Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-22
SLAUGHTER BEFORE THE FEAST


Quen, or too extensive, often breed
trm!nc. The Christmas feast is now
lard upon us and the slaughter for
It has already begun. 1t Is the part
CT prudence and wisdom that "" 50
order oar preparations ani 80 husband
our resources as to ward off the team
days which would be sure to follow
In the wake OF wan on and prOhiBat"
destruction
One of the unnecessary eXtrava-
gancios CT the Christmas season is the
Christmas Tree. fully appreciate
the sentiment that clusters about III"
: Christmas Tree. Many look lack vi h
tender emotions 20 tn" happ" occasion.
when as children they gathered 1t
school houses or Sunday School 10 re-
c,iv" gifts hanging from heavy laden
bOughs. Bat We have now grown ont
Of the ancient CUSTOM Of cOnf!ninS
the Christmas Tree to collective puT-
proses. The Individual or private"
Chris mas Tree has taken the piac"
az or has been add 4 to tn" com
murity Chris;m mas Tree. In the"
days 10 infant Is 100 new TO be
brought in nurses arms TO varant'v
2aZ" uron or weep under some hand
some evergreen which has b On
slaughtered for the infants littl" self
alone. In The place Of the chorus OF
I the multi tudc of merry voices W"
u.s. r 10 hear abort III" Christmas Ire"
We now find III" silence Of "c'tiSh
gloom The divine element Of Christ
ian charity OF which III" Christmas
Tree useI to be rmblrmatic has be- II
rel, stated to the background. 1t no"
symholizes personal and private be.
ErVnt,rC" toward a few, ra' h, r than
univrr al love.
These observation" arr in''NirN
NOR" As q plea for III" project on o.
wild Ornamental tree than as a crit !,
cism of christmas OI'9,rvanCr%. w"
have To look hack only few years
to realize til" haN 0c and destruction
! that have wrought amongst holly and
ce!2r. This ruin has been done in
order thar We may max" our annual
sacrifice to family S"ltShn"SS. VEN
daiS. who seem to car" 70 hing 5Or
the country. 70 forth Oh road idr I'D
h"ices-row and thicfct and forest
and mark for .laught"r the fnirc>t
specimens Of evergreen that c7n be
found II This ru:h'rHs AM Wan'nn
.
he long before the Su'.:rh IN country
for a distance Cf many miles viii be
entirely dcnrdrd Of is most h lifdi
! and promising Young trees. foEntr:
highways which would become heauii-
full if these Young trees w"r" not mo-
Tested will be bar" ana dr.om,". Al:
n drive into the country, inSi'2i Of
being Il d"lirhtcnl recreation will be
.,,,. I.,, J.N--.
In these days almost every town and
hamlet Is overwhelmed with ever
greens, mostly cedar and holly. hawk
ei about the streets for sale. Of which
the adiatCnt country has been strip
ped. lsnally these evcrcrcenS have
been pillaGci b.: treSpas% RS who hav"
no interest in the lands from which
they were taken. In some states law :
have already been pass. d restricting
the destruction OF trees for decorative
purposes Artificial trees are now be-
ing used for such purposes with 'n-
tirely satisfactory results. The own
ers of country lands should put stop
10 this plumber. bu;h for the protection
OF their property and for III" beauty
Of their surroundings. To this ont
country land should be posted g. neral
ly. and depre5atnrs prosecuted. though
posting is not necessary prerequisites
FOR prosecution. Farmers should or
ganize ard cooperate for the purpose
of experimenting and Furnishing de
structive and dishoneS, trrspaSSers.
, Persons who without the corse,,t
of the owners go upon post d lands
FOR the purpose OF taking away shrul'
berry. as just stated arc ipso facto
; tre~passers and puni hablo hv law.
We find in section 3729 Of the Code Of
Virginia the following: If any per
son unlawfully. but not feloniouSly.
take and carry away or destroy. de-
face or iniure any property. real or
personal. no. his own etc. he snail
be fined not less than five nor NOR"
than i've hundred dollars" Again at
section 1886 of the Code OF Virginia
we read as follows: II anv person
XII! a tree within a distance Of fIty
fee, Of a road or so cut or inJure Il
as 10 render it liable 10 fall etc. h"
shall be fined not less than 're dol
lar nor more than on" hundred dol
lars"
. While the existing LAWS are not So
comprehensive as might he wished
for the protection Of our trees: sill.
Is such laws as we have were proper.
" enforced. much might Re accom-.
plished toward saving the ornament
al trees. .ha, remain. and proCrsss be
made towa:i the identification O: the
country.
FRANCIS F CAUSEY
,t.,