The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-19
a "REMINISCENCES or SLEEPY HOLLOW.

a "REMINISCENCES OF SLEEPY HOLLOW.
Last August, having day TO spare deter
mined to carry out a resolve made long time
before and visit the lethargc region the bor-
ders of which are washed by the waters OF the
famous Tappan Zee. An hours ride on the
deck of q steamer not very remarkable for its
speed along river unsurpassed by the Rhine
of the Fatherland, and in sight of villas and
country seats of great taste and beauty brought
me TO Tarrytown, Dutch village of considera-
BILE antiquity costly nestled among the hills,
which here begin to assume proportions quite
formidable. Within its boundaries Sleepy Hol-
low is situated.
l have always found it best in visiting strange
place to have a snItabeguide-one to the manor
born--fuu of the incident and story of the
locality. Such person, felt sure, was to bo
found IN tail, gaunt.looking man whom saw
converting very earnestly in front of the ne Ss-
room of the village His appearance was quaint
in the extreme, his garments being of ancient
pattern, while his genial face was marked with
deep iUrrowS we'll cut in by the thorough
DlOughng OF Time.
"Eiy friend,"I SAID, approaching him, 81 am
come to view this classic neignbOrhood, and
want some one to act as my gulde. Have you,
for a consideration an hour or two 10 spare ~
AT first thought that my request would be
met with refusal; but after mo nent's dellbera-
non my newly formed acquaintance announced
that, If convey anCe were included in the
arrangement he would gladly accompany me.
OF course assented to the condition enforced,
and, feeling delighted that l had secured the
guidance of one evidently so impregnated with
the very spirit OF the place, speedily began to
leave the village behind me.
short ride brought us to plain shaft of
dolOmlte, erected by the roadside, upon which
was plainly visible the following inscripton:-s
ON THIS SPOT
The 29d day OF September. 1880, the spy, sEfa
MAJOR JOHN ANDRE,
Adiutant General OF the British Army, was cap
JOHN PAuLDIEG, DAVID WILLIAMS, and ISAAC VAN
All natives this county.
HIgToRY HAS TOLD THE RRsT.
The People OF Westchester COUNTY have erected this
Monument, as well to commemorate a great Event
aS 10 testify their high es imatiOn OF thaC INTEGRITY
2asSod nnS ratSsm tS a which rejecting every
peril by battling the arts of Spy and the plots Of
DEDICATED OCTOBER Z, 1853
This" said my cicerone, sis the first point
OF interest. Poor Major Andre was captured
here, On the knoll. over there, the three
euardsmen were amusing themselves as they
best could while they watched the road. Pre-
sently they saw him ascend the hill ABOVE us
and come towards them. He was on his way
rom West Point to Dobo'5 Ferry, six miles
below this, and supposed he was through the
worst part of his journey; but the fates were
against him, ana he was soon taken prisoner"
But Why" | inquired, ''do you call him poor
hIulC! IlC was d Sul, anu udu ne Deen sue
cessiu we should have been, in all probability,
Irreparably injured. Why then, my friend,
should we gloss over his offense?n
Il max e, slr," answered my companion, "a
broad dlstnction n between the spy and the
traitor. The one risks all TO benefit the cause
which lies nearest his heart; the other does all
that he can to ruin one which he processes to
support. Treason, to me- ever will be odiOus,
and cannot make light of it. But such was
not the gallant Andres ottense. He did but his
duty"
Ny guide saw, was approaching favorite
hobby, and was waxing warm. | therefore
Where" l asked, ''are Andres captors
'erhe State of New York provided very libe-
rally tor them" he replied. at gave each one
a iarm, on which he settled. Pauldlng is buried
in the Episcopal cemetery at Peekskill; Van
Wart lies among the Greenburgh hills, few
miles east of us; and Williams sleeps at Living
stone, in SChonarie county,"
The spot upon which we stood was one of
great natural beauty. North and south the
road wound, with innumera6e tOldings, along
beautiful residences, while here and there luxu-
Tiant naples and locustS meeting overhead
formed waving arches OF emerald green. On
the east, the long corn leaves in neighboring
field mingled in most soothing manner their
rustling music with the quiet utterances of the
brook which puTled beneath our feet. On the
west, the Hudson, bright with the reflection of
the midsummer sun, flowed lazlly towards the
sea. The broad Tappan looked like mirror,
i'll the distance the air was full OF hazy images
OF oream-llke hills which reached down to kiss
the waters of HaverstraW Bay, that wide eX-
panse which bold Hendrick Hudson sup.
osed was the termination of the first upland
voyage.
No WONDER thought, that Washington
Irving thanked God that he was born upon the
banks of the Hudson river. No other stream,
viewed apart from the prejudices which attach
themselves to another nationality, can be COM
pared with it. 1t is matchless superbl What
grandeur there is in the abrupt-looking Pali-
sades! how maestically they rise out of the
water! And the hills, with what picturesque
beauty do they slope from their SUBMITS TO the
Water's edgel We next came to a rustic bridge
which spanned a silvery brook.
This" said my friend, lis the Pocantico the
Pockohantes OF the Algonquins, the aborgines
of he place. And this is the bridge alonesi
of which Ichabod Crane disappeared. He had
been to the merry.making at Baltus Van Tas-
sells homestead, and was returning, when, at
the spot we have just left where Andre was
captured, then known as Wiley's swamp, he
beard the strange rider. Whipping up old Gun
pow der, he attempted to turn up the Bedford
road which led directly to his boarding place;
but falling in this, eudeavored to gain toe shell
ter of the church before us. As he reached
the bridge he received the tremendous blow
which threw him from has steed The next
morning the animal was found grazing in
the church h-yaYd, but Ichabod had disappeared,
and was heard leading the Dutch lads aud lasses
in the choir, or teaching the children their
lessons, no more"
~. 4 go. Ill ~Naa sVat NaWenn ~