The tree was around long before Wellington, Napoleon, Galileo, Newton, Watt and Fulton; great people; men of wisdom. And yet they come and they go. But the one thing that remains consistent (and occupies their minds) is the Betula tree, suspended in time. Spawn over decades, centuries, the minds of man carry knowledge passed to them from others. Yet, the one thing man doesn't have to be taught is what's in his presence (in this case the tree that everyone else from the past saw). The tree unites, so to speak. And from the tree's point of view, it's wisdom is of one sight (not borrowed).