Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-22

TARY MORTON, WHO WAS THE FATHER OF
ARBoR DAY, OK WHICH EVERY ONE SHOULD
PLANT A TREE.
It was such . little tree to stir up 50 much
commotion. 1t stood by circular hole
in the lawn Of the agricultural grounds,
northwest Of the building, with all
its poor little rootlets exposed to
the damp, chill air which marked the middle OF
the day. 1t could not get away either, for in q
surrounding circle stood nearly every clerk
with the evident intention Of intercepting the
sides the sad little tree was labeled
anyway aud would have been recognized
anywhere. The label told all who cared 70
read that the cane-hke affair, with eleven small
buds, was Q white oak. The label was neces-
sary.
THIS WAS ARBoR DAY.
This was arbor day, when trees are to be
planted everywhere, and AZ Secretary Morton
was the prime founder of tho day it WAS
only natural that q hole should be dug
in the department grounds and the full
strength Of the Office stationed around
to watch it. The clerks did this instead Of
going to lunch and seemed to enjoy il. shortly
after IL o'clock. Assistant Secretary Willis
broke into the ring and took his hat of. The
little white oak visibly trembled. Its time had
come and 1t knew it.
Mr.. Willis SPEECH.
Assistant Secretary Willis made an eloquent
speech. He told of forests in general and Of
how they had cen destroyed in the east and
planted in the west. The des truction Of forests
in many locations, he said, had altered
the climatic conditions greatly for the
worse. The supply Of rainfall had been de-
waited and the danger of floods increased.
Thoughtful men in the west had taken these
lessons to heart and voice from the first
arbor lodge established by the present
Secretary of Agriculture in Nebraska
had awakened people to the earnest work Of
planting trees as well as destroying them.
Secretary Morton had grown up
among trees and he felt the need Of them
when he removed west He was the father of
Arbor day. which was now recognized in forty
states. Mr.. Willis thought it was especially
appropriate that those who now worked in the
depsr sment over which Secretary Morton pre-
sided should join in planting tree on the day
which he had established.
sUPT. SAUNDERS TALK.
Assistant Secretary Willis called on Super
intendent of Grounds Saunders to tell what he
knew about trees. II Is a well-known fact that
Mr.. Saunders knows all there Is to know about
trees. and as it is necessary that the
on the 22d of April, even the. little white
oak. breathed sigh of relief
when Mr.. Saunders, instead OF
laying bare all his knowledge. said he was con-
WINGED that Arbor day was doing more for the
painting of trees than all forestry conventions
ever held. and then after a few remarks on the
qualification to be gained by doing good in
adding to the number of trees on the earth
ended his pleasant little speech with q short
poem.
THE TREE PUT IN THE GROUND.
After Mr.. Saunders had concluded the tree
was planted. Secretary Morton had entered
the ring in the meantime and took an active
part in the operation. For moment when
everything was ready there was thrill of horror,
as when Secretary Morton looked for
the tree it had disappeared. Speedily
it was seen, however. that when Mr..
Saunders had commenced his speech he had
dropped his hat over the tree and for the time
being it lost to the world. The tree
was rescued. however, and Secretary Morton
held it firmly between his Thumb and forefnger
while two workmen pounded dirt around the
roots.
DR.. SALMON SPEAKS OF TREES.
1t was all over and DR.. s. E. Salmon, chief
Of the bureau of animal industry, was making
a speech before the tree realized really what had
happened. DR.. Salmon showed that he was
up on trees as well as on houses. He tried to
make the little white oak feel more comforta-
BILE. He said that people were with trees
like hunters were with animals. They seemed to
take delight in breaking and DESTROYING for the
mere pleasure Of the act. He referred to espe-
cal cases and then said that no one had done
more to counterfeit this tendency than the
present Secretary Of Agriculture when he
obtained the establishment of Arbor day. A
great work had been assured when school chill
dren, as well as farmers, had been interested
In the planting OF trees. He predicted, in clos
ing. that the tree planted today would grow into
more beautiful and appropriate monument than
any which could be carved ont OF marble. As
the tree grew and expanded 30 he hoped the
department would grow under the administra-
ton of the men who lave always shown SO
much public spirit AID ability.
SECRETARY MORTON HAS HIS SAY.
Mr.. Willis then introduced Secretary Nor
ton, who said he believed he had instituted
new anniversary, and an anniversary which
was not In memory of some
thing which had passed. but which
looked forward to posteritr. Every day vast
acres Of trees were cut down, and it was only
right that the planting of trees on
one day Of the year should be made a
serious work well as a holiday. He wanted
school children above all to realize the close
relation between vegetables and animal
life and to remember that if vegetation
died out for only one summer the
fall would find not one single animal alive on
this earth. Secretary Morton then rather
startled his auditors and caused the tree to
grow two inches in height. by saying that only a
few years ago every one present had been in
corporated in some vegetable and that few
years hence they would all be in the same con-
dition.
Trees and truth. said the Secretary, we're two
Of the longest-lived things in existence, and
both are a good deal alike. The smallest eco
nomic and political truth will. like the
oak, grow and spread, until, as we have
had experience lately it will rsvolutionize q
great government Mr.. Morton thought that
all who planted trees could say with Wrenn,
If you would see my monument look around
HALF HOLIDAY GIVEN.
Secretary Morton had just flushed when an
unlimited speaker spoke, but as the clerks said:
''spoke to the point" He said he
was going to make the best speech
OF the day and that was that the rest OF
the day would be holiday. It was
Chief McCuaig who said this and it went.
Everybody cheered except the little
white oak, whose holidays are all over and who
must 60 on growing and growing in order to do
honor to Secretary Morton and Arbor day.
ALEXANDRIA.
WASHINGTON CHARTERS GRANTED.