Evening star., 1934-03-19
LEBANON CEDARS
ARE ON WAY HERE
Gift From University in
Syria to Be Planted
in Arlington.

On an American liner, bound for
America from the Phoenician coast,
the eastern end of the Mediterranean,
are 13 living cedars of Lebanon, sent
by the American University of Bey-
routh, Syria, as good will offering to
the people of the United States. At
the direction Of the President they
will be planted in the grounds of Ar
lington National Cemetery, overlook
ing the city of Washington from
across the Potomac River.
In the Bible these majestic trees
are called the trees of Jehovah, the
cedars of Lebanon, which He hath
planted" Their most famous ap-
pearance in history was when King
Hiram of Tyre transported Lebanon
cedars to Jerusalem for the building
of Solomon's Temple.
Scarce in Numbers.
Scholars differ as to how many
cedars of Lebanon there were in an
tiquity," says a bulletin from the
headquarters of the National Geo.
graphic Society. 1T is probable that
at no time were the limestone ridges
of the Lebanon completely clothed in
these majestic trees. In ancient
times the wood was already valued
not only for its great strength and re-
siStance to rot, but also for its rarity.
Some decades ago, with the en-
couragement of Queen Victoria, the
small remaining cluster of giant trees
was inclosed by stone wall. The
trees had long been considered sacred
to man, and Hadrian issued an i'm
perial order that the groves should
not be harmed. Later, the Maronites,
who have a small chapel amid this
tiny forest, threatened excommunica-
ton for any one who harmed the
trees. But herds Of goats have showed
less respect than man and by nib
bling at the saplings have prevented
new growth.
"a count of tree rings, made on
small branches, indicates that the
Lebanon cedar has slow growth and
a long life. The cedarS are not near
ly so tall as sequoias, but they have
thick trunks, as large as At feet in
circumference. A notable feature is
that the horizontal branches are so
thickly carpeted with needles that
the heavy, firm cones appear as
though up-ended on well kept lawn.
Scene Of Beauty.
'"The site of the chief cedar grove
is one of rare beauty, the stage of a
massive amphitheater miles across
and 1000 feet high. Immediately
behind them the long line of the
Lebanon rises o its eliminating ridge,
more than 10000 feet above the
Mediterranean. Twenty miles to the
northwest lies the port of Tripoli.
"The famous cedars are in the
Lebanese Republic, at the eastern end
of the Mediterranean, just north of
the holy land Although the Leb-
anon is included in the French man
date with Syria, it has its own gov
ernment under Syrian President.
The flag of the republic is the flag
Of France with green cedar Of Leb-
anon in the center.
'The cedar of Lebanon also appears
on the seal of the American Univer-
sity of Beyrouth, donor Of the group
of cedars to America, and lapel but
tons bearing the university's insignia
are worn by graduates throughout the
Near East. The cedars have been
studied by specialists of the univer-
sity. DR.. George E. Post of the fac
ulty, authority on Syrian botany, made
the statement: There is not, and
never has been, rotten Lebanon
cedar. The wood is incorruptible.
The imperishable cedar remains un-
touched by rot or insect The wood,