, 1897-04-30

lone rs an offset. Sensible indeed was ,
he thought to replace the trees we take 4
way by planting an equal or even a ,
greater number. II
Such was the intention of Mr.. Morton.
Possibly some Of you know the origin
and history of Arbor day: But in case
you do not. and since l am the first
speaker and no one will have the oppor-
tunity to take the wind out of my sails
this respect, l will give a brief &C.
count. Pat" said a gentleman to his
coachman. r wan you to give the horse
powder. which the veterinarian has
prescribed for his Sickness How
shall l do it. sorr?" Take this tube,
fill it with the powder and blow it into
the throat of the horse" Five minutes
later Pat hove into sight with a very
doleful face, and the gentleman asked
II he gave the horse the powder. 20,
sorr. l got the tube down his throat, but
the horse blew first and the powther is
in me-" There. are Advantages in being
able to blow first.
As in the case OF our poor roads, our
attention was not called to this lament
able looping away of natures protection
until some one who mad been abroad
observed the condition of things there.
and insisted on forcing it upon our at
t%ention. The Hon. George P. Marsh
found the Germans and Italians vainly
striving to refurnish their countries
destroyed years before. 1t seemed to
him that an ounce of prevention was
worth a pound OF cure, and he suggested
bat we either should stop this depreda-
on in our own country altogether or
Use provide some means for %replanting
the loss. After a wrangling of 20 years
came an investigation OF our needs in
Tins direction and the appointment of a
y commissioner of forestry. However, leg
1eAsfon and police accomplished very lit
W1e was necessary to arouse in the
fearts OF iQpr people a sentiment for the
preservation of our forests. This was
finally brought about through the eff
forts OF Mr.. Morton. a Nebraska man
who knew whut 1t was to live in a coun-
ny almost deyoiS of trees.
Like health and friends. one does no.
fppreciste the value OF lotsati he
aas lost them. Mr.. Morton had little
Experience OF these benefcent proyfs-
AZ OF nature, but he realized hom much
lacking. He first introduced the
~ In the state Legislature to make Ar
" day a legal holiday, with the hope
.hstilllng into the people 4 desire to
furthsr the growth OF trees. The result
of dis endeavor has been thai millions of
trees were planted in Nebraska, and the
holiday, with it's best features, has spread
through Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, the Da-
kotes. Wyoming. and nearly every other
progressive western state.
Hhe next step in the progress Of Arbor
~ was when it became a celebration or
uAr public schools and the young people
o. the land were imbued with the spirit
OF forest preservation. The association
Of this sentiment with the institution of
which Dur great patriotic west is so
proud renders the day doubly beneficial |
and important. This may be a helping |
Of the spirit rather than the effort. but
every great reform has been brought 10 |
pass by the spirit which animated it, |
Slavery would be an i%nsti.ntion Yet,
were It. not for the spirit which thrilled
such men as Beecher, Garrison, Phillips
and Higginson. Temperance would still
be a thing unheard OF, and ministers of
the gospel when invited out would still
be expected to roll under the table he
FORE the repast was finished or else Of
lend their host, had it not been for the
spirit animating the temperance cru
SADIE. Through the public schools and the
institution OF the Arbor day, it is to be
hoped. the trees of our country will yet
be saved.
1t Is the duty Of all true Americans to
join hands in this effort to stop the de-
VISITATION of our forests. Cicero in his
treaties on odd Age showed clearly
that 1t is the duty Of every one to think
OF the generations to come. This
1as been the belief OF profound thinkers
or every age. We all know the charac-
ter or the people who held as their
motto, After us the deluge." If the flu
tnre were not regarded, and unborn gen.
eratlons to some extent provided for.
me world could lot go on. For this
reason we have 20 greater holiday than
Arbor day. This day has done every
thing to convert us from wanton des-
Lrnction OF natures wisest provision to-
a race of tree planters and preseryers oil
natures blessing and benefactors of DOS
'erltE' should the truest spirit of Arbor
aaE be kept. it will mean something
when We sing
l loVe thy rocks and rills,
Il woods and tempted hills.
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above"
OTHER EXERCISES.
Miss Ida Stevens recited the poem
beginning The Groves Were Gods First
temples. in a very pleasing manner
and Miss Elizabeth Flagg .read The
Planting Of an Apple Tree" in a mann.,
to expose the real beauty and philoso-
ply OF the well-known poem.
Prof. Nelson's talk on tho no,ir
OF Wyoming was instructive in a very