Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-25
JOTTINGS FROM
MY NOTEBOOK
BY RALPH NJ. MORPHETT
Friendship of the Trees.

How many of the trees that you
see in the park or country wood can
you name correctly? You are CRATE
full for the cool shade Of them on
arm, sunny days. Have you made
Yourself acquainted with the tree
that shelters you? One likes to call
by name some of the people he
meets in club or church, or bust
ness. 1t brings him nearer and
gives one just such a feeling or
friendliness. Acquaintance with the
trees gives one just such feeling
of friendlineSs. If one loves the
trees he feels a kind of personality
in them. Is your mood joyful or
sentimental? There are trees that
respond to this mood. Do you feel
the need Of reliance or OF protec-
ton? There are trees that seem, if
one can understand them, to fulfill
these needs. One does not need to
be a botanist in order to be on
friendly terms with trees. When
one is tired, or lonely, or anxious,
TO come upon a tree that one knows
that can speak to the soul, is like
meeting with a friend. Trees can
not irritate one, nor can they give
offense through arrogance or mall
| ice. There is a comforting friend
ship to be felt in their companion
ship. One cannot wonder at those
who ascribe a living spirit to things
! in nature. If something spiritual
can be seen in a stone, how much
more in a living tree? If you do
not know the trees that you see,
| take time to make their acquaint-
ance. To know them is to love
them. There are trees to respond to
| ones every mood. They will be
{ found true and loyal friends.-Mil-
waukee Journal.
| We are living in days when many
men are getting a larger vision of
life and duty. The following story
j is an example Of one such:
He was physician, and although
not physically strong he heard the
call to serve in France. If his torch
should burn but a little longer it
should burn brightest at the last.
An acknowledged expert, he was
promptly accepted and FASTENED to
! France After some months of I'M
RENTING labor he was resting at a
hotel in Paris when he heard the
alarm sounding an air raid. Going
| to the window he was amazed to
observe an airplane falling rapidly
until it crashed to earth in the vi
cinity of the hotel A French plane
in the squadron of defense had sus-
tanned an accident. Injured to trag-
edy as he was, he yet felt unable to
move until the insistent summons
of the telephone sought his skill
for the broken and unconscious
airmen who had been brought into
the courtyard of the hotel. He has
tened down, knelt among them
there, and worked as he had never
worked before. The courtyard was
filled with silent sympathy; in all
the balconies We're many who pray
ed and hoped Finally the work
was done "They have a chance"
whispered the exhausted physician,
and then he looked up in amaze
ment at the great silent multitude,
to whom he gave smile of en-
cOuragement. When he stood upon
his feet a white-haired man STEP
ped forward saying, Monsieur,
thank you for F'rance!" 1t was the
president of the republic.
But the brightly burning torch
was spent. He returned to his
home n America. Not long ago he
received photograph from France;
it was that of the two airmen, back
in their plane, flying for France and
earthly end, promotion! and the
well done, good and faithful ser
want
That is the spirit Of America, Of
France, of England