Saturday, March 11, 2006

 

Trees

Thoreau, Journals (October 12, 1857):
This is what those scamps did in California. The trees were so grand and venerable that they could not afford to let them grow a hair's breadth bigger, or live a moment longer to reproach themselves. They were so big that they resolved they should never be bigger. They were so venerable that they cut them right down. It was not for the sake of the wood; it was only because they were very grand and venerable.
At least one tree survived the carnage, a magnificent valley oak, about 500 years old, in Round Valley, Mendocino County, California. Hat tip: Dennis Mangan.



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