The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-19

very midst of intensely classic scenes. Within
a stones,thrOw was the old mill, built in 1886
the capaclOus flume oil which, slowly but surely
swallowed up the eddyng waters before me;
while in 'front.' only few PAGES of, stood the
Dutch Church, surrounded by locust trees ana
lofty elms, from (which itsdeOent white-Washed
walls shone modesuy forth, like Christian
beauty beaming through the shades of retire
ment.h enjoyed the prospect vastly.
"Can you imagine any thing more interesting
than TINS " inquired my guide. "Look at the
old sanctuary before you, Note how it is built
1t is iull as staunch and sound as 1t was in 1899,
the year in which 1t was finishedr
"How came It TO pass" asked, "that thf.
edifce was placed here, so far away from the
present villageW
'Thls was supposed to be The spot about
which the settlers would centre. The river,
supplying as it does ample power to turn the
mill, was considered Of great Importance. On
It's bank the manor-house was accordingly
located. Tradition says that when Vrederyck
Vlypse, the drst lord Of the domain, began 10
0uhd the church, he laid the foundation, and
tDen Withdrew his laborers that they might
repair the damage done TO the dam by q recent
mo sooner, though, had they finished the dam
than another freshest came one nipht and
waehed 1t away thesecond time, Nothing
daUDted, they soon had u stronger structure
erected when 10! another freshet came and
destroyed il. This discouraged the proprietor
and he was about 10 give up in despair, when
Harry, bis iavorite aaye, dreamed that the
his men from the chnrch. Let that be insned
Crst, the waning saId, and the dam will stand
He forthwith resumed work upon the church.
and afterwards built the dam, which is doing
good service at this day.
"The CASTLE or manor-house which YOU see
yonder, is full OF associations. In 1856 Colonel
George Washington, then Commander-in-C Chief
OF the Virginia iorces, had occasion to commu-
mcate with General Shirley, and for this pur-
pose left his headquarters at Winchester and
travelled TO Boston on horseback, attended by
his aids-de camp. On his way he stopped in
New York for few days, and while there Waa
entertained by MIR. Beverly Robinson, between
whom and himself a strong friendship existed.
1t happened while he was the guest of his host
that he met Miss Mary Vlypse, or, as we spell
il now, PhillipSe, the daughter of Vrederyck
Vlypse, who was born and reared here, ana
Was deeply impressed by her rare accomplish
onts and beauty. Ny father used to tell II as
a fact, well established in his day, that the
young Colonel once rode. up here to pay his
respects to the object of his regard. However
that may be, 1t is certain that he did stop at the.
castle very frequently in alteryears, when the
country was the throes OF the revolution.
"A very singular story, which / recollect,
illustrates well the bravery of the matrons of
the times which tried mems souls. The subject
oi 1t was Mrs. Cornelia Beekman, the wife OF
Gerard G. Beekman, who succeeded the Vlypse
family in the possession of the castle.
Some time before the capture of Andre, John
Webb an aid-de-csmp of the Commander-in-
Chief, while on his way from New York to Peeks-
XIII, stopped at the castle ana asked Mrs. Beck
man to take charge OF his valse, which con-
tanned his new uniform, and sum of gold. Il
Will send for il, he added, in few days; but do
not deliver 1t to any one without written order
from me- fortnight after his departure Mrs.
Beekman saw an acquaintance, Joshua Smith,
| whose loyalty to the national cause was doubt
| ful, ride up to the house, and heard hin,
ask her her husband for Lieutenant Webbs
| Vallse. MIR. Beekman was about to comply
with his request, when his wife advanced
and demanded written order before she
would relinquish her custody of it. Smith
replied that he had none, the officer having had
no time to write one; but added:-'You Know
me very well, madam, and when 1 assure you
that Lieutenant webb sent me for the valise,
| you ought not to refuse to deliver it to me, ~
he is in very great need of his uniform Mrs
Beekman had conceived a great dislike for
smith before this his known sympathy with the
royaist cause being iD marked contrast to her
enthusiastic devotion to the colonies, and influ.
enced by it, she determined to hold on to her
charge until written order of undoubted genu-
| lneness should compel her to surrender it,
| Smith was Veyed at her doubts; but his en-.
treaties had no effect on her resolution, and
| disappointed at the ill-success of his effort he
rode away. The result proved that he had no
authority to make the application; and it was
! subsequently ascertaned that, at the very time
| ofthls attempt on his part TO secure the uni
! form, Andre was concealed in his house. After
! Andres capture the Lieutenant called in person
for his valise, and bore a message from Wash
ingtOn, thanking Mrs. Beekman for the prudence
ChdI hdu prevented an occurrence winch mIgh
have caused train of disasters, for Webb and
Andre were OF the same height and form; and
beyond all doubt, had Smith obtained possession
of the uDlform, Andre would have made his
escape through the American lines"
During this narration our horses had been
slowly walking up the hili past the old church.
into the cemetery, where all that is mortal OF
Irving lies buried. This home of the dead is
most beautifully situated upon slope which
dtscends into the gorge OF the PocanticO.
Throueh the trees could be seen glimpses of
the Hudson, while all around us were the
localities which the magical pen of Diedrich
KnicSeTbocker has made forever celebrated
Who is there, thought, who would not like to
sleep his last sleep amidst such surroundings as
these ?
We shortly came to the Irving lot. What
surprised me was the perfect simplicity appa-
Ient in all its appointments. Within the enClo
sure, ranged in two lines, are the different
graves Each has plain head-stone of mar
ole, on which are inscribed the name and age
at death of the occupant. As will be seen, the
grave of Washington Irving does not differ from
those of the rest of the family. The uscrp-
tion simply tells that
WASHINGTON
SON OF WILLIAM AND SARAH 8, IRVING,
DIED
NOV. %, 1869,
AGED rs YEARS MO. AND 20 DAYS
HWeu do | recolIect the dav that we hrou~ht