The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-27
TREES PLANTED BY WALES
AND BY Ii HUNG CHANG.

A DEPRESSING the policeman who was
~ watching the children at play on the
Mall in Central park, New York, i
asked:
can YOU tell me which Is the tree thai
was planted by the prince of Wales?"
"What?" exclaimed the policeman, with
surprise lat last there comes an inquiry
for that tree. l have been here about
fifteen years, and | had begun to think
that tree had passed from the memory OF
man. But come along with me and I'll
show 1t to you, though, pom my soul, it's
nothing much to see, being what you might
call a failure"
So the policeman led the way along the
path that skirts the east side of the Gen.
ter drive until he came almost to the
bronze eagles.
See that oak" he said. pointing out a
homely, stunted tree which was overshad-
owed by three stately Gins. that's the
prince of Wales oak, and a hard time its
had trying to live these forty years. The
worst of it is nobody cares to see it, and
l don't believe many people know its
here"
Then the policeman hurried back to
chase some children off the lawn.
This oak tree, which was planted by
Wales in the fall of 1859, when he was
visiting this country, has not turned out
as successfully as the municipal officers
hoped when they invited him to plant it.
The tree has had the best of care. 1t has
been propped and fortified unnumbered
times, and many ugly scars show where
it has been pruned. all in an attempt to
make the tree healthy and slightly. Its
trunk. which is about as big around as
a mans body, rises some three feet out
of the ground and then divides into two
limbs of unequal size. The crotch thus
formed is i'll shapen. and will prevent the
tree from ever becoming more than mis-
ora No hrap
scrawny, and though they have been
trimmed repeatedly, they show no SYM
metry.
Just at this season of the year when the
trees and shrubs in Central Park are
blossoming out with a wealth of fresh
foliage. the royal oak presents a sorrowful
appearance. The scant buds are two
weeks behind those of neighboring trees.
There is no sign to mark the princes
oak, that hundreds of visitors to the
park daily pass 1t by, nor give it even a
momentary glance. 1t stands only few
feet from a wel-trodden pathway on one
SIDE while on the other pleasure veh-
cles of all descriptions whirl past in an
endless stream. One would think that the
drivers of the park carry-alls would point
out the tree to their passengers as they
rumble by. But, no. these drivers seem
intent alone upon making the round trip
as quickly possible and collecting their
fares.
The only sign that is said to have been
placed on the tree was many years ago.
when some wag stole up unobserved and
labeled the oak "Baccarat." The Joke was
enjoyed by many until at last a park Off
Ger took the sign away.
1t IS said that back in 1886 the repeated
threats of the park authorities to have
the oak pulled up and consigned to the
brush heap eliminated i'm an order from
headquarters to remove it and put a good
tree in its place. The head gardener, how
ever who has spent so much time nursing
the royal sapling, now interceded in it's
behalf, and to such good purpose that
the order was rescinded, thus saving to
tho park an interesting memento, if moth
ing more.
The poor luck of the prince OF Wales
oak was probably what led the park au-
thorties to have two trees, instead of
one, planted by Ii Hung Chang at Gen.
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 Ii
Hung Chang" and many persons have
wondered which tree was meant. The tree
that proves to be the strongest and sur
wives the longest will be this tree" and
until then there will be twin mementoes
of the eminent Chinese statesman.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY drinks Jesse