Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-12-12
Eastwood COMES INTO IT'S OWN
BY Frederic J. Hsskin.

Washington. Dec. i2.--At least so
per cent OF the American born grand
fathers and grandmothers in the Uni
ted States are familiar with the slang
meaning Of the word bae~wood. That
Is because such n percentage Of these
venerable persons came from the sec
ton OF the country in which the bass
wood tree IS indigenous. The reason
for the use OF such a slang term was
that It's colloquial meaning reflected
the opinion OF the value OF the tree.
When our grandparents wanted 10
describe an utterly worthless object
or even a person deemed TO be worth
less. such a person CT object was said
TO be Eastwood. because OF all the
vast natural wealth which tn pio-
neers found in this country. the bass
wood tree was considered OF least
value.
In the early days when the Ameri-
can pioneer went into the wilderness
he had TO depend on the things he
| found in that environment 20 fiil his
everyday needs. He must build his
/ houses of the native woods. ne must
make his tools OF native iron. he must
weave his clothes Ct native fiores and
must raise his own food. Such a civil
cation caused these people 10 put def
/ mite values upon all the products OF
nature. Everything had a value
Hickory was good for axe handles and
ash fer wagon spokes. Pine and all
kinds OF oak were excellent firewood.
but Eastwood was discovered 10 be
good for nothing.
It's fibres were too spongy and
stringy 10 work into anything useful.
IL was not strong TO withstand press
ure II did not last long and 1t would
not burn wel. Almost any other kind
Of waste wocd at least would make a
good fire. but Eastwood when set alight
would sputter for awhile and go out
and what little burning II would do
gave very little heat in comparison
with otlser fuels.
So IL was not surprising that men
and women who must put definite
values on materials and on people sur
rounding them should coin a new
word for their language and agree
that Eastwood should describe a use
less object or worthless drone. In
the States from the Atlantic coast 70
the prairies and from Georgia and
Mississippi 20 the Canadian line. tbs
Eastwood tree grows In nearly every
county and in this section the SLAMS
term Eastwood can be- heard amcng
old people to this day.
Science TO the Rescue.
7 II this were "A play. at this poin
the words Enter Science in the form
of the Department of Agriculture
should be written. To pursue tn
fantasy. Science would be a Prime
Charming ccme 10 alter the life O
Basswpod. the Cinderella OF the forrest
IL took some years or investigation an
experimentation and the overcomin
of the inherited natural prejudice an
belief that Eastwood was WORTHLESS,
but Science persisted and the othe
day the Department OF Agricultur
issued from .ts press a booklet devote
entirely 10 this useless wood.
The booklet lists $50 practical use
of basswocd,
The desplsed Cinderella % the flores
once the scorn ~ the piopeers. now
priced for many uses and chief
through the investigative work an
experimentation of this scientific worh
shop OF Uncle Sam.
The scientists OF the departmeT
consider all the characteristics OF
commodity and select the good point
Then they find the uses 10 which sue
= coed points can be put. Eastwood
= a wood OF peculiarly clean appearanc
Ii is almost as white as holly. IL
cause of its spongy texture. II dos
not split and therefore can be used
small pieces. Such characteristics. {
o. considerable were found 10 he Vel
v. desirable in the manufacture of CO..
A. tainers for food People want TO ha'