The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
MIR. FOWLER rs PATRIOTIC

MIR. FOWLER rs PATRIOTIC.
Having Exhausted All Other Means of
GlorihcAtion, He Has Painted His Cher
ished Trees Red. White and Blue in
Spite OF the Objections of NeiEhbors.
NEW HAVEN. Aug. 6.-There are many pa
triotic citizens in New Haven, but they all yield
the palm to William Il. Fowler of 422 Dixwell
avenue. Mr.. Fowler is now in his eightieth
year. He has lived through and taken part in
many wars. and In the times between has
found the opportunity to accumulate a snug
fortune. which he chooses to spend In his own
way. The larger part of his earnings are in
vested In real estate in the northern part OF the
city. The property consists Of several lots
which Mr.. Fowler purchased many years ago.
and adorned with a large number OF elm and
maple trees planted with his own hands. These
trees are Mr.. Fowler's peculiar pride. He has
annually shielded them against the swarms OF
bugs and beetles which are working havoc in
New Ravens elm trees and has come to regard
them with almost fatherly affection. II anyone
OF Mr.. Fowler's neighbors had been asked what
were his dearest possessions on earth he would
have pointed out these fine rows Of elm and
maple trees.
The other day Mr.. Fowler started out to be
patriotic. he had restrained his feelings as
long as he could. When war was declared he
hung a huge American flag over his front
the war progressed pHaS i failed to .express ali that
was in, him. When the battle Of, Manila was
o3RsI s hH aeGGFe ediaid ms q ffFoGRf d a sfoTF w As a she
operations around Santiago went on Mr., Fow:
bunting. and the memorable Sd Of JuIyDf found
his house and yard one glorious blaze q red,
honor the DESTRUCTION Of GeTvsrS's feet was
therefore something OF, a puZzle;a dihiculty
sast p T9qid en scS ft tRa a Mr. a F |esf inefH4ii s nei H1a
bors were somewhat surprised when they
row eSHe Of elm trees in in front fns 'e 81 Mr. fFowiers place SH@e
had been w~hltewashed during the. night. They
S Ssrs they hUs u Iess mysttd Snf % Waen'1 a few g' II 6o %Ps
later they saw Mr.. Fowler emerge from his
t6ese pots Stsn h Sh5f a f EariR q red 1efSf the p"i second 8pS was
Of IMMACULATE white; while the third con
truth began to dawn on several Of the more in
tfeIliEEsn n1c, aIG Sd more oTe o. 9Id g ESTl99TTi,s b PafrbIS ets
MIR Fowler paid no attention to his neighbors
or their inquiries. He went on, in the most de-
taking the pot of red paint and a brush as
had deity encircled the trunk with a brand OF
Haring red about a foot IN width, Momentarily
band Of white directly under Of equal size. He
completed, the symmetry with a stripe OF blue
that TbS would "I6 hheanTfedmmSsd8e a a Yale asI man sn wSI1 sat,.-
fed with his work. 1t was really a very fine
JOB. especially for an amateur in his goth year.
A large number OF admirers gathered to watch
the process. many OF them sufficiently obtuse
not TO appreciate either the spirit or the execu-
Guess Uncle Williams going to set. up a
barber business was the %favorite witticism.
marks Of this kind. The only, question he
deigned to answer was why he had taken the
explained that he did this to protect them
but YOU amt going to pain, al your trees.
are you. MIR. FOWLER" one OF the neighbors
T6e Old gentleman. in reply. Immediately be;
toward the last, but tove Of Country 'i sustained HHed
more OF his splendid trees into barber poles.
He was q pretty tired old man as he crawled
ned with himself and his work.
In the morning he was at It again; there
place he. saw. that 1t was going to take some
time, and he decided to call, In assistance. He
hunted hu5 up a Ip5T te wi who was out q a JOB.
apiece: The assistant had not been working
fast. He at once cut him down to s cents a
tree. whereat the man threw up his brush and
MI, Fowler continued on the Job alone. I'M
few days the forty-three trees in, front Of bis
liked the result so well that he decorated the
fruit trees IN his yard in the same way, Two
national coiors. The curb was Transformed
Into a long thin stripe, Of white the stepping
Mr.. Fowler, had not accomplished. all this
without "a protest, The family had discussed
the point with him as he tackled every fresh
ened to cali in the police. M. Fowler. who is a
could be damned. He was g goin I to decorate
his trees in his own way. He had planted them
he cared to dedicate them to his country it was
no ones affair but his own, ,,-
job when Santiago was surrendered. Mr.. ,Fow-
Ter Is an impartial patriot. and he could not
served. Two blocks further down he owned
p iaSs : le az piece SSfi OF SyI pr1pes s1d Il Il Was r. at the
nue., and was in the shape OF a triangle. Both
avenues Tor q block or more were bordered
%Ei r ha r9T TSS eI istst eISn s!% srSss, Y 6sShd M, nov FeT-
Gus. Out came the paint and brush once more.
He worked for a week as few OF the young men
At the end, Of. the. Week the two rows Of trees,
extending in the shape of a hatiron. visible for
with NJ, 'Fowler'ss iavoTlts co6lors,
VIII II ever come on, p inquired a passer by.
the sT Ted, white whit and az Isl blue ff oreSer Mr. Fowler
The, patTiotism OF his trees is surely unques-
since the coats were laid on, but they have pro.
duced no effect on Mr.. Fowler's very good
finished his last batch Of trees, as TO what he
would DO next, There Were stu the piekets on
intact, Probably these have been saved from
assault by the serious illness which has pros.
trated the patriot. Since the last tree was
completed Mr., Fowler has been confined 10 his
bed as a result OF the hard work entailed by
his arboreal decorations. As he is eighty, years
MAJ have sacrificed not only his trees TO his
country hut himself as well.
The sick man refuses 10 see IL in this light,
He. says there are plenty more trees TO paint,
and, he only awaits recovery to continue the
work. II he lives until peace Is concluded only
the Widest imaginations can conjecture what
will happen.