The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-02-16
Trees That Have a History.

(By Mrs. Martha l.. Schneider of Washing.
ton, D. c.
Beautiful at all times are the four
hundred thousand trees in the city of
Washington; in the springtime when
decked in palest green, and the tulip,
horse-chestnut, locust, etc., are laden
with tender blossoms; in midsummer
when the thick, green foliage affords
shade for man and beast; when the
glorious autumn leaves have all been
carted away, and we see the graceful
symmetry of the branches; in winter
when they weave their purple lace
work on the mesh of snow and ice,
and the crystal branches sing their
song of winters chilly reign, and as
they sing. they sway and dance, and
snap their icy strings, or shake off
the heaped-up snow, which catching
the sunbeams, it sparkles as it flutters
down, like gems from worlds above.
Yes, at all times these "green citizens"
are things of beauty, but many of
these trees in Washington possess a
value apart from their beauty and
utility.
A majestic old elm stands today in
the Capitol grounds, the one and only
link that connects Washington with
our times, for he built house facing
the north front of the Capitol and
planted before it this tree.
From seed taken from a locust tree
which he planted in Mount Vernon
there is still to be seen on K street the
tree which burst into bloom just about
the time that the parent tree died at
Mount Vernon.
A few of the old Barbecue trees are
to be found in the Capitol grounds.
These were planted under Jackson's
administration by John Maher, a
personal friend of President Jackson
and superintendent of these grounds
during his administration. These
trees are the relics of two circular
groves, intended for barbecue celebra-
tions; one for the Wings, one for
the Democrats.
John Quincy Adams planted an
American Elm in the south of the
White House, and nearly every presi-
dent with the exception of Cleveland,
has planted one or more in these
| Grounds Mrs N1arnIo v,I3c 70
tree was a Japanese Maple. A great
many of the old historical trees were
destroyed by severe storm few
years ago.
The Bulletin Tree" stands, tall
sylvan sentinel guarding the White
House gate. When President Garfield
lay suffering from the wound of which
he died, hourly bulletins were posted
on this tree, telling of his condition,
In the Botanical Gardens there
grows a young oak, from an acorn
taken from the grave of Confucius,
An American traveller picked up this
acorn and on his return to New York
gave it to Chas. A. Dana, who gave
it to Representative Amos A. Cum.
mings, who planted it in the Botanical
Garden.
One old tree near the gate in this
garden served as a hitching post fol-
President Adams horse.
The great oak under which Lafayette
sat when visiting Calhoun in 1924, is
still magnificent in its old age.
One of the most interesting trees
in Washington is the continental
Oak" It's age has been estimated
at over 800 years. Under it the treaty
was made with the Anacosta indians,
and Mannacusset, the chief, relin.
quished his claim to the land and
agreed to leave the home of his
fathers and with his band "moved
on"
Under its shade lived Mrs. Noyes,
white captive, who for years had
been confined within the limits of its
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by old Indian squaws.
Seventeen acres around this tree
was given to her after this treaty was
signed, and this tract of land was
known as the "Widow's Mite"
The Commissioners selected to Sc
cure sites for public buildings, few
years afterwards, offered to purchase
this tract of land upon which to erect
the Capitol but Mrs. Noyes refused
to part with it. This tree stands with
other magnificent old oaks on high
hill on Connecticut Ave-, just above
Florida Ave.
Another historical tree that played
an important part in the battle in the
Civil war, in which the Capitol was
in the greatest danger, and around
which Early's forces made their
bivouac, and took that fatal rest
which saved the nation. From it's
lofty top his sharpshooters spied into
old Fort Stevens at sunri in the
morning, and found that re-enforce-
ment had arrived at the fort during
their rest over night. and their chance
of taking the Capitol gone forever.
TT still towers above the old fort