The Irish standard., 1894-12-01
THE "NELLIE TREE.
Romantic Story Connected with Cine Oh
the El1ns OF Prospect Park.


the ElIns OF Prospect Park.
People whotare accustomed to visit.
ing Prospect park, as well as the of
fcials and employees of Brooklyn's
great pleasure ground, are wondering,i
says the New York Tribune, what has
become of the little silver plate which
marked tall, graceful elm tree in g.
small valley on the Flatbush avenue
side Of the East drive. The plate bore
the name Nellie" and there is ro-
mantle story connected with it,. The
tree itself is one OF the landmarks in
the park, and the driveway which
passes it runs through what Is kzlovra
as Battle pass. During the summer
time it is one of the most beautifnls
trees in the park, and thousands have
admired it's graceful foliage, and for
many years attention has been attracted
to the tree by the plate which it: bore
The name referred to Miss Nellis
Howard, who some years ago was a.
reigning belle on Columbia heights.
Her friends and admirers We're counted
by hundreds, and her accomplish
ments and beauty made her leader ID
social circles Mrs. Howard and Nellie
were in the habit Of taking long
drives in the park when she was a.
girl, but she never passed the tree'wltll-
out speaking Of and ad1nir'1g its
beauty. Her affection for the Old tree
ripened as she grew older and almost.
every bright day in summer she would
insist upon driving around to the tree
and spending IA few minutes beneath
it's spreading branches. When Nellie
went to Europe about ten years ago
she visited all the capitals OF the Old
world. but in all the interesting sights
she saw in all her new experiences she
said did not forget the stately elm in
Prospect park, and in every letter to
her mother made inquiries about it.
When she was about to return horne
she was stricken with fever while III
Rome, and even during her illness her
thronghts were constantly with her
stately and silent friend in the park.
and her last words to her companions
were about the happy hours she had
spent under it's branches. NeIlie's
death greatly shocked her family
and friends in Brooklyn, but her heart
broken mother felt herself drawn more
and more to the old elm in the park,
until she became convinced that the
spirit Of her departed daughter haunted
the tree. This feeling finally led Der
10 apply to the park con1nissioners::for
permission to set d plate in the tree.
This permission was granted, and III 'h
short time the plate was placed IL posi-
ton, and the elm has ever since been
known as the ''Nellie Tree" This 'be-
lief Of the affectionate mother WAS e
great solace to her. and at frequent in-
tervals she journeyea to the tree, where
she believed her daughters spirit had
found q resting place, and passed e
silent hour under the branches her de-
parted loved one thought SO mach OF.
Now Che plate is gone and no one.
connected with the mark is able. TO
give any solution Of the mystery of.its
disappearance The general opinion Is,
however, that the nails which held 1t
to the tree had become loosened by the
combined Influences OF the weatheG-
and the growth Of the tree, and the
plate dropped off and has been carried
away by some one, who neglected to.
ret,.ln it to the proper authorities of
the park