NUT-BEJRI NG TREES 



of time a suburb was laid out, including along 

 its principal street, and certainly as its principal 

 natural ornament, this massive tree, around 

 which the Indians who roamed the "great vale 

 of Pennsylvania" had probably gathered in 

 council. The sixty -foot "lot," the front of 

 which the tree graced, fell to the ownership of 

 a man who, erecting a house under its benefi- 

 cent protection, soon complained of its shade. 

 Then came a lumber prospector, who saw only 

 furniture in the still flourishing old black 

 walnut. His offer of forty dollars for the tree 

 was eagerly accepted by the Philistine who had 

 the title to the land, and although there were 

 not wanting such remonstrances as almost came 

 to a breaking of the peace, the grand walnut 

 ended its hundreds of years of life to become 

 mere lumber for its destroyers ! The real 

 estate man who sold the land greatly admired 

 the tree himself, realizing also its great value 

 to the suburb, and had never for one moment 

 dreamed that the potential vandal who bought 

 the tree -graced parcel of ground would not 

 respect the inherent rights of all his neighbors. 

 He told me of the loss with tears in his eyes 



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