New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-23
GLIMPSES ABOVE NETWORK
SUMMER hooks IN WESTMINSTER COUNTY.

MONT MANoR-DAY-DREAMs IN SLEEPY HOLLOW
RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS AT SING SING.
On the direct line of the Harlem Railroad
there are no Summer resorts ~ prominence The fresh
high banks of the Hudson and the salt sayors OF the sea
shere are so little either hand that 10 theu
for the most part city folks resort The lack Oh pean'
wateryiews and the want of consideration in the man
agement the Harlem Road c0nd, 70 tire eyes Oh ut
weary country-seekers tho charms Of sunkissed mus
and fair reaches OF rich valley through winch
cool streamlets wander There Is no ho'oi
on the line devoted to the oocoinn'ountio"
and comfort OF leisure-lovers, ana the ooaruInS
houses are neither many large The solemn Io'o"
ness Of Woodawn Cemetery. the neat suburban MONIES
~ NewYork clerks and statesmen at MI. vernon tne
oarba ouarres the slopes Of Tuckahoe, the romantic
soanarv of Standardization includes pretty FOX
Meadow the birthplace of Daniel d. TompkinS-ano 'ho
nobly placed French villa where James fehi"oro
Cooper lived and the shady stretches OF Cmppdqua'
with the gush OF its sulphur springs-nohe OF theSo
need long deain the seeker for fashionable OF popular
summer retreats Charms plenty have these places,
hut thew ere for the most part unfamiliar to Workers
and unappreclated by them
White Plains demands somewhat longer no
tice. This old-time town, which lies era
died in tho arms OF the MamarOneck
and Bronx does not reveal itself to the traveller VINO
passes through by rail- 1t turns its worst aspect 10 the
visitor in the nelghborhood Of the station which thick
WithlOW buildings. WIN All MS ocuoCS uihO W S"'N"
from the windows q CLEAN of cheer and comfort which
ia dened him in the contemplation Of the ancient
RACES which make up the trains to White Plains
the ewes OF the newcomer have frightened with hopeful
anticipation as he stepped for the first time upon the soil
of this famous old village. and couded after their first
glance at the vicinity, with equal disappointment
Gained by the gentle graces OF the cool woodland
through which the railroad crosses the Bronx and runs
nv ts side the visitor finds an unpleasant contrast in
/ Il ~ Iora hua no RI nfW 10
Plains Remembering the position OF White Plains,
Revolutionary annals calling mind the manful fight
made by the Continental troops under the Boy Captain
Of Artillery Alexander Hamilton the intrenohment on
Cateron Hill in the battle OF October 2S l776 one looks
for something of reverend antiquity about the OLD toW
Such there lie, but not at the railway station Ascend
inc tbe long easy slope through the clustered places of
trade by the ample Courthouse surrounded with trees
and carpet of green passing tall churches OF stone
and brck which seem to supass the towns needs the
great medieval cathedrals overshadow the little cities
wherein they still standhe WIDE green stretches OF
broadway are reached Here IL an 0ld-time thorough
fare of broad expanse, varying In width from 100 feet
to 200 with narrow, dusty roadways meander
ing through sea OF grass ana be-
tween great lines Of trees A bronze soldier
leaning on his muslet upon a granite pedestal which
hears the names of those who went forth from White
Plains TO the war brings wildly mind Of recent
strife Further on, low mounds, the one UNFOLDING
centuryod cannon, the other containing sunken pa
tered mortar which, too did its part In the Revolution
airy struggle awaken memories OF the birth throes OF
the nation Thus contrasted memorials OF the two great
epoch in American history dignity the middle spaces of
this strange old street. Hero the country shows its
attractions in whispering shades, in varied visions Of
breezy hills and lazy meadows, and glimpses Of rural
plenty and easy country life in airy man
sions on broad estates. Here is none OF
the stateliness OF the castled manors, majestic
in stone walls and heavy towers, which abound along
the Hudson but the eye IS pleased to rest on comey
villas in laughing grounds. The attractive drives
in and about White Plains many 1t is the central
point for all the chief road improvements OF this Sec
ton Central-ave., westchester-ave, Mamaroneck-ave
the improved post road and the Tarrytown improve
ment make up only part OF tho towns advantages in
this regard. The six-mie ride TO TaTrytoWn, over
highway charming all the way, 10 NewRochee, to Port
chester on the Boulevard and TO Rye, are among the
larger drives. which deservedy admired, while there
is multitude OF pretty crossroads and byways in
quarter.
White Plains as is natural loudly extols these
drives, and puts them forward, with its health
fulness, as inducements TO seekers Tor Summerrest
OF these IL has good store in the past but not gath
cred In masses CHARTERED at armhOuses IN and near
the town. with preference for the Quaker yeomen, who
abonnd in quarter the Summers here do not make
much STIR True, there is in White Plains great num-
Der OF taverns of that urtve class which marvellous
ly abound IN the villages about York, whose pro-
pretors like fable Of the chameleon must live much
ON air since they have few other visible OF sup
port OF such inns there is certainly dozen, possibly
score in the village Beside these there two
somewhat more ambitious in size and conduct
which aim at Summer boarders. One OF these by the
railway station receive 60 guests, but has only
two families staying for the Summer The other,
the Courthouse, has for u.s. and entertained 30
guests last season. This year there corners.
White Plains Ia general bewails dull season. and with
attitude sobs out the stale story OF Wall
st. when there has been GAIN OF yearly business
from which profit has come, and Of the fatal lures Of
the Old World. A element is however, introduced
in the lamentation at White Plains; that's the bad
repute and worse conduct Of the railroad. The
villagers say that Summer guests are kept
away by It's reputation for filthy cars and
extortionate rates both for Communication and
casual travel; that persons who submit TO its
exactons and shortcomings for Summer apt 10
fee elsewhere for the next The railroad is
blamed too because real estate does value.
Prices OF landed property showed O sudden imitation in
1871 when by the annexation scheme projected at that
time White Plains was to DO taken into New-York The
hangerson Of Tammany and the capitalists who were
in the invested largely in land in
Plains paying exravagant prices for wretched prop
erty. The bubble burst when Tammany FELL and landed
property here Is worth little than It was many
years ago. The town had rapid growth just after the
war; but reaction set In and it is as still
standing pool Its present population is about $780,
and building lots held at 500 to 5000 per acre,
cept Broadway in the best locations back OF the
Courthouse, where tho rate may rise high as 5000
per
The principal boarding. houses in White Plains arc
Broadway, and well boast of their place, for the
sleepy stretches Of this ample highway fair see
At the largest persons could be received but the limit
~ "a familiea ia ne was hero
opened the middle OF June and the house has five
families those Of James Havemeyer, Henry vandevoort,
and Judge Beebe Of NewYork, with those OF WIN. Fay
and Mr. Lockwood from Harlem. smaller house. near
the ruin Of the Lafayette redoubt where the old Cont
mental mortar lies imbedded in earth, has two fam