The New York herald., 1878-10-07
WESTCHESTER WALKING CLUB.

THE MEMBERS MAKE ANOTHER INvIGoRATING
TRAMP AND LEARN A LITTLE HIsroRy-
THE ROMANCE or IoNAN's WELL AND THE
LOVERS DISAPPEARANCE.
sky unlocked by single cloud and all aDaze
with sunlight welcomed the Westchesler Walking
Club yesterday to their rendezvous at tho
foot OF East Ninety-second street. The air
was crisp. and the fresnening breeze from
the Long Island shore, laden win the fragrance OF
autumnal woods, encouraged tree exercise OF arm,
limb and lung. over the water to Astoria past the
lighthouse looming up like gray snait against the
green and gold OF the sky and past the rocky neck,
where underneath the water lie the chat
tered bowels OF Halletrs Reef, went The
club, and just at noontme the cross-country
tramp begun Astoria is a struggling sort
or place II is hard to mark lis beginning and more
difficult still TO decide where it ends. Beyond the
trumpery little shops and miniature enements where
cosey cotages line the way all sorts oi picturesque
bits OF build ngs spring up, with dark green oage
shading them and the glowing tints OF their gardens
contrasted with The gray moss that covers
them. Shade line the road too, and
as tho club went by 1t WAS only by fits and starts
tney caught the fash OF the sunlight which lay IN
golden patches along the way. Outside Astoria The
country opens out-a panorama oil wooded hills and
cultivated fields, roads Sheltered from the glare
periumed by the flowers, quaint iarm
nesting among the trees, ana p0hus
brookiots rejecting the blue oil the sky or hdipg
from It IN the shadow OF the woods. Fast them al
the walkers tramped, dust flying, cheeks CLOWNS
and brows trite damp with perspiratlon But there
was Tagging no halts called, althouah
the charms OF the prospect were no more
lost 10 the eye tnan the random jest was 70
the ear OF any of tho party. Perhaps the gait
was lessened Tor a moment the old gray cast-
lated structure, mle or Two beyond Astoria, shot
up above the trees with It's winumill moving laZiy
around as the breezes oyed with and The ivy Gus
tering around it hke endeariLg stretched from
VINO was one OF the party stopped hx the features
OF the scene ms mud. Then off aga:n dusty
along level reaches OF verdure past giitter-
ing fields OF rye ana acres OF horse radasn went The
club. The streams were ielt behind and primitive
bridges along the way turned 10 account beiore a
thought was given 10 their geographical Importance.
! But 10 time one PcRwickian member turned his
attention to note taking. IL was small ana
somewhat unclesnly native OF the soil he
boy 9n he asked. designating couple that
sight The youth looked up suspiciousiy "rhcy
! them therop VINO built tnem9n The rustic edged
of, but ald not reply. "Don's you hear, ooy-who
butt them2' the questioner repeated, with some
| asperity. .sBoo. hoo" oluDbered the youngster,
| iu alarm, ''twau't me that did il, mister" The
Pickwckidn member askc1 tor no iurthor Information.
A TRACT WORTH rRAvERsISG.
The FIRST FIVE miles were traversed good time,
all hands keeping well together aud making the dust
4 fly from their heels. Then as they rose over
| wooded elevation and came out on an open stretch
| again shout went up from those ahead Flushing
Bay lay before Them. IL was all agIow in the sun
! light. Through tue green willows oy the road
one could look away across the Sound 10
/
! ing and over which like needle OF stone the High
Bridge tower rose against the cloudy blue Of the hs
The green slopes along the Hariem's banks were
clearly visible, aud lar of the Palisades niied Their
broad backs, dim ana misty ana my sterious. The
prospect Is charming one at this pon and IS In no
way injured by the glimpsss ono catches OF the xnita
and green mansions oil Flushing and the marshy
| grounds between where the railroad bridge cuts
across the ree1y waters OF the inlet.
From this the party went TO ST. Romans Well, once
famous ponic ground, oaa now @ assola.e waste waste.
Commanded splendid Wow, was burned TO the ground,
and since that u has been deserted; A number Of
the place. ''Where Is the weliS" asked ono Of The
membera.
A listener pointed east, another pointed west, the
rest looked on iI amazement. They knew nothing of
| II. Then old man was discovered who led the way
to big hole IN the ground filled with bottles, stones
and booteRs, and pointing In sad-"That thar's the
\ well that's ST. Romans Hni," pointing to a big
buff that abovei
ST ROMANS HILL.
1t was a dark, wooded, ioroiddng looking hill
"Is there any legend connecied with it?" asked
q club member who has a penchant Tor the romantic
'Legun Not as knows on, quoth the cicerone,
ing up, as u SLY smile puckered up MS nps, ''oh,
you means yarn-a novaie. as II wur. There's lots
OF 'em bout these diggngs" And to work at one ho
went
tin wnat lived al the loot OF this Dlu am he hal
darter with goldine hair an all thom extras what
young iellers goes for. Shc had lovyer who want
worth cent Ho wus one o the poor, but honest
kind yer know, and no took powerful strong to the
gal But tue oie man was rzen on young.ieiiers o.
inat kud and no wouldn't tol'raie the bans nohow.
So night when tnero a storm an thunder
an lightning an all that the Two lowers went up
unat ore buf AM never-uever comed back agin.'
the old man shook his mead disconsolstely and one
OF the party, In fever OF excitement, burted out,
.siood gracousl did tncy perish herey" mot much"
quoth the venerable wag Not much; they went
down pother side an sashaid of on a New York
train"
HOME AGAIN.
At Flushing the club dined nj simmons Hotel and
afer tramp about the outskirts they slarted the
homo wax. Ii 10 the cool OIL the evening.
The moon silvered the niltops and inc scenes
which had been viewed by sunlight
sumcd n stranger and more romantic look. Limbs
were Piled with a wtll and the Westchvster CiuD
came roads and back to Their starting point
at as lively pace as they have ever es-ayed. Next
Sundays tramp will bo among the Jersey hills