New-York tribune., 1909-05-23
H4S "FRIENDSHIP GROVE"
Vel Kn05on Men Haze Planted
Trees for T.. G. Benedict.

One of the most remarkable Of living ne
MORALS to famous men is the friendship grove"
which Is feature Of the beautiful country
estate of z. C, Benedict. banker and ex-con-
Tnodore Of the Seawanhaka Cornthian Yacht
Club. near Greenwich. Conn Nj Benedict has
been widely known for many years as 4 yachts
man and business maD and was an intimate
friend OF the late ex-President Cleveland. Il
WAS on board his yacht that many Of the inn
portant acts of MI ClevelanTs public life were
decided on
Probably more well known men have been
entertained at Mr.. Benedicts Italian villa over
looking Long Island Sound than at any other
country house in America To commemorate
these friendships Mr.. Benedict has induced some
of his distinguished visitors to plant trees, WHICH
have been named for them, in plot Of ground
close 10 his house These trees. which have
been planted on different occasions in the course
Of the last dozen years. stand close together and
form q grove that has been called Friendship
Grove" The group is still a small one' but 1t
includes trees planted by Grover Cleveland.
Andrew Carnegie, Joseph Jefferson. Thomas
Bailey Aldrich John q. Carlisle and ex-Fice-
President Fairbanks
The place of honor in this remarkable grove
belongs to the Cleveland tree This is sturdy
chestnut the roots Of which were covered with
earth by a spade in the hands Of the ex-Pres-
dent on April y. 1897. less than two months
after he had retired from the White House for
the second time In fact, the nucleus Of the
friendship grove may be considered 4 memorial
to the second Cleveland administration, for it
consists in addition to the Cleveland tree. Of
two others planted. respectively, b. William L
Wilson and John c. Carlisle, both members Of
President Clevel1nds Cabinet
=
grove, Andrew Carnegie was visitor at Mr..
Renedicts home and added tree TO the group
already planted Mr.. Carnegie selected a chest
mi. In the same year Mr.. Benedict invited his
close business friend. Charles Stewart Smith,
then president Of the New York Chamber Of
Commerce and long one Of the leading busi-
ness men of the city, to add tree TO his collec-
ton.
Thomas Bailey AIdrich planted linden in
1893 Joseph Jefferson added a pine 70 the grove
in 1899. Bfr. jefferson accompanied his act with
4 witty speech of presentation, which he deliv-
cred with the shovel in his hand. and n an
attitude familiar to all those who knew the actor
in his celebrated part Of Rip Van Wrinkle A
spruce WIS planted by Charles Warren Fair
banks in 1907 while he was Vice President of
fhe United States. Whether Mr.. Fairbanks was
moved by 4 touch of humOr TO select tree
known especially by its adaptabillty 10 frfS1o
climates in view of the characteristic which the
,a1toonists insisted upon attributing to him, he
did not say but it probably merely a coin
cidence-
The newest addition to the grove is a young
oak planted by Mr- Benedict himself in 1903.
Hfg Connecticut estate includes sixty of
woodland. in which nearly all the trees that
flourish in this climate to be found and are
assfduously cared for. In addition there are
dozens of greenhouses sheltering rare tropical
pIa nts and flowers, Mr.. Benedicts love Of out
door life is shared by all the members Of his
family.