The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-07-01
Answer to chas. d. Lawton's Protest.

Mr.. EDIToR:-
In your last issue appears an article
from Hon. &. ID. Lawton on the destruc-
ton of forest and ornamental trees, to
which no one who loves the beautiful
could take exception. But when he APP
plies his strong language with redoubled
force In criticising those who were in
strumental in removing the pine forest
from the cemetery on the territorial road
east of Paw Paw, his article requires an
answer.
Friend Lawton must know that the
vandalism" was committed by people
living In the community in which the
cemetery is located, who had made it
what it was and is. He will not question
but that they are as intelligent, moral,
enterprising and, as a rule, as true lovers
of the beautiful as are generally to be
found in rural districts, and that the
trees would not have been cut without
reasons which in their judgment de-
manded it, The insinuation that they
were cut for the commercial value" in
them Is an unfortunate reflection upon
the good sense, taste and the love which
this people have for the sacred graves of
their dead. The labor and expense in
cutting and removing those large trees
from among standing tombstones and
monuments must have been much more
than their value for timber and fire.
wood"
lie asks the question in all solemnity,
"do not their imaginations recoil at thus
exposing these hallowed graves to glar
ing sunshine and desolating storms?"
lie also refers to the great spreading
native white oak trees that it contained
interspersed with evergreens." Mr..
Lawton, lover of trees as he is, could not
have been very close observer. for
there was not an oak tree upon the
ground, nothing but pine. When the
land was purchased and the lots laid out
10y private enterprise, a. +. Moon set out
little pine trees indiscriminately around
and over most of the lot They grew
rapidly into thick pine forest of large
trees with high, heavy and wide spread.
ing tops and large roots disturbing graves
and tipping tombstones and monuments.
The pitch from the trees covered tomb
stones and monuments, accumulated and
held corrosive moss, obliterated inscrip-
tions, destroyed their beauty and made
them unsightly to behold. There was
also fear that sooner or later "desolatinp
storms" such as levels the naples along
our highways and destroyed a large por.
ton OF Morrison's grove would upturn
the whole forest with results which can
only be imagined. Whole families of
pioneer settlers are buried there. Among
them is the grave of Philip Moon, with
wife, children and grandchildren. An
expensive and imposing monument was
placed upon the lot and stood In the
dark and gloomy shadows of the pines
covered with pitch and moss. When
Horace Moon, son of Philip, returned
from the West and saw that monument
glistening in the sunlight, he expressed
himself in terms OF delight. He now
rests in the moving, mellowing shadow
OF that monument, glstenipg in the
glorious sunlight, and the emerald car
pet above him is made brighter by the
''b6 10y % VI Vic sui dDO LDt geutle
zephyrs withjno danger of being disturb
ed by 'desolatingl storms" My father
and mother, brothers and sisters, uncles
and aunts, cousins and more distant rel.
atives are resting there and l have an
abiding interest and most sacred regard
for that "hallowed precinct" and while
l did consent and aided in the removal
OF the trees; did SO honestly, believing
that it would be an honor to the dead
rather than dissertation" OF their
graves.
For years those residing in the vicinity
and having friends buried in the Gene
terry had been discussing the question of
removing the trees and how it could be
done without doing damage. 1t was fin
ally decided to attempt the work and it
was accomplished without damage or
accident. l did not at the time know or
hear OF anyone interested in the burying
ground who objected to its being done.
And now il our friend Lawton still
thinks that we acted under mistaken
judgment and perverted sentiment" we
assure him that we acted in good faith
as our reason and conscences dictated,
and we now rejoice that the glorious
sunshine is Frightening the marble and
the granite, giving more cheerful and
inspiring view in anticipation OF that life
which death brings rather than the
gloomy shadows and corroding influence
of the pines.
j. j. WoobMAN.