Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-11-22

the old adags that, "He laughs best
who laughs last
Tree culture and forestry are sub,
|jects Of national interest and nc
greater memorial is being found TO,
day to honor the heroes of the World
war than the living memorials OF
trees planted on the streets and ave-
nues of our towns and cities and on
our highways.
Recently in the organ of the
American Legion / was reading some
very interesting articles on the plant
ing of such memorials, some of them
being miles of highways bordered by
memorial trees. This is being done in
the most progressive sections of our
country and even among the colder
climates. If these can have the over
hanging trees and the shady lanes,
surely our sunny South should be al
lowed to have that privilege.
Recently at Greenwood, memorial
trees were planted in honor of the
Greenwood soldiers of the World war
an account of which will be found in
another column.
The women of Edgefeld would be
glad to pay tribute like this to their
soldier sons, but they have no assur-
ance that these living memorials will
be treated with consideration. have
no authority to speak for the present
Civic League of Edgefeld, but l am
sure this organization stands for the
preservation of trees. In some Sec
tions of our country 1 am told that
whenever any question arises in re-
gard to tree, there is an official
called tree warden to whom the
case is referred, and who understands
how to adjust the situation for the
best interests of the community as
whole.
Not long ago, the town ordinance
forbade a person hitching to tree
on the square, and this was right. /
for one was glad to obey the law, and
did do it, although at times, it gave
me considerable inconvenience but
although the people were forbidden
even to hitch to a tree, when the
town authorities decided they wanted
them cut down they were cut, and the
people wonder today why it was that
a tree so valuable that it must not
be used as hitching post became so
valueless that it was utterly destroy
ed.
In Edgefeld we have had many
memorial trees. Many of these are
now unsightly stumps of no value for
shade or beauty.
DIR. Luther Gwaltney was a minis
ter in Edgefeld for many years, a
high type of public spirited citizen.
He planted the cedar. trees on Glow
ers' Lane" and the elms and water
oaks in front of his home in Bun
combe. This row of trees in front of
his home, he said he hoped would
shade the little children as they went
to and fro on their way to school and
church and would be his memorial af-
ter he had gone. These Grees were
just beginning to serve the purpose
for which they were planted-to
shade and beautify. No man or set
of men had a right to cut or mutilate
these trees. No private citizen would
have dared to do it and if it had
seemed necessary for the town coun-
ell to disobey an ordinance there
should have been community consul
tation. The roads were bad because
of the installation of water works,
but the roads would have been good
now with the trees still standning and
the outlook infinitely more. inviting,
as it is today with the trees gone for
ever. Those who loved and honored
the name of DR.. Luther Gwaltney for
these many years feel that an meal
culable and irreparable injustice has
been done to the memory of this
good man and the citizens of Edge
field who loved him, and most Of all,
to our people who have been de-
prived of the benefits of his labors.
The trees on Lovers Lane" made
il one of the beauty spots of Edge