The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-22
fRY JOHN +. THoMPsoN.)

/ assembled the PenobScot River, one
time, from Rockland to Bangor. with
a party of botanists. There was one
man in the crowd who sat on the
deck of the vessel and with field
glasses named the trees and shrubs
as we passed by.
Those who are much in the woods
soon learn that trees have an individ-
uality, just as people have, and just
as the individuality Of some people
is very strong, SO is that of some
trees When we mingle with COM
pany of strangers We remember some
more easily than we do others, so
when we become acquainted with
trees we learn to know some easily,
while we must be introduced to
others many times before We remem-
Der them.
One man may be easily remember
ed because he is unusually dignified,
another because he may be unusually
rude, one because he has an unusual
ly happy disposition, another because
he is unusually gloomy, and because
trees have an individuality, people in
all countries and in all ages have
ascribed to them certain of these
human characteristics.
The Willow has been the emblem of
grief ever since the Children of Israel
hanged their harps upon them, by the
Rivers of Babylon. The Oak has al
ways stood for strength and endur-
ance; it was Jove's tree. The early
Morse Navigators used to build, some
where into their ships, hearts of oak,
so that they might have Jove's protec.
ton when they went to sea. On &C.
count of it's unusual grace and beauty
the Elm has been called The Forest
Queen" The Ash on account of its I'M
usual symmetrical beauty is called
''The Venus" among trees. The Birch
because of it's almost girlish delicacy
and grace, has been called "The Lady
of Woods The Beech is THE Mother
Of Forests" The Palm has always beer
the emblem of victory and the Olive
of peace.
, The American Elm is the elm that is
most common in the words about Rich
mond, and about the only one found
in our streets. There is a fine specimen
almost in front of DR.. Bonds resi-
dence, another on South Eighth street
in front of Mr.. Mather's, one standing
at the Glen entrance on Twentysecond
street and many other specimens thai
have reached the age when they show
how beautiful they are.
| Those of us who have been in Bos
ton and have walked through the Bos
ton Commons" have seen some of the
| finest specimens of the American Elm
that We have in this country. Nearly
all of the New England towns have
many trees of this kind, New Haven
Conn, is called the ELM City" on &C
count of it's many splendid American
Elms.
Probably the best known tree in this
country is an American Elm. 1t stands
in the middle of a street in Cambridge
near Harvard. 1t has escaped the dan
gers of public Improvements because
the people of Boston love it. 1t wa.
under this tree that George Washing
ton took command of the Colonia
Army. 1t is called the Washington
Elm In spite of the care that is be
ing bestowed upon it now, it will soor
fall and be out of the way of stree
cars.
One OF the finest specimens of this
tree have ever seen stands in Con
cord, Mass. The children of Concord
love it and the children of years age
who have grown to be men and wome1
love it, for it was under this tree tina
Louise M. Alcott used to sit when she
wrote Little Men," and Little Won
en-" That tree is in no danger of des
truction by human hands. The Ameri
can Elm should be held in very higf
esteem by the people of Richmond fol