GETTING JC^UJINTED TFITH THE TREES 



the mystery -plays of the centuries gone by 

 were produced in Europe, the tree most hke 

 to what these good people thought was the 

 real sycamore furnished the branches used in 

 the scene - setting — and it was either the ori- 

 ental plane, or the sycamore -leaved maple that 

 was chosen, as convenient. The name soon 

 attached itself to the trees ; and when home- 

 sick immigrants looked about the new world of 

 America for some familiar tree, it was easy 

 enough to see a great similarity in our button- 

 wood, which thus soon became sycamore. 



So much for information, more or less leg- 

 endary, I confess ; but the great tree we are 

 discussing is very tangible. Indeed, it is always 

 in the public eye ; for it carries on a sort of 

 continuous disrobing performance ! The snake 

 sheds his skin rather privately, and comes forth 

 in his new spring suit all at once ; the oak and 

 the maple, and all the rest of them continually 

 but invisibly add new bark between the split- 

 ting or stretching ridges of the old; but our 

 wholesome friend the sycamore is quite shame- 

 lessly open about it, dropping off a plate or a 

 patch here and there as he grows and swells, 



216 



