A FAMOUS OLD TREE 



^^:::^HE vitality and tenacity of life trunk. Xhis inner filling gives strength 



^ J in a tree are remarkable. A and enables the tree to sustain itself. 



^^^ tree will endure almost any sort There is no strain whatever on the tree, 



of treatment. Its life is endangered The idea of the cement is to make an 



only by the destruction of the heart- air and water-tight plug, which prevents 



wood. So long as the vital fluid, the growth of fungus. The fungus growth, 



sap, is able to circulate through the which destroyed the heart of the old 



tree, it is vigorous. tree, was thus eliminated. This tree, 



A notable instance of this is the two feet from the ground, measures 

 famous Liberty Tulip Poplar, which twenty-nine feet and four inches in cir- 

 stands on the campus of St. John's cumference. It stands about one hun- 

 College, Annapolis, in front of the main dred and fifty-one feet high. Although 

 building. Through the agency of Dr. the trunk is a mere shell, the tree seems 

 Fell, the President, who is an authority to flourish, having thousands of blos- 

 on many scientific subjects this tree soms on the branches every year. This 

 was "doctored." This Tulip-Poplar wonderful tree stands preeminent 

 first met with severe treatment when, among all others as a symbol of con- 

 in 1840, some iniquitous boys placed stancy, perpetuating beauty and victory, 

 gunpowder in the hollow trunk of the It is pictured on the canvas of the past 

 tree. The powder exploded. Im- as rich in memories. It stands as a 

 mediately the tree was ablaze. A tower of strength at the post of duty, 

 throng of citizens rushed to the scene The Red Men gathered under its green 

 and deluged it with water. The explo- canopy of spreading branches for 

 sion was not so disastrous to the tree council. Beneath it they sat to smoke 

 as was first expected — rather a benefit, the pipe of peace or listen to the words 

 for it destroyed the germs which were of the chief, who with dignified coun- 

 propagating in the fungus. There was tenance and calm demeanor impressed 

 a new lease of life. The following his tribe with wonderful authority. At 

 spring showed an abundance of foliage length, he told them of a treaty to be 

 on the branches. In 1860, a second made with the Pale Faces from the 

 wound was made by the falling of an far-off land across the Great Water, 

 old branch. This was during the Civil They little realized that in signing away 

 War when the Union men were en- their rights, they were permitting a new 

 camped on the College Campus. It fell j^^tion to take root and that no longer 

 between two tents without loss of life ^^^i^ tj^^y ^^ permitted to commune 

 or injury to anyone. beneath those stately branches. History 



Through artificial means, the useful- ^^^^^^^ ^j^^ particulars of an assembly 



ness of the tree has been prolonged by r i ^ r r j ^i. 



1 •: • ■ , ^ni • of advocates of freedom among the 

 giving It support to make it rigid. This , . ^ i .i • . j . mm 

 tupport has been given through filling colonists under this noted tree^ ihere 

 the tree with fifty tons of cement. The *^7 discussed the cause and their atti- 

 base was made broader than the upper ^ude toward the men not in sympathy 

 part. Iron rods were run through the with the movement— whether they 

 cement and these bind the parts to- should be punished or not. In 1825, a 

 gether. Into the huge branches, which prominent personage, conspicuous in 

 were hollow, iron rods were also run. history. General La Fayette, was enter- 

 Cement was inserted here as in the tained at Annapolis under this tree. 



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