Evening star., 1916-08-21

is a large elm at the south side Of the
Capitol which was there when that
part Of the grounds was fire engine
house. where many noted statesmen
used to foregather ana exchange politi-
cal gossip. Then there are many very
old~trees in Rock Creek Park which
sheltered the tribe OF AlgonQufns when
they made their annual pflgrimages to
gather flint for arrow heads. Flint
was to be found here in great quantf-
ties, and even today ramblers through
this section of the park often come
upon an Indian arrow head.
But the most interesting Of all the
old trees in the capital is the huge old
elm which stands at the corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and 14th street
in front of what used to be the old
Willard Hotel. Many years ago this
was the popular resort of the nations
statesmen. who were wont to assemble
beneath its shade. tilt their chairs
against it's trunk and spin many his
toric yarns. punctuated by we'll aimed
salvos of tobacco Juice. Here, also,
came the newspaper correspondents
from newspaper row, just above the
latest political achievements discussed
with careless informality.
One day when the tree was shelter
ing an unusually large assembly of
nota es. q
Tree Now Known as familiar figure
the Morse Elm. Sa .olns0 .s.n n N
them to congratulate him on his good
luck. He had succeeded, he said, in
inventing an instrument by which peo-
pie could talk from Baltimore to WASH
ington.
1t Is to be regretted that our learned
men received the statement as huge
joke, and suggested that tho only way
tho amiable inventor could retrieve his
reputation for sanity was to treat them
all to drinks. 1t was not until a few
weeks later when Congress made an
appropriation for DR.. Samuel F. B.
Morse to continue his work on tele-
graph line from Baltimore to Wash
ington that the tree gatherers learned
their error and the fact that they had
entertained a genius unawares. Since
that time the tree has been known as
the Morse elm.
The trees that have been planted in
the place of the old ones. however,
have made up in beauty and hardihood
what they lack in age and history. The
municipal park commission today. un-
der the direction of Truman Lanham,
who has been in charge Of the work
for the last thirty-one years. is teach
ing the rest of the country many valu-
able lessons in the systematic planting
of street trees. They were the first, for
example, to demonstrate the value of
the oak as a street tree, and now these
trees are proving successful in many
cities, whereas before the nurseries re-
fused to grow them, believing them to
be unfit for this use. Pennsylvania
avenue from the Capitol southeast to
the Anacostia river is planted in red
and pin oak, and is considered by tree
authorities to be the most beautiful
street in the world. The street itself
is not particularly attractive, being
lined with small residences and shops
Of one kind and another which are
clean and neat. but certainly not pre-
tentious Yet for miles along this
street. as far as the eye can reach, four
rows of oak trees arch their massive
branches, throwing a dense shade on
the pavement and forming one of the
most attractive street vistas imagin-
able.
Thus 1t is due to Washington's land
scape gardeners and tree experts, as
much as to the Capitol and Washing
ton Monument, that 1t Is universally
counted one of the most beautiful capi-
tails in the world.