The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-10
TREES And PEOPLE
c. M. Loring Says Their Character
istics Are the Same.
LAWNS CARED FOR BY THE CITY
By Petitioning Park Board the
Work Can BE Done at Trifing
No. ~ ExnenAe.

1T is nearly time for the spring plant
ing of trees said G. M. Loring recently
in discussing the park boards coming
work on the boulevards and parkways
Il hope that the residents on the
streets that have no shade trees will put
in their petitions to the park board early
and have their streets improved" he add
ed. This reminds me Of something
which believe the citizens are aware OF,
namely that by petitioning the park
board they can have their street lawns
cared for by the city at little COST
Strangely enough, Minneapolis has never
taken advantage of this act, while in
st. Paul over seventeen miles of lawns
were moved and cared for last year by
the park board of that city at a cost OF
little more than cent per lineal foot, or
say 10 cents year for a 4O-foot lot
What difference it would make in the
appearance of our city # every one would
plant trees in front of their respective
lots and keep the grass neatly cut. And
what pleasure they would take in watch
ing the growth of their proteges."
Mr.. Loring is a great lover of trees
and to him they have almost human in.
terest. Look at that grabbed old fell
low he remarked, pointing to tree in
front Of a neighboring house, ''gnarled
and stubborn, it would be impossible to
keep him in any conventional FORM You
might as we'll take him out for he will
never make the street look more beauti-
1ul. Look at that one across the way,
With its graceful, dropping branches.
Does she not remind you of graceful,
we'll dressed lady? You ask why l cali
them 'he" and ''she?' 1t is because L
can see In them sex characteristics as
plainly as I could in man or woman [
can go into the nursery and select there
trees having either the sturdy character
lstlcs OF the boys or the graceful manners
of their weaker sisters
DID you never when walking in forests.
associate the different varieties of trees
with individuals you know? If you have
not, you have lost half the pleasure that
is to be derived from an acquaintance
with mother natures children.
IN riding through the country on a
railway train there is much pleasure to be
gained from watching the trees. You will
see grand oak which will remind YOU
OF some noble hero; then, perhaps, you
eaten glimpse of an elm or dropping
willow which suggests types of feminine
lovellness. linden in June, when it's
leaves are green and it's blossoms are
sending out sweet fragrance is typical of
well-dressed young Miss In this way
! 1t is possible to find human prototypes in
almost every tree
The ancents derived much enjoyment
from this association of trees with human
beings, as is shown by the pretty story
or Philamen and Baucis, whose hospital
ity to Jupiter and Mercury was rewarded
by their transformation into an oak and
linden. Ancient mythology is filled with
many such quaint stories. I believed
them in my childhood, and sometimes
half believe them now. It is my belief
that if more people cultivated the love
that the pagans had for nature they would
be better Christians"