Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-16
GOVERNS BEE TREES
In NEW YORK STATE
Lawyer Finds | Himself Help-
less Before Woodsman S
Logic, Who Has Put His
Mark on an Oak.

Persons who are returning to New York
from their vacations are telling the usual
bear and fish stories that have gone the
rounds for ages, but an unusual tale
has been brought TO town by j. b. Scott,
n lawyer of New York and Nswburgh
Mr.. Scott entertained p group of his old
classmates at the Yale Club the other
day for half an hour by telling them
! how, deep in the Catskill woods, he
learned something about "the common
law Of Sullivan County which he had
never seen in any law book.
| The lawyer was spending his vacation
at a fishing club on the Orchard Lake
| Trout Preserve, eight miles from Living
atom Manor in Sullivan County. He has
been the clubs counsel for years. and Is
| familiar with every acre of the clubs s
domain. 1t was while he was tramping
| over the Catskll ranges early in August
| that he was startled by the sound of
| tree falling about half mile away.
With Mr.. Scott were several other
| members OF the club and the assistant
| gamekeeper OF the preserve. The lawyer
expressed the opinion that some woods
man must be trying to steal a tree, and
he proposed to investigate. The fisher
men went to meadow bordering the
woods. and in the distance they saw
smoke curling from the top of the forest.
They cut into the woods again and went
as fast as possible to the smoldering fire.
Soon the group Of investigators. with
Mr.. Scott in the lead, saw the lone
woodsman. The woodsman was saving
through big oak tree which he had
felled. He was making much noise
and was so much engrossed in his work
that he did not see the group OF mon
who were surrounding him. His head
was bent low and the club members
could see nothing but a big brimmed
black head and a sack which the man
had over his shoulders. All about him
was smoke and he coushed occasionally
as IL suffocating. Mr.. Scott was within
ten feet of the woodsman when he called
out:
What does this mean and who are
you?"
Bees" the woodsman replied, with
out showing the least concern and with
out turning up his face He just kept
on saving.
''Who gave you permission to saw down
tree in these woods?" Mr.. Scott de- |
manded.
Bees" again replied the woodsman. !
Don't get so close or you'll get stung."
The party retreated at this warning. |
and from safe distance they continued |
to ask questions. but they could get no
satisfaction until the trunk OF the tree
was severed. Then the woodsman
Strengthened up. He was fully six feet
three inches in height. Around his face
and neck he wore pink mosquito net
ting, which appeared to have been ripped
from peach basket His whiskers stuck
out through the pink netting. Thousands
OF bees hummed all about him, but he |
was not worried In the least.
what you all want?" he clustered. |
Look out for the bees. They won't hurt
me because they're afraid of the smoke,
but they might sting you"
I'VE want TO know who gave you per-
mission to cut down a tree on this pre-
serve" Mr.. Scott demanded
Tho tree was no good; It was rotten
replied the woodsman.
why did you cut it DOWN.
Want a bit OF honey for the winter.
Can't ye see what I'm doin?'
But who gave you permission?'
Don't need no permission came the |
reply. "Got my initials on the tree"
what initials?" asked the lawyer, not
the situation at ALL
II found this tree some time ago" said
the man. still at distance. 'I don't
want the tree. but want the honey. It's
my initials and therefore it's my honey, |
don't ye see?''
The lawyer. who had visions of an au-
tomobile trip TO Livingston Manor sor a
court summons. became interested and
braVed the bees, lie went up to the
smoking tree and looked for himself
He found that the woodsman, after cut
ting down the tree. had built fire near
4 hole in the trunk where the bees had
heir hive, and that he had then cut out
he section containing the hive. /
TITS like this" the woodsman explained G
through the peach basket netting. up I
zero in sullivan County a mans got a I
light to all the honey he can find These '
Wild bees don't belong to nobody, and the I
eats them like crumbs The e
nan who spots tree in which there are a
'ees gets the honey il he cuts his initials j
a the tree l cut my initials in the tree t
n the spring, and / figured that there {
vas quite a lot OF honey by this time, and I
don't want anybody else to rob me or d
But what about the tree" asked the II
lwyer. 4
That belongs to you of course, and h
aln't got no right TO the tree, but the Il
oney's mine. II there's going 10 be any n
lss about this I'll buy the tree from YOU "
, else you'll buy the honey from me.
hats my right, and YOU can't keep me !.
ON having what's right"
The lawyer took a sensible view of the p
nwritten law and told the woOdsmau u
lst he could have the honey, and that a,
leTe wouldn't be any charge for the tree "
Ms time t'
But don't let me catch you on these :.
rsmlses again" he warned the woods ..
an. I'VE have signs all over the place =,
Splaining that trsspa assing is forbidden" :,
They hain't got nothing TO do with a.
ses,' retorted the woOdsman g.,
IAN right" said the lawyer, 'if that's 49,
" In sullivan County we'll have to live
, to the law" and the group Of inves-
gators left the man scratching the in
dc of the tree for his few pounds OF
'ney. II