The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-19

IL is the grandest village In al America its past
a. well as It's present Concord nght' has given
IL history which no other town can Justly claim,
and 1t has, besides, maint ained itself so well in
bearing It's proud pre.eminence that nobody win
deny that 1t is In every way worthy or It's history.
People who nave been sounding the praises OF
New England have made II typical OF New England
towns In general; but the truth Is 1t Is as much
ike the manufacturing villages as the adobe ham.
lets OF New Mexico. In the factory towns the
houses not built in streets, but set up In rows
Une dwelling is as much like another as tho
brother tenpins in bowling alley. In Concord
bach house betrays the taste OF It's owner, and
nearly every dwelling has It's tra6i-
tons and its story Coming into the VII
lage by the Lexington road-the way
the grenadiers came In 17T5-the nrst build
Ing OF note is the wayside School IN the house
built by Hawthorne when he determined TO desert
the old Manse. 1t is wooden STRUCTURE, two sto-
ries in height and Is surmouuted BY little box
overlooking the roof in which the sky romancist
had his study. This box was accessible only by
trap upon which the novelist placed his library
ehair and, by thus keeping the world at bay, JUS
nned the lines OF the poet in which he Is described
ss one
with genius so shrinking and rare
That you hardly Rt 1rst see the strength tnat u
there.
little further on and still nearer the village ls
Alcott's residence, the home also OF his two
attted daughters 1t Is an old house, neglected
in appearance, but surrounded BY ample grounds
which are capable OF being made very lovely In
the springtime and summer A rustic fence, now
also much In decay, built or pine and cedar
branches gathered from the nelgnboring thickets
and woven together by Mr.. Alcotts own hands,
encloses the grounds and separates them rom
the street. Across the way and still little
nearer the village just before the turn OF the
road and the ridge, which forms the background
OF all this picture, reveals the more tnickly set
tled part OF the town, Is the dwelling OF Ralph
Waldo Emerson. 1t Ia a square house, without
pretensions, ana lacks charms OF any KIND
In its situation and surroundings. The ground
on which IL stands is low and almost marsny, ana
being across the street It has not the ridge behind
IL as nave the others to lend IL picturesqueness.
Then comes the village proper. hugging the NIL on
the north and east ana kissing the river 10 the
south and west. Here the main street intersects
the road extending from point opposite the ola
graveyard, which forms the centre OF the ridge,
almost In the direction OF the old South Bridge,
held by a company OF British grenadters April 10,
I775 while their comrades were being beaten
mile below. ON this street is the house where
next sunday President Grant, like Hosea Biglow,
Is to 60 -
whose Qardng wnispe with the rivers euge
Mar 10 Judge Hoars Is the rural retreat OF Mr..
Frederic HUDSON, whose History OF JOURNALISM
In the United statesi' Is proud monument to his
own achievements In the Journalistic PROBES
sion, Tnoreau, who was recluse, lived iartner
away at Walden Pond, while near the North
Bridge, wnere the first battle OF the Revolution
took place 10 the Old Manse, celebrated as the
reslaence OF tue Rev. William Emerson, the grand
tather OF the Carlyle OF Concord and the minister
here In the Revolutionary era. MT. Emerson
witnessed the battle between the men whom his
grandson has 50 grandly named the ''emoattled
hrmersp and the British grenadiers rom an
apper window OF his mouse. which commandeda
view OF both positions and he testified In MS
alary that alter the invader discharged his nrst
khot ne "was uneasy TIL the fre was returned"
though ne knew that 'Thelr numbers were more
tnan treble ours.p
THE PROVINCIAL PARADE GROUND.
rhe spot overlooked by the bold and patriotic
Concord clergyman. soon 70 become 50 famous In
history 10 now known as the Provincial Parade
Ground. The English were nrst on the ground
ana neld the town. 1t was long wait which the
patriots mad tbat night, Tor Mr.. Longfellow mas
tod us In his cantering verse OF the mionlsns
ride OF Paul Revere that
n was one by the village clock
when he galoped into Lexington.
And the poet added, with something OF poetic
license. 1t must be confessed, that
IL was two by the village clock,
When he came TO the bridge IN Concord town.
He heard the oleating OF the mock
And felt the breath OF the morning breeze
Blowing over tue meadows brown.
II paul Revere mad reached Concord at all that
niaht ne would nave come 10 the town before ne
got TO the bridge but the truth Is that he was
captured at Lexington. and the rest Of his self.
imposed duty was performed Dy Samuel Prescott,
4 Young doctor belonging 10 Concord, VINO carried
the news OF the ARRAY on the green TO his towns
man. But this is history, and We have only 10 do
with the parade ground, where the provinciaIs
marched down from the contiguous slopes TO
battle for their country. It's beautiful spot oJ
nature and capable OF every adornment which
ART can bestow. The lazy stream creeps IDLY BY,
and on its banks, where they fell that day. sleep
the two British soldiers, the nrst OF the enemy 20
fan IN the struggle Tor American independence.
A stone wall, extending rom the river 20 the
highway has been quilt over their grave, and a
rude stone, rudely carved. tells the place OF
their sepulture Near by II the votive tablet
raised IN 1885 70 commemorate the deed
and across the stream, now as then spanned By
simple bridge, Is the spot where the 'embattled
iarmersu stood and Davis and Hosmsr fell the
new statue OF the minute man" leaving his
though med In the iurrow, but bearing his
trusty rine with him. has been erected here; and
hare in sight OF the hills from which the provn-
e,als red two and two TO the music OF the white
Cockade.n IL viii be unveiled on Monday The
acene mas changed putlitte In hundred years, and
the spirit when animated the American people then
atm survives TO ind expression on TINS spot. The
hills and fields still the same lew fences
more ana few stones less being the only changes
wrought by time In the arena Of the Concord dght.
Az stood on TINS historic ground this morning,
the early sunshine bathing The hills with life and
light and recalled all that had ever been told me
OF that glorious day. the whole scene seemed TO
reawaken in my Imagination and could almost
see the astonished grenadlers turn and dee by the
road they had come, while
the farmers gave them ball for bail
From benlnd each fence and Oarnyard wall
Chasing the Tedcoats 1own he lane,
Tnen crossing the deds to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn OF the road,
Ara..n nLN M NJ 1 n q lnnd