The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-03

Ever since n 6C tree set up rs hah-
erdasher to Adam and Eve in the
Garden of Eden. trees have playc.i a
more or less important part In the
worlds history, The first Protestant
church service was under the trees at
jamestown, and the first church bell
rung IN the West WIS the oue that
good Father Junipcro Sierra ned TO au
arching oak bough Mt San Diego. he
first agricultural fair in America WAS
held under a giant elm AZ nittsGcld,
Mass, the same tree under which the
men OF that section formed when they
marched away to the War of 1872.
When Connecticut S charter was in
great danger of seizure it was hidden
by faithful citizens in a hollow oak.
Because the Scotch had "dool trees y
or ''grief troes,'' on which they hung
their enemies in reality or IN efigy,
early colonists here must needs have
something of the sort SO they chose
to set up Liberty trees in New Eng
land. The Scotch had sycamores, the
New England colonists chose elms, and
they were made to serve many pur-
poses. Under them meetings were held,
from their boughs the bodies of of
tenders daDgled, and IN their shade
drunkards, liars and thieves sat in the
stocks TO be iibed at by passers-by.
One tree on Boston Common had most
dark history. 1t stood near the ''long
path - that DR.. Holmes immortalized
IN his 'Autocrat of the Breakfast
Table and on it were hanged Marga
ret Jones and Annie Jibb,ns, two
witches of early days, and Mary Dyer,
the Quakeress. Under it Mrs. Oliver
was hoogged Tor treproaching magls-
trates.'' In 1876 this old tree fell in
windstorm, and a detachment OF po
lice had to be called TO keep the SOU
venir collectors from cutting il to
pieces. An of-shoot of this tree, about |
40 years old, has been elected to take
its place,
The dean of America S historic trees
is the Washington elm Of Cambridge, |
a venerable landmark now in its dot
age Under this tree Washington
first took command of .he American
army, July 3, 1715," reads the inscrip-
tion. compiled by Longfellow and en-
graved on tablet. Some say that the !
tirst evangelist in America. George
preached under this same
tree. Twice has the lightning struck
It,, both times in the same place, and
no doubt its days arc now numbered,
though a Jealous townspeople are guSsd-
ing it carefully.
One of the famous "peace oaks
that stood in front Of John Eliot S old
meeting house at Natick is said to be
still in existence, II was brought To
he missionary by tho Indians he had
taught. and planted by them as an ex-
preston of peace. At Dedham another
'ak is pointed out AZ the pulpit once
ised by George Fox. the Quaker, when
meeting house was denied him.
Penn 8 famous treaty tree fell in
.afc nearly hundred years ago. its
prominence being SO marked in its early
laws that the English soldiers placed
, special guard around it during the
revolution. After it was feIled by
gale IN $50, great part of the tree
vas sent to the old Penn family seat
is still preserved. 'FJane McCrea,
,IT,' is an inscription that was seen
or long while on large pine tree
lear Fort Edward, on the Hudson. THIS
rec vas the silent witness Of the death
'f the brave girl whose scalp was taken
by an Indian to Burgoyne's camp and
sold. whereat her lover, who recognized
It, deserted the army that would allow
such practices
In New York the megaphoue men on
The tourist cars will point out a group
of Two or three sour gum trees in the
1eIghborhood of One Hundred and
Forty street and Fifth avenue.
md tell you that these are all that is
eft of the thirteen trees that Alexander
Hamilton planted in honor of the