New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-10
Father Described One, and
Johnny Went on Tour
of Discovery.
But WHAT HE FOUND
HE COULDN'T CLIMB
Has 10 Go to Country to Do
That; and He'd Like to, If
You'd Help a Little.

fo~ hot Summers say the name
ellis up, All the loneliness Of the
,e,as Of green trees and the cool
.ss5e beneath them, the red Of the
fsst-ripcuing apples showing here and
nere enid the green. the hutter and
whistle Of the robin from its nest in
IRE crotch, the primroses nodding
heir heads in a row by the moulder-
i-- stone wall-all this and more in
1918. But in 1914
Johnny lives in Orchard street; so
DOES his father. The latter, being lazy
and q philosopher, not infrequently,
rhcn the afternoons are hot, takes
Johnny to task ironically for the
name Of the street.
"Wk3t for" he is accustomed to
say in mis- own broken English, what
for is this place called Orchard
street, Where are the shady trees?
See, ! swelter.
"And as for the fruits, where are
,teye On the pushcsris? Yes. On
The trees? No.
Never Climbed a Tree.
There are no trees You, my son,
have never climbed a tree 10 see the
brds rise screaming from their nests,
10 feel the winds gently rock you on
he branches, TO pluck the tempting
fruits from the boughs."
Now. this WAS true; so true, in fact,
that Johnny, though seven years old,
mad never even seen a tree. His IA
iher's dissertations had enabled him
10 gather that they are objects Of
dignity and beauty and entirely be-
refcent IN. their effect on mankind;
Int he had come 10 put them IN his
category Of things 20 be dreamed of.
but not expected in his own personal
eynerience along with riches. enough
10 eat and trips 10 Coney Island.
one day al the end Of one of his
fathers harangues he asked, What
q tree like
But the father. being lazy and some
thing o. a poet. talked pretty much
over Johnnv's head and didn't give him
GOOD idea he did one thing, how
ever. and that was TO give the boy the
idea that trees did exist here and therc
ir the city. though not in Orchard st.
Johnny Gets a Guide.
Johnny resolved TO find one. As soon
o. be got a chance he trotted of 10
find companion for his adventure.
not meet with the requirements Of the
ease Like himself. they lived in Or
rhard st.. and fate had never led them
fsr enough afeld to permit OF their
having knowledge Of trees. Finally,
however. he found q friend, who re-
Piled 10 his query:
"Sure. ! seen trees; millions OF en-.
! vas 20 the country once
He was willing, too, to undertake TO
snow Johnny one. though he didn't
inow Just where one could be foIn 4.
So they started ort on q tree hunt
through :he desert wastes Of the Esst
side.
FIRST they went north through Or
dsrd &C.. johnny with his hopes high,
bis guide anxious 10 display his su-
eerioi trowledge. But after eight or
nine blocks they decided 70 try another
They turned of. therefore, and
marched across town TO Allen ST
Although a. far down as they could
see it was 4 long vista Of 81" pillars,
not knowing the needs and habits Of
trees. they decided 70 try It; so down
they plodded, block after block, for
nile. But the guide saw not so much
tis leaf 10 point 10 in triumph.
Trees Seemed Hidden.
Cross town once more they went,
alEsys on the watch. This time they
he'd to their eastward course for some
tine, but 20 no purpose the trees
seemed all 20 have hid themselves.
Coming finally TO Willet ST., the tree
hunters turned into il ana bore north
ward Again IL was = fruitless search,
and they turned west and walked hall
z nile through a cluttered byway, then
north again 70 Houston ST., and then
vest for half dozen blocks.
But Houston St, though somewhat
wider than most Of those they had pre-
vously tried. had no trees. Fearing
to get too far from home, they cut
south again until Johnny, looking al
. sign post, saw that they had arrived
q Grand ST.
Now. on the lower East Side. Grand
s.. is known as the place where you
eau get anything, and Johnny's heart
leaped with hone. Surely Grand st.
must boast a tree. Greatly encouraged,
he two turned into it. II was full OF
PEOPLE, but empty of trees.
Block after block they logged along.
iaeir hope ebbing as the corners were
passed. But II was forlorn hope, and
hey stuck 70 their course until they
found themselves AZ the Bowery-once
place where lovers ssuntered, arm In
arm, beneath wide-spreading branches.
Almost Gave Up Hope.
Il was a big street, as Johnny said,
bu. the searchers had learned enough
N Allen 81. to make them distrustful
81 II thoroughfares, so they only FOL
~. - hi ~
Then they crossed and continued west.
And now AZ last Fate was TO reward
hem. Coming TO Mulberry ST., with
rs lines Of pushcarts, they determined
10 Try "just one more and then, If no
ifess appeared, TO give up the search /
tfd 90 home.
Al first they found no encourage.
l-e-t Then. Just as Johnny had said 1
I'm goin' home; there amt none,
ne guide leaped and shouted, "C'mOnl
lberes one two-gee lot OF 'em'"
There were. too. The lads had stun /.
Bee into Mulberry Bend Park; and, !
.eeh IS they were. there stood It's trees 4
es.oie them.
Johnny Started Up.
Johnny didn't waste much time in .
simple admiration. He started over
ne rail
what ye goin' TO do" called the .
guide.
Climb one responded Johnny, with .
%. looking back
n a minute the guide had him By .
ne shoulder and was dragging him
hsck over the railing. With the H.
ermat.on, "The copll pull ye in n ye .
81 II ye wsnter climb trees, ye gotta
o p the country
Which Johnny would Ike 70 do, " ]