*' THE LEAVES OF THE TREE Were FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS." 43 



(Comparatively tiny deforested and therefore "devitalized" Malta 

 standing about midway between the mighty African Sahara desert, and de- 

 forested Europe and Turkey, may be likened umo a much enfeebled 

 man who, from force of circumstances is compelled to reside continuous- 

 ly within an imperceptibly diseased atmosphere generated from pestifer- 

 ous environments, and whose nickering vitality has been sustained to its 

 utmost limit by means of artificial stimulants and legislative enactments. 

 It should now be evident from a careful perusal of this paper that the 

 sensible suggestion herein quoted from the New York Herald concerning 

 the reclaimation of Gallilee by the restoration of her forest-lunga and, 

 let me add, her refreshing inland lakes, coupled with a genuine desire 

 for our neighbor's welfare, equally applies to the earth as a whole, and 

 especially to Malta. Then, and not till then, will disease insect laden 

 whirlwinds cease to scatter their retributive hosts over the earth's sur- 

 face, as also will the reign of death-dealing cyclones, torrental floods, 

 protracted droughts, blizzards and general pestilence be dethroned. 

 Just think of the Mediterranean flour-moth pest now in California !) 



Though having selected such reports of destructive cyclones as apeared 

 to furnish ample evidence in support of my contention re the costly fruits 

 from wholesale forest destruction, I must quote a little further from an 

 article which appeared in the S. F. Chronicle of April 21st, 1893, under the 

 heading: " Fatal work of a Southern Cyclone," which as said article states 

 " scattered desolation through two counties of southern Mississippi: " 



" Meridian (Mies.), April 20 Clarke and Jasper counties of this State suffered 

 from a cyclone last night at 7 o'clock, more destructive to human life and more 

 serious in its damage to property than the one three weeks ago. It followed almost 

 the track of its predecessor. Over forty people were killed and nearly two hundred 

 were more or less injured. These figures may be increased when all the stricken 

 districts are heard from. The destruction of property will amount to hundreds of 

 thousands. Entire neighborhoods have been literally swept off the face of the earth. 



" The cyclones path was through a vast pine forest, broken here and there by 

 farms Huge trees were uprooted and carried for long distances. Near the town 

 of Pachuta lived the family of William Parton, consisting of himself, his wife and 

 three children. Their bodies, except that of the youngest child were picked up 

 over a mile away, mangled and entirely nude. Their, brains had been dashed out. 

 The voungest child had a marvelous escape. It was found half a mile from its home 

 early this morning, uninjured and crying piteously for its mother. 



"William Fisher, his mother, his wife and their five children were blown away, 

 and search parties have been out all day, but none of the bodies has been recovered. 

 A child of Sim McGowan was found dead on a tree top a mile from its home. . . 

 Every messenger from the remote districts brings a tale of suffering and death. The 

 wind is still high to-day, and as each cloud ha 8 appeared the people have huddled 



t0? < Th^ c^cTone'came 'from the southwest and traveled in a straight line until it 

 reached Quitman. There its course ^^J^ 

 direction for three miles it took another turn eastward." 



Th1%?SW ^sue) had also the following dispatches:- 

 "MILWAUKEE April 20 Twenty-one men drowned, one vessel ashore and the 

 life sav cfew 'covered with dory are among the results of last night s terrible 



^SSTiSf 5S2*!E^MM SftSS * * 



State bm that tmouut of snow fell last night and to day. In some parts of Mm- 



