently
to it's growth. The gun tried to burn 1t,
the rain tried to drown 1t and the mighty
wind tried to overthrow 1t. But it held
sturdily against them all, gaining in power
to live by living, until at last it stood per-
fected and strong, Its roots deep and its
branches high, concentrating in itself the
power and the glory 1t had drawn out of a
hundred or thousand years.
No wonder that trees have been wor-
shipped aud that they have besn looked
upon as the abiding places of deities. No
wonder that poets have seen souls in them
and made them talk and sing and weep.
For instance:
The garden trees are busy with the shower
That fell ere supset: now methinks they talk,
Lowly and sweetIy as befits the hour,
One to another down the grassy walk.
Hark the laburnum; from his opening flower
This cherry -creeper greets in whisper light,
Hoarse nMe mutters to the murmaring sycamore.
Or,
Those green robed senators OF mighty woods,
Tai oaks, branch-charmed by the earnest stars,
Dream, and so dream all night without stir.
Anybody who has bsen acquainted with
noble tree for many years, or has become
intimate with 1t by close companionship In
many times and many seasons knows that
the poets speak truly when they speak thus
of trees Trees can talk and sing and
weep and dream. They can also comfort
the soul of the one who can feel In their
presence their msjesty, their patience, their
strength and their endurance. Many g
distressed one has been comforted and
helped by tree. Many of our readers
have felt strength come into them
from the glorious elms of New Ha.
ven, and especially those on the
Green, which have lived SO long and
grown go strong, which are known to have
souls, and which nightly talk over witt
each other the wonderful things they have
seen since they began to live In New
Haven.
It is therefore q mournful thing for thu
people of New Haven that the ruthless ant
overpowering tempest which came out o.
the east has wounded or slain SO many o.
their old and majestic tree friends. Tha
was q sad sight on the Green yesterday
and there were similar sad sights in othe
parts of the city. How faithful and hov
friendly and helpful the old trees that ar
torn or overthrown have been. Many VIII
have known and loved them, and who hav
lived with them from childhood to matur
| ity OF old age, will sorrow deeply TO
] what has come to them.