Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-23
AwlLpERNEssr is GONE.
Site of the Great Worlds Fair Barren
Waste,


st. Louis, Oct. 22-Thousands OF per-
sons thronged Forest Park Sunday to
take one farewell look at its natural
scenic spiendor. But even then it was
not the Forest Pork of two weeks be-
fore. A change had been wrought in the
cause of Transformation that brought
sorrow to all who bcheld 1t. The will
derness," noted for Its rugged beauty.
presented deplorable evidences of devas-
tntion. Giant oaks and elms which had
stood for ages lay In a confused mass Of
rubbish ready for consignment to the
flames. The area OF forty acres looked
as tho a mighty storm had swept over
it with all of its destructive fury.
1t was typical autumn day. Thru a
misty horizon the sinking sun sent a
golden glow upon the ruiset-tinted
leaves, and above the ruins of nature
blue circles OF smoke curled hGavenward
from the axmen's fires. 1t was like the
smoke that rose In days agone upon the
selfsame spot from the red mems camps
when they lived in contentnlent under
these desthroned moaarchs e'f the for
est. People came Sunday and fingered in
silent meditation. 1t was as IL they gazed
upon the open grave OF departed loved
cnes No jest or laughter marked their
gathering. Gray haired men who had
watched with interest the growth of the
forest shed tears OF sorrow Gray
haired men who had played IN. boyhood' g
happy days under the spreading branch-
es OF the fated trees stood with bowed
beads and gave utterance to expressions
OF regreat. They deplored the destruc-
ton; they said ii was like the death of
friends of former days.
Rich and poor, old and young, paid
tribute to the fallen giants of the forest.
and among none could be found an ex-
preston other than of deepest regret.
Handsomely gowned ladies ailghted
from the discarded boughs; to carry
them home as memorials OF departed
greatness. OF something they loved
Tottering sires and innocent children
walked in common among the wooded
rubbish and gathered the russell. the
pink. the yellow, the purple and the
mauve-tinted beauties Of the forest-the
leaves that had once adorned the state
~ trees. Here an old man, gray and
wrinkled from his allotment OF three
score and ten, stopped and picked up n
little brown leaf. 1t was crumpled and
stained by the marks OF thu. tempest.
s.I'll keep it,. he said; ut iss the Grape
to the death Of a tree that l loved in
childhood There 1t is. See?" and he
pointed to the largest oak which had
been the first to fall before the axmen's
vengeance. II played under 1t when a
boy" he continued, with tears stream
ing down his face. This little leaf tells
its own story. 1t will be treasured until
the end of my life"
How like the finish of man; how sig
nificant of the uncertainty of things
Terrestrial Is the deah of these trees"
said one citizen who had stot'd for some
time viewing the initial result Of the
choppers work. Here we have laid low
a forest which Chicago would give mil-
lions to possess. Here we are cutting
down with ruthless recklessness trees
that the rising generations will never
see replaced. 1t is enough to make the
city weep"
AS If in mourning for their departed
ASSOCIATES, other trees are CARRIED in
bands of black, placed thereto designate
their reservation from destruction, a fit-
ting and telling emblem Of sadness!