Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-06-02
XssN62s.!t s.!t!s&
WGSE7:sI0
lsPsoIAL coaRRsPoNDKSos. |


Did YOU know that the Prince Of
Wales planted AN oak tree here iu
Central park 40 years ago aud that
the tree IL still livingg Few know II
aud fewer care. II has not turned
out M successfully as the municipal
officers hoped when they invited him
to plant IL. 1t has been propped aud
fertilized unnumbered times, aud
many ugly scars show where 1t has
been pruned. all In an attempt to
make the tree healthy aud slightly.
Its trunk, which IL about ~ big
around ~ a mans body, rises soma
three feet out Of the ground aud then
divides into two limbs OF une lual
size. The crotch thus formed is i'll
shapen, and will prevent the tree from
ever becoming rethan u miserable
specimen. The branches are scrawny.
aud though they have been trimmed
repeatedly they show no symmesery.
Just Mt this season Of the year when
the trees aud shrubs in Central park
are blossomiug out with q wealth Of
fresh foliage, the royal oak presents .
sorrowful appearance. There is NO
sign to mark the princes oak, SO that
hundreds Of visitors to the park daily
pass it by, nor give iteven a momentary
glance. Back in 1856 the repeated
threats OF the park authorities to have
the oak pulled up eliminated in an
order from headquarters to remove 1t
and put u good tree in its place.
The head gardener. however, who
had spent 80 much tine nursing
the royal sapling, interceLel in its be-
half, and to such good purpose that
the order was rescin led, thus saving
to the park an interesting memento,if
nothing more. The poor luck OF the
Prince OF Wales oak was what led the
park authorities to have two trees, in.
stead of one. planted by Lii Hung
Chang at Grants tomb few years
ago. Visitors to the tomb have often
wondered at the two saplings which
mark the site Of the original brick
vault. A sign bears the legend that
'this tree was planted by Lii Hung
Chang" aud many persons have
wonde ed which tree was meant. Tho
tree that proves to be the stronger aud
survives the longest will be this
tree," and until then there will be
twin mementos OF the eminent
Chinese stat sman.
Frank ]. Gould's recent election to
the first vice presidency OF the Mis-.
souri, Pacific railroad, in which capac.
ity he has charge of the company's
affairs in the east, gives an important
office to man who is not yet % years
old. Yet before he attained his
majority he had begun to make
himself nc luaiuted with the affairs
of the railway company which is the
great stronghold of the Gould proper
ties When he came of age one Of
his birthday presents was an election
to the directorate of this company.
1t was otherwise also an eventful
day. Russell Sage then rendered m
account of his stewardship Of Frank
GoulIs interest il the Jay Gould
millions. The million dollars was the
birthday present from the Gould es-
tate which Frank Gould received, and,
IN addition, Russell Sage handed him
securities to the value Of several hun
dred thousand dollars-the result OF
Mr.. Sage's investment Of the young
mans income. One Of the heartiest
kilograms Of congratulation which he
received was sent by his sister, Miss
Helen Gould, between whom and her
brother there is much in common.
Their quiet tastes, their religious dis
position. their enjoyment of home life
Frank Gould lives with his sister at
Lyndhurst, Irvington-form charming
bonds of sympathy between them.
When one speaks Of "sport" one
does not usually associate the name
with Chinaman, but one OF the "hot.
test" sports who has ever struck even
New York has just died here in the
person Of Wat Chez Gung there
isn't the slightest probability that that
was his name, but that was the name
by which he was known), who was
some ewhere between 70 and 80 years
old. Doubtless he did not know him.
self how old he was, and You never
can tell by the looks of . China.
man. When he came here 40 or
80 years ago there were not
dozen Cinnamon in New York. He
was cigar-maker, having learned the
trade in Cuba. Ho knew the wisdom
of the world, and was wont to save up
his money and have grand dissipstiops
a week long at time with his friends.
Then he would go to work again aud
make his $40 n week. He had ideas,
and was leader. In the Spanish war
lie was hot to enlist in the United
States army. aud was disgusted to find
hat he was too old. There are few
Chinese in American cities who did
not know him.