New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-19
PLANT TREES IN PARK
Women Set Out Silver BIrcheS
at I'D Street.
TO CELEBRATE VICTORY
Legislative Vote Allowing a Ref
erendum on Suffrage Gets
Permanent Memorial. "

Miss Inez Milholland can have a JoD
with the Park Department any time the
practice of law and woman suffrage prove
unremunerative She turned the cere-
mony of planting those suffrage birth
trees I'm Central Park yesterday into a
real demonstration OF feminine prowess.
With the sweat Of her brow she planted
those trees. Others before her had been
content TO hold the beribboned shovel. or
even to thrust ii i'm delicate and reiined
way into the pile of loose earth beside
the newly planted tree. Not so Miss Mil
holland. One. two. three-the dirt flew
fast and free till the small boys betook
themselves and their eyes beyond its
throw Nor did she stop until the hole
was filed III.
IL wish | had workmen as energetic as
that" said Commissioner Stover. Yes,
I'd give her a job gladly
The tree planting was in celebration Of
the passage Of the suffrage referendum
bill by the New York Legislature. Five
white birches were set on the lawn near
the park entrance AT I'D street and Fifth
avenue This lawn has always been re-
served for the use OF women and children.
The ceremonies took place about .
O'Clock. after a meeting at the Plaza
which afterward turned itself into min
iature parade up Fifth avenue. The pa
raiders were of the most exclusive SUI
frage set handsome women. beautifully
dressed. yet as they swung around the
circle the bows on the street jeercd.
The procession proceeded with unrufiled
oil
72d street. where the Park Commissioner
was awaiting them.
"Oh. what kind Of trees are they
chorused the procession. as they saw the
five slender white trunks.
They're Betula alba" said Mr. Stover.
That's from the Latin 'betulare,' to bind
-betulo. betulare. bctulari -
"Betcher life" suggested an imperu-
nent parsonage. but the Commissioner I'M
needing continued
The name comes from the fact that the
branches Of this tree were bound together
to form the fasccs which the lictors OF
ancient Rome used To drive away the I'M
desirables. Not that there is any sig
nincanco Of this sort In the dedication OF
the Betula alba 70 the sunragists. They
don't have to drive people to do their bid
ding
THEY needed no fasces IN drive me. |
am for all just propositions. Therefore. !
am for woman suffrage Wen take good
care ~ these trees. Mrs. Batch. and take
pleasure In reminding YOU that they are
commonly and anectionately known as
Lady OF the Forest or. in German, the
Bride Of the Forest"
Mrs Blatch IN thanking the Commits
sionor said il was a splendid thing u
have trees 10 celebrate the womens fight
FOR liberty. Just as the Charter oak cele-
brated mans freedom.
we will come here and water them
with our tears." she concluded. III they
don't do we'll"
The first sradeful Of earth was thrown
about the shlverne roots Of the Lady OF
the Forest by Mrs Emanuel Einstein.
chairman ~ the committee.
Those who followed her were Mrs. Har-
riot stanton Blntch. Mrs. Eldon Bishec
Miss Anna Constable Mrs Edward l.iv-
iueston Hunt. Mrs Arthur Hodges, Mrs
Evan Evans Mrs. cyrus ". Field. Mrs.
Walter Mclean Probasco. Mrs. Herbert
CARPENTER and Miss Milholland.