New-York tribune., 1878-09-28
COUNTY, ADVAIT4GBS.

PRESERVING AND ADDING TO THEM
A MErrING Al TmE HOMESTEAD or JOHN JAY
SOCIETIES FOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT To III
FoEMrp.
KAToNAH, n. Y, Sept. 27.-There was
pleasant meeting the Old John Jay homestead to-day
IL was partly Its sentiment and largely the associations
OF the place that made the meeting so full Of
interest. A few visitors from the city who
reached this station on the Harlem at noon,
were driven over a. ths farm by Colonel william
JAY behind tho smart bays that serve as leaders TO his
coarhing team. Northern Hcstcbester scenery Is the
perfection Of pastoral landscape, neither 100 rugged nor
Loo tame aud the town Of Bedford n anything. is the
choicest part OF H. TIE ancient settlers took their PICK
Of the land when they saked out Brdur township six
mile. square, aud LETT the other townships 10 Join each
other at all sorts Of anes between the boundaries the
state line ana the Hudson.
peasaut country road lined by great trees and stone
walls crossing brooks. passing hills and through
green valleys. With old farmhouse here and there,
led mile and half away the hillside farm, with s
charming old country house. whoro the first ChiefJus-
tee John Jay, found peace and rest In ls0l, after
long public life He owed the homestead TO his father,
Peter JAY who married the daughter OF Jacobus
Van Courtlaudt The latter purchased the farm
from the Indians in 100, and the title
WAS confirmed by tho Crown. so the Jays hold
their title toleraby clear Crossing the boundary OF
the farm Is like entering forest park eirded by wide
stone walls An enormous oak, rivalling tho famous
Charter Oak IN beauty, stands at the gateway OF the
third field. Then a lberty-pole hying the stars ana
stnpes is seen on tho plateau above An
other turn brings the visitor In full view OF
the homestead, venerable and picturesque win
white chimneys cnugug vines, broad verandas,
and four mammoth hndens standing In in trout
gentle sope OF twenty OF pasture lay In front Of the
house. dotted with cows aud knot OF shaggy Shetland
monies standing under tree The x'hnister TO vienna
stood on the porch. aud extended hearty welcome
Standing there 700 feet above the level OF the sea- the
,vo took IN a wide and magnificent panorama extending
10 the Dunderberg the Hudson, ana INTO CouheeeuV
o az o;eIoek thirty and forty members Of the
pedford FarIners Club had assembled on the broad
nazzas THIS is tho uut two Of the farmers clubs
~ the country Heury 4. Pellew, well known In the
itv Who owns farm south OF the jaw line, was there
n the capacity o president Other me ana Ssrs
,T% To' Rev Nessrs Henry and Php Germond, DR. W.
r. Carpenter DR.. r. r. II. sawyer, Isaiah T. Willl'ms
lanes a. Bates W. l. strong James Wood, j. ID. Powell
and A. 81 Clark. There were plain, sturdy tarmeesa as
ps asnre Ihau profit on the presidents table we're a
champion turnip an enormous Deet ana some npIha1 1
mllet. -Four musk melons, which Mr. JaY n1d PIuSa P
himself would bnng tears TO the eyes o the eio WEI
absent HE Two the
Ques tgey had chosen the d9y Dejotg IoI teaS,' n
slider the best mode ot esIabilshlng one 9 moro fs'
improvement societies In the town OF Bediord ....
Mr jay, IA chairman Of the committee, read report
sueh associations already exist In Hew-Ensland; ana
their object aud character and the rhshs htthon hhu
attanabe have been recently discussed by Coonel Geo
n Warug formerly neighbOr and ASSOCIATE When nc
had charge OF the Horace Greeley at Chappaqua
the Hon Is. G.. Hortnrop, who has hinse aiaed n OF
ganlzng more than fifty village associations IN Con,
necticut and the Rev. N. p. Eggleston' formerly OF
StOek kbrdgr, Mass., whose papers on the hutgeet
An 1uE TRIBUNE have been enlarged and pubhshea IN a
volume entitled Villages and Village Le, with hints
fr peIr Improvement The idea Of the scheme, ne pre-
sented by these writer's, 70 apply TO village improve
met the principle OF voluntary association, Whieh IN
America has been pronounced the soul OF progress Ihe
uossibe aims snch association include measures
10 advance the health comfort, convenience ana ht
tracTtyeness Of the township as regards walks;
roads drainage the planting OF trees, shrubs and
aowers the abatement OF nusances the SECURING ana e
tabshug Of open squares and places. the pacing OF
seas and founalnP, the iurnlshlgo ol lu
dieoug p ms for rural architecture, gates ana fences,
and especially the estabshmcnt OF reading room ana
circulating library aud Of suitable hall for literary ana
scientific lectures and social gatherings" -
10 thia list there been added street anps loOt
ways roads and bridges between villages the preserNa-
ton OF nne trees ana OF pieces OF woodland TIE
anee OF which Is beginning 10 Do generalB
appreciated the suggesting Of proper t0nes ai ana
by trses snrubs yiues aud flowers OF schooth0nses,
cIurehes and railway stations the removal OF an Fences
tbat be smelly spared at once saving OF
sud tending TO increase the attracveness OF Ine 9Mn
The n.aptng around oemstertes 0f evergreen heuse1
h acme further features intended 70 give eteAler
mai On and interest 70 the social iis 0I tno @
v111aSe including monthly meetings OF th9 -
saaa,,,u conposed OF both se1ess ana 50
ann rural festival In August OF mo whoie t,akss
~i6 addresses poems, games and wDAt not niIaa3a na3
sasociations should commence WIZ moo"rH"