CHAPTER IX. 



MEMORIAL TREES 



TREE planting to honor the heroic dead of the Great 

 War, or others, has given the world a new form of 

 monument the memorial that lives. 



The memorial tree is clothed in the finest of human 

 sentiment. In its ever renewing growth it stands forth 

 as a thing alive, a simple symbol to keep forever green 

 the memory of those in whose honor it is planted. For 

 to-day and for generations yet unborn, the message of the 

 memorial tree is the message of life. 



That the memorial tree should altogether supplant 

 other forms of monument is neither to be expected nor 

 desired. Memorials of stone or bronze will always have 

 their place. The massive beauty of the Washington Mon- 

 ument, the impressive dignity of the Grant Tomb and the 

 graceful outline of the Arc de Triomphe are enough to 

 prove the enduring worth of memorials of this character. 

 Even with such memorials, however, the memorial tree 

 plays an important part. For bringing out the artistic 

 symmetry of such structures in their full value, an environ- 

 ment of trees is indispensable. By enhancing the beauty 

 of the surroundings they give an added worth and 

 meaning to the stateliest edifice reared by human hands. 



One of the most appealing features of the tree as a 

 memorial is that this form of expression is possible to 

 everyone. The memorial tree is suited to the require- 

 ments of the city as a whole or to the needs of the one 

 person. It may express the reverence of a community, of 

 a group or an individual. In either form it is ideal. 



It has been gratifying to see the world's response to the 

 claims of the tree as the most fitting memorial to those who 



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