McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, January 09, 1941, Image 6
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- McCORMICK MESSENGER,'McCORMICK, S. C, THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1941
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Only Live Oak Trees Oyer Centafy Qld .-i-'.
Are Eligible for This Unique Society;
Its 'President' Is Elected 'By Girth'!
-• ; :fV
By ELMO SCOTT WATSON
(Beleased by We*tem New*j>aper Unlon.)
T HE recent celebration of
the fifth anniversary of
the founding of the Live
Oak Society of Louisiana,
unique qrganization fathered
by the late Dr. Edwin L.
Stephens, has called attention
again to some of the famous
trees that serve as living mon
uments to important events
in the history of the United
States.
Dr. Stephens, who was for
many years president of
Southwestern Louisiana insti
tute, originated the Live Oak
society while gathering data
on the historical trees of his
state during 1935. It shortly
became famous throughout
the world.
Only live oaks with an estab
lished age of at least a century
.are admitted to the society. The
president is elected “by girth.”
The Locke Breaux oak on the
Mississippi river in St. Charles
parish, Louisiana, has held the of
fice by reason of its size ever
since the society was first organ
ized. This oak is said to be the
largest in America, having a girth
of 35 feet at a height of four feet
above the ground and standing 75
feet high with a spread of 166
feet.
It was beneath this moss-
draped giant that LaSalle and his
band of French explorers are said
to have knelt to offer thanks for
their safe arrival On their voyage .
down the Mississippi river in a
land “where the fruit trees bear
in winter.”
High on the list of charter
members of the society is the
Evangeline oak in old St. Mar-
tinville, where descendants of the
original Acadian exiles from
Nova Scotia still carry on the tra
ditions and customs of their
French forefathers. Under this
oak the heroine of Longfellow’s
“Evangeline” met again the lover
she had sought through weary
months and perilous journeying
only to find that he had another
sweetheart!
Famous, too, are the duelling
oaks in New Orleans. In another
era these trees lookefi down on
marty gallants who sought to
avenge real or fancied insults
with blades that flashed in the
rays of the early sun. Often the
spreading branches of these oaks
sheltered a duelljst who lay On
the field of honor as his opponent
strode off victorious.
Pay ‘Dues' With Acorns.
Dues of member trees are
acorns payable in November of
every year. The acorns are plant
ed in the society’s own nursery
and the ybung trees, treasured
by garden and horticultural soci
eties because of their distin
guished parentage, are used for
planting highways, college cam
puses and parks. ' )
Other offspring of these aristo
crats of the live oak family have
traveled to many far-away landd.
Some of them now stand on es
tates in South America. Others
have crossed the Pacific to take
root in the soil of Australia. Still
others .cast shadows over the
bright tropical bloom in Hawaiian
gardens and so provide a link be
tween tree lovers of this Pacific
Island and the United States.
• Live oaks are admitted to the
society upon presentation of their
“family tree” by someone who
serves as an “attorney.” Each
new member is inducted with fit
ting ceremonies arranged by the
garden clubs of Louisiana and ir
which state officials take pan.
However, these Louisiana live «
oaks are not the only arboreal
aristocrats of this country having
a genealogy rooted in centuries
when America was an uncharted
wilderness and beneath whose
branches have been enacted hu
man dramas that changed the
course of the nation’s history,
i Probably most famous of all
historic American trees is the
Washington elm in Cambridge,
Mass. It was beneath this tree
that Washington took command
of the Continental army on July
3, 1775. The tree is thought to be
a survivor of the primeval forest
that once covered the region and
in its youth was almost 100 feet
in height, with a branch spread
of 90 feet. When in 1872 one of
the largest of the tree’s branches
fell as a result of a storm the
wood was used for a pulpit in a
nearby chapeL
Maryland’s Liberty Tree.
Even more ancient is the his
tory of the Liberty tree at Annap
olis, Md. This tree, an immense
poplar, stands on the campus of
St. John’s college and is entitled
to fame both on account of its
great age and size and because
of the historic events that took
place beneath it. Tradition re
cords that in 1652 a treaty was
made under the Liberty tree be
tween white settlers and the Sus-
New York Heartbeat .
The Big Parade: Addie Amour,
who once owned the Crescent Music
Co., nqw an NBC page boy . . . The
Rafael Trupillos (he’s the ex-Mr. Big
of the Dominican Republic), who
have leased a 17-room and 7-bath
apt. at 770 Park ... Jinx Falkenberg,
the Jolson show gal, with this and
that escort, although rumor has her
secretly sealed to an ad exec. • • •
Frederic Marsh putting ketsup in
his vegetable zoop at the Mayar—a
good old-fashioned 2nd Avenue cus
tom . . . Webster Porter, the for
mer West Pointer (now owner of the
Green Bay Tree on the East Side),
throwing out an “escort service”
whoops for heiling Hitler at the bar.
Dr. Edwin L. Stephens standing beside the Locke Breaux oak in St.
Charles parish. La., “president” of the Live Oak Society of Louisiana.'
Sallies in Our Alley: Humphrey
Bogart went to a vaudeville theater
to see Benny Davis’ act. Davis has
written oodles of song hits. In the
middle of the act (after the manner
of aU son s smiths) Benn y ran hia
fingers over the piano keys and
—' f said: “And then I wrote ‘Margie’!”
. . . “Yeh, y ’ responded a heckler,
“I’ll bet she didn’t answer!” . . .
Overheard at Forty-fifth ^street:
“He looks like the three stooges”
. . . “Which one?” ... “All of
’em!”
mm
quehannock Indians, thereby as
suring the settlers of safety which
left them free to develop $he land
and build homes and communi
ties. When the colonists were dis
cussing problems which led to
revolt against England, patriotic
meetings were held in the shade
of the Liberty tree, out of which
arose its name. Later still, Gen
eral Lafayette was, entertained
beneath its shade when he visited
Annapolis in 1824."
The Royal Oak or Tree of the
Lighted Lanterns, near Easton,
Md., also stands as a living
memorial to this country’s fight
for independence and the right to
her own trade. During the War
/ Of 1812, a British ship came to
anchor at night opposite the town
of St. Michaels in Talbot county
apd began to shell the town. The
townspeople, who were unprotect
ed, hung lighted lanterns in the
tops of th# high tree and so de
ceived the- enemy into mistaking
Historic “Evangeline Oak” in
St. Martinville. La.
them for lights of the town, with
the result their shots passed
harmlessly overhead.
A stalwart oak at Chesterfield,
S. C., which was already a lordly
tree in 1852, played a role in
the Civil war. The first flag bear
ing the words “Immediate Sep
arate State Action” was fastened
to its branches and fluttered there
until General Sherman took the
town and ordered the flag down.
Even before gaining fame in the
Civil war the tree had been
marked as one of Chesterfield’s
historic points of interest as it had
served as a place for Indian par
leys and their pipes of peace, to
gether with stores of arrowheads,
were found buried beneath it.
New York cherishes as its old
est tree, the Inwood tulip tree,
on the northern end of Manhattan
island. Said to be more than 225
years old, the tree was in its
youth when Henry Hudson made
his memorable voyage of discov
ery on the river that bears his
name.
Corydon, Ind., claims one of the
country’s famous trees, the Con
stitutional elm, beneath which, on
June 10, 1816; members of the
Constitutional convention met to
deliberate on the articles of law
to be adopted for-the ( government
of the new state of Indiana. This
' tree is protected by law against
depredations.
Roosevelt Oaks.
Even in our own piodern era
trees have their place in current
history. When the final plans
were drawn for the library of
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
at Hyde Park, in which his pa
pers Will be kept for posterity,
the President decided to preserve
the landscaping of the grounds so
that future generations might see
the place just as it exists today.
Thus, the landscaping plans ne
cessitated preserving, in appear
ance at least, the six great oaks
which surround the front of the
library: These trees have stood
for several hundred years and it
was because of their beauty the
library was erected on the pres
ent site. Accordingly, President
Roosevelt decided to have young
oaks planted next to each of the
old oaks, so that when the old
ones finally died and were re
moved, the young ones would
grow in their corresponding
places. The oaks chosen were a
group of 19-year-old trees that
had Been planted by the Presi
dent’s daughter, Anna Roosevelt
Boettiger.
Of even more historic interest
is the use of the trees which grew
; about the groups of Lincoln’s
childhood home to flank the white
marble walls of the memorial to
the Great Emancipator’s mem
ory. It was under these same
trees that the boy Lincoln spent
his childhood summers learning
to read and write. Two of the
huge shade trees which have been
included in the landscaping were
those under which two of the his- .
toric Lincoln-Douglas debates
were held.
A tree which needed neither
age nor historical background to
bring it fame is the unique “Ap
ple Annie tree” which marks the
graye of Mary McGrath, for
years a, familiar and colorful fig
ure in the theatrical district of
* Broadway. Mary McGrath
walked New York’s “Great White
tVay” fof years, selling apples to
passersby who included many of
the great theatrical names of her
era as well as the less great. She
inspired a story and subsequent
photoplay and when she died a
few years ago the Broadway v
theatrical world mourned her
passing. A group who had known
“Apple Annie” through the years
planned a unique memorial—a
tree composed of the seven vari
eties of apples which had consti
tuted her wares. The tree, which
bears Astrachan, Gravenstein,
Fall Pippin/Baldwin, Greening,
Hussett and King apples, now is
planted on her grave.
In addition to serving as monu
ments, historical trees have them
selves inspired monuments. A
‘bronze monument marks the site
Of the old Liberty elm in Boston.
The tree was planted by a school
master ‘Iqng before the Revolu
tion and, dedicated by him to the
independence of the colonies, was
a favorite meeting place for pa
triots. When at last it fell the
bells of all Boston churches were
tolled. A monument was erected
to the memory of a tree which in
its turn had served as a living
memorial to the fight our fore
fathers waged to make this a free
and independent nation.
Modern methods of tree' sur
gery have helped to preserve
many historic trees which, with
out man’s help, would have died
of the ravages of time, storms
and insects. The new tree sur
gery with rubber, originated by
tl\e noted horticulturist, George
Van Yahres, and subsequently de
veloped by engineers of the B. F.
Goodrich company, was used to |
preserve the life of the old Wash
ington walnut tree in New Jersey. >
Tradition has it that the first £
President frequently hitched his /
horse to an iron ring embedded £
in the tree when he commanded!
the American Revolutionary^
forces. For more than 150 years’*
the tree withstood onslaughts of
weather. A few years ago decay
set in and it seemed that the tree
would go the way of other his-^jj
torically famous trees which have rj
disappeared from the earth.
The Van Yahres method of tree v
surgery was employed, a new
type of interlocking rubber blocks
being used to fill up cavities in
the tree caused by decay.
Whereas concrete fillings former
ly used in tree surgery give the
tree a rigidity which makes it
impossible for the tree to bend
with the wind in a severe storm,
these rubber blocks have »uch
pliability the danger of the iree*
cracking when buffeted by a wind
was eliminated. In addition, bark
grows more easily over rubber as
the tree scar heals. After the
insertion of the filling, antisep
tic wax was injected by steam
pressure to kill any lurking decay
germs. Today, the Washington
walnut tree gives promise of re
maining as an historic landmark
for another century or so.
New York Novelette: He is a law
yer ... He accepted a $10,000 fee
from three indicted men ... He
took the 10 G’s and flew to Florida,
where he ran the coin up to $45,000
at the dice tables ... He never
showed up for their trial . . . They
were sentenced to terms of 10 years
. . . That was 10 years ago. They
will be out in a few days . .
Good-by, toots!
Sounds in the Night: In the Stork
club: “He’s rusting on his laurels”
... On Spivy’s Roof: “She’s the
only gal I ever took out that gave
me the impression a meter was tick
ing” ... .In the Copacabana: “I’d
rather be a fool about you than a
wise guy about anyone else” . . .
At Bertolotti’s; “She used to inspire
poetry. Now she inspires limer
icks” . . .At the Forty-eighth
Street tavern: “When 7 he gets mad
—he looks daggers; at your back.”
... At the Vanguard: “He’s one
of those guys who talks you deaf,
dumb and blah” ... In the Astor
Hunting room: “He’,s snappy on the
comeback—like his checks.”
New York Scene i
Hie pink blush in the sky after it
sheds the raiment of day and, for
just a few minutes, stands naked be
fore slipping under the cover of
night . . . The expressions of worri-
ment etched on the upturned faces
of the Times square electricker-tape-
bulletin-readers—a Mosaic of Anxi
ety.
The pall on the mall in Central
park these nights, as empty as a
false lover’s promise . . . The Plaza
hotel on Fifty-eighth street and Fifth,
which was a beautiful belie when
the other lovelies of today were still
in their pigtails—now wearing its
age with the grace and dignity of a
true aristocrat . . . The pigeons
perched on the library lions—a snap
for any candid cameraddict.
The Horst Wessel atmosphere in
Yorkville — malice in Bunderland
. . . The riveters stitching togeth
er the' looming framework of the
pew Wool worth building on the site
of the once glamorous Casa Manana
. . . Gay street in the Village, N.
Y.’s smallest street, yet it is im
possible to see from one end of it
to the other . . . The Greek evan
gelist, clothed with biblical quota
tions, trying to save the souls of
the Broadway heels . . . The slim
ming lovelies on horseback in the
park, drinking deep draughts of
fresh air and hoping for a male
Phaser.
The stew In the Stork club who
goes up to a celebrity and says:
T beg ya pardon, but it’s the privi
lege of a drunk like me to bother
people like you” . . . Those noise
less phone booths in the Sixth ave
nue subway extension. People on the
inside look like a movie with the
sound track gone wrong. . . . The
would-be Izaak Waltons taking les
sons in fly casting on the- roof of
the Anglers Roost, haven for fisher
men, on East Forty-third street.
Typical N. Y. greetings on B’way
and Fiftieth. One fellow says: “What
goes on?” the other asks: “What’s
coming off?” . . . The Hotel Astor
lobby, where every John meets his
Jane . . . The drugstore cowbores
in the soda spots . . . The Bastile-
like Tombs at Centre street with its
ragged line of cells—pillories of so
ciety.
The terraced wonderland along
the Hudson river below Riverside
drive—the haryi-holders’ Promised
Land, built by *a man named Moses
. . . The exotic, tasty foods served
at the Son of the Sheik in lower
Manhattan, wheVe the Armenian
dishes excite the palate the way a
Saroyan play excites some critics
. . . Strolling down Vth Ave.—a
squat, bewhiskered gent in shirt
sleeves, knickerbocker pants and
sneakers with cellar open to show
his manly chest to amazed passers-
by shivering in 30 degree weather.
: \ • 1
4- Ruth Wyeth Spears
V
\
INSIDE I
27
OUTSIDE
G
HU
—D
INSIDE
•18"
4 *.YARD CHINTZ-
FACING S’* 15"
A-STITCH FACINGCUT
OPENING AND TURN
FACING-CSTITCH-D-FOLD-
E-MARK CURVE-F STITCH-
G-TRIM-H- OVERCAST-
TURN RIGHT SIDE
OUT AND ADD HANGER
A RE you planning things that
x will sell well at a Fair or
Bazaar? Or is this the season that
you catch up on odds and ends of
sewing for the house? In either
case you will like to stitch up a
bag like this one. Everyone seems
to have a special use for one of
these bags on a hanger. I have
one that J use for laundry when
I go traveling. Men and boys like
them for closet laundry bags too,
as they are plenty big enough
for shirts. A little girl I know has
a small version of one of these in
which she keeps 'doll clothes
scraps. I have also seen them
used for everything from dress
patterns to dust rags.
This green and white ivy pat
terned chintz with green facing
makes a good looking bag. Pic
torial chintz will amuse a young
ster-something with animals or
toys or a landscape in the design.
I saw a material the other day
Make Warm Slippers
For the Little Folks
with a pattern showing all kinds
of rope knots. A boy would like
that. Each step in making the
bag is shown in the sketch.
• * •
In SEWING Book 3 there are directions
for still another type of bag on a hanger;
also a pocket for the pantry door. This
book contains directions for the spool
shelves; stocking cat; “The rug that grew
up with the family,” and many other of
your favorites among articles that have
appeared in the paper. Send order to:
MRS. RUTH WYETH SPEARS
Drawer 10
Bedford Hills New York
Enclose 10 cents for Book No. 3.
Name
Address
Insignia of Officers
The insignia of the 12 ranking
officers of the U. S. .army are as
follows: Corporal, double chev
ron on arm; Sergeant, triple chev
ron; 2nd Lieut., gold bar on shoul
der; 1st Lieut., silver bar; Cap
tain, two silver bars; M^jor, gold
oak leaf; Lieut. Col., silver oak
leaf; Colonel, silver eagle; Brig.
Gen., one star; Lieut. Gen., two
stars; Maj. Gen., three stars; Gen
eral, four stars.
Beware Coughs
from common colds
That Hang On
Creomulsion relieves promptly be
lt of the
cause it
trouble
oes right to the seat
help loosen and expel
ip lex
germ laden phlegm, and aid nature
to soothe and heal raw, tender. In
flamed bronchial mucous mem
branes. Tell your di^iggist to sell you
a bottle of Creomulsion with the un
derstanding you must like the way it
* * ly allays the cough or you are
ia\
quickl;
to ha\
ILL the little tots be proud of
* * these warm Clippers! They
come in three sizes. You can use
angora or another wool for the
dots that are embroidered on.
• •
Pattern 2693 contains directions for
making slippers in 2, 4 and 6-year size;
illustrations of them and stitches; mate
rials required; photo of pattern sUtch.
Send orders to:
Sewing Circle Needlecraft Dept.
82 Eighth Ave. New York
Enclose 15 cents In coins for Pat
tern No
Name
Address
Contentment
And we shall be made truly
wise if we be made content; con
tent, too, not only with what we
can understand, but content with
what we do not understand—the
habit of mind which theologians
call—and rightly—faith in God.—
Kingsley.
for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis
Man’s Will
The commander of the forces of
a large State may be carried off,
but the will of even a common
man cannot be taken from him.—
Confucius.
DONT BE BOSSED
BY YOUR LAXATIVE—RELIEVE
CONSTIPATION THIS MODERN WAY
• When you feel gassy, headachy, logy
due to cloggvd cy bowels, do as milliona
do—take Feen-A-Mint at bedtime. Next
morning — thorough, comfortable relief,
helping you start the day full of your
normal energy and pep, feeling like •
million! Feen-A-Mint doesn’t disturb
your night’s rest or interfere with work the
next day. TYy Feen-A-Mint, the chewing
gum laxative, yourself. It tastes good, it’a
handy and economical... a family supply
FEEN-A-MINT To*
What Matters
It is not what you have that
matters, it is what you do with
what you have.—GrenfeU.
KENT BLADES
to Paotaaa 10c
Place for Money
A wise man should have money
in his head, but not in his hetert.
—Swift.
HE
■PREVENT
many told* from developing
Colds may be prevented—often—by
the early use of Penetro Nose Drops.
A sure provision of “stitch-in-time” aid.
And the large supply costs only, 25a.
PENETRO
1
NOSE
DROPS
Romance Is Poetry
Romance is the poetry of litera
ture.—Madame Necker.
ACYCU Of HUMAN Bimmm
Advertising gives you new ideas,
/\ and also makes them available
to you at economical cost. As these
new ideas become more accepted,
prices go down. As prices go down,
more persons enjoy new ideas. - It
is a cycle of human betterment, and
it starts with the printed words
of a newspaper advertisement.
JOIN THE CIRCLE Q READ THE ADS
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