BACON'S TREE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7687, 23 April 1903, Page 2

BACON'S TREE.

{Daily Telegraph, London.)

Charles Lamb, in his "Essay on Some, of the Old Actots," declares of the gardens of Gra.y's liui that tlheip. aspect is " altogether reverend and law-breathing. Bacon has left the impress of his foot upon their gravel walks."

To-day, a.3 In Elia's more leisured generation, the presence of the* great Chancellor scorns to dominate the- gardens in which he took such pleasure, and' upon which ha spent so much of his own time and of tlie Benchers' money, when he la.id t!hem out! during his treasurersQiap a.t the Lin. Tradition pelrststontly affirms that some of thfe trees still standing were planted hy him, aaid oiio in particular, a catalpa tree, on tho west side of tho avenue, lias always been associated with, his name. Some people are sceptical on this point, perhaps because the catalpa assumes an air of antiquity more easily than some other trees' that ma-nag© to live, and even to thrive in, London air; but -a,6 Gray's Inn? tfhe heresy is mentioned cither with 1 open contempt or with bated breath and backwal'd-glancing; eyes. There has recently been some talk of the decay of "Bacon's tree," and it is certain that ag.o has told severely upon its powers ; but, of course, every effort will be ma'do to prolong its life. Though not! impressive- by its size, this relic of an older world than' ours makes even to the modern mind a strong appeal for the reverence due Jo all survivals of the half-forgottai pasn ■