Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-03-23
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ELMA

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Twas the last elm in Elma,
Left standing alone;
All its sturdy companions
Had vanished and flown.
This is no fiction, though it caused
some friction. Contrary to my usual
habit, am telling the truth.
1t was who cut down the last elm
In Elma. Being on my own premises,
! could do with it as pleased, SO long
as l did not interfer with the rights
OF others. And it pleased me to cut
it down. l was not like the Old Set
tier who "for two years he chopped
and he niggered, but he never got
down to the SOIL" When l got busy
with my ak on this old giant elm in
Elma l soon had it near the falling
point, when just at that minute an
old lady came along and stopped
under it, saying, "Oh, my, are you
cutting it DOWN."
"Oh, no." said l, 'only picking a
few apples" She was kind o. hard of
hearing so l reckon she didn't hear
me. But she did not go on and get
out of the way of the falling elm, as
she wanted to talk awhile about elms
In Elma. So she said;
Last year had very severe sick
spell and have not fully recovered
from it yet. Do you know what
caused it,"
l had to acknowledge that had
never heard of it, and hoped she
would soon fully recover. AS loud as
l could yell. Then she told me:
Right over there by the church
there was beautiful elm tree, and
some horrid man just came and cut it
down without even asking permission
of anyone. and 1t just made me SO sick
I don't think will ever get over It. !"
And here was cutting down the
other one Of the only two elms Elma
ever had. What II she should have
a kSnfption At right there under the
Axas and it should fall on her before
could prop it up? 1t seemed as
though l could do nothing but await
developments. SO waited. Finally
she ran out of words and moved on
down the street, and after she got
around the corner gave the elm a
few more whacks with my ak and it
fell properly between the sidewalk
and the corner of the Moore house.
1t reminded me of the man who was
shot between the hog pen and the
wood she'd"
l feared relapse of the lady when
she should learn of the fall of the last
elm of Elma, but she is still bearing
up bravely. 1t was quite surprise to
learn that there were so many people
here mourning the demise of the last
elm of Elma, but would have cut It
down anyway, for it was taking all
the midday sun from my spuds.
However, am trying to mollify Il
believe that is the word) their feel.
ings by planting lot of the branch
es of this fallen monarch, and If the
burned things live will distribute
them among the mourners, SO they
can raise elms of their own in Elma.
The occurrence started me to won
dering If Elma was named after the
elm, SO l Interviewed an old-timer
here, who told me that Elma was
named after Elma Hill, daughter of
DR.. Hill, an old pioneer of this place.
When I buy the hill north of Elma.
as anticipate doing, I will call it
Elma Hill.
Waking Up.
Take notice now that Elma is
up. In former years it may
have appeared that Elma was asleep.
but she is almost fully awake now.
and incidents of worldwide interest
are now coming to pass here. The
postoffice was robbed nearly a year
ago, which of itself would indicate
that the increased business in the
postal department of Elma had grown
to such proportions that made 1t
worth the while of safe crackers.
A mammoth still has been discOv-
cred and knocked still. in the wilder
ness near by. And only last night
two men and another mans wife
tried to drive through our wide
awake city in a big Paige auto with
4 f1ve-gallon keg of mOonshine, but
only got little way past the loca-
ton of the curfew. bell at the city
hall. You don't suppose we are
going to let anybody slip past us with
stun like that. do you? In this case.
though, we had only a sample left.
as the blockade runners kicked in
the head of the keg when they dis
covered they were about to be