The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-02

not write this letter with any idea that
your readers care to hear from me, or
have any interest in Independence. /
simply want to write about trees. l
have just returned from a long walk
through the city in the shadow of these
grand trees. l wish every citizen OF
Madison could take this walk. I be-
lieve each one would 60 home and plant
q tree. The people here seem, especially
in the evening, to live out of doors un-
der the trees. They sit there and read
and sew and visit and swing and play
games. Grandparents and babies are
all out in the shade. Houses in summer
are simply q matter of convenience when
it rains, or when you want to take q
bath or change your clothes.
From the main bueinees street to the
fartherest suburban residence IN either
direction, the walks are lined with trees,
and in many places they arch the streets.
They are lndescribably beautiful and re-
freshing. Yet there are but few trees
standing that were here when I first
came thirty-four years ago, and the
most have been set out within the past
twenty five years. As beautiful as this
this city is, with it's fine business streets,
it's many elegant residences, Its gem of
an opera house, it's hotel furnished as
nicely as any in Chicago, and it's rich
churches and public buildings, its main
beauty after all is it's trees. The princi-
pal shade trees that line the walks are
the hard and soft maple, the elmand the
box alder. or course the lawns are Or
namented with q large variety. Many
suppose the evergreen is Of slow growth.
80 it is for the first few years; after that
there are but few trees that grow faster.
Thirty years ago l set out soft maple
outside of my walk about six or eight
feet high, at the same time l set Euro
pean larch, Norway spruce and pines
inside, about a foot high. To-day the
evergreens are al high AZ the naples,
and the naples mingle their branches
with those set out on the other aide of
the street at the same time, and a load
Of hay on top Of another load could be
driven underneath them.
Twenty years ago three parks we're
laid out in this city. We had men then
as every place has now who opposed
every improvement where immediate re-
turns could not be seen. / happened to
occupy an official position then which
gave me the power to appoint the park
committee. 1 took good care to appoint
those who were in sympathy with the
work and who would see that the grounds
we're properly laid out and the trees
properly planted and cared for. The
croakers ridiculed our whip stalks as
they called our trees. I took q walk
through one of these parks to-day.
Scores Of children we're playing under
those trees, q grand stand is in the cen
tor from which the band plays evenings,
picnics are held there, everybody prom
enades there, and I suppose lovers have
made matches on the rustic seats in the
shadow of those whip stalks we set out
twenty years ago.
Independence is no more beautiful
than Madison can be. Let's all set out
trees. Let US get up a little earlier
some morning, or set up a little later
some evening, and, as I was about to
say, do without our Sunday afternoon
nap and set out q tree. Some think
they are too old 10 set out trees. Non.
sense! I have got the idea that I am
old completely knocked out Of me since
I came here. Almost the first person l
met was q hale, hearty lady 81 years OF
age, with whom I used to sing a good
deal many years ago. She invited me
up to her house to sing with her some
evening. She plays her piano every
day with a. much zest as ever. You
know l am quite q patriarch in Madison
But few older than myself, 90 I began to
think I was very ancient. I began to
wear q cane; tried to look digniied az
becomes an old gentleman; tried to be
very c~ircumspect in all my conversation.
and when ! laid down nights / thought
1t more than likely that I would not be
alive in the morning on account of my
extreme old &C.. I have met several
here IS years Of age, a good many IS and
a whole regiment over 70 and nearly all
of them attending to business with no
thought of dying. I feel like a boy
among them, and don't propose to think
any more Of growing old for IS or 4C
years yet. I had thought of buying q
COW, some pigs and hens and retiring
from business and society, but since
mingling with these hale old fellows
feel that I am only just about old
enough to set up in business for myself
My visit here has dispelled the idea that
I am old. You need not be surprised il
I organize q dancing school on my re.
turn. The hsppiest men l find here are