The New York herald., 1878-11-04
PASTURES NEW.

PASTURES NEW.
THE wEsrcHEsTER WALKING CLUB AGAIN ON THE
RoAD-A TRIP TO coNNEcTIcUT-KEyoLUTI
AIRY SCENES
When the morning mists were lifting from the
fields and river yesterday the westchester Walking
Club were astir. According to agreement they
rendezvoused at the Grand Central Depot. and it was
clear to sec that the enjoyment of their past trips had
borne fruit in hearier appetite for the sport and
more careful preparation for the days exercise
Certain innovations had been made in the
clubs original simplicity of garb and they had all
less a sportive flavor Yesterday too for the
first time. they the clubs colors at the button
hole-s speck Of crmson-which had been selected as
the mark of membership while the tramp. An
early train rolled out Of the depot and carried them
far Kesico Station. the Harlem road, where the
walk begun. 1t has been o subject OF remark
that the club has been singularly favored
by the weather. Since the very inception
Of their tramp not shower has fallen
to dampen their pedestrian ardor-not sky has
looked upon them but gilded by the sunlight and
bright with the promise presence of clear weather.
Yesterday exception to the rule No more per-
feet day for out of door amusement could have been
chosen Cool airs occasional CHEEKY Whit of wind.
a armament without cloud and earth which recent
rains and subsequent warmth had made compact and
pleasant to the foot the conditions under which
they started. Kesico is bunch of houses set
down upon country road which intersects portion
of westchester county. and there. stretching away.
skirts the border between New York and Connecticut
An old road it s, too From the primitive structures
that line 1.-THE thatched piles of masonry, the
venerable treesone would think it almost asAncient
the hills through which 1t is cut. The old time
Connecticut farmers and the Sound borderers have
used 1t for many year. and its service to them
has tended to open out the country either side and
populate it. Along this way the club members
started on their tramp Their rapid pace their emu
afforded food the abiers in that section to spec-
late on. Wherever they went, windows were filed
with inquring faces. rustic forms gathered in the
shadow OF cottage porches and handkerchiefs waved
greeting and encouragement from stile and garden
gate.
From Kesico the road leads through rolling coun-
try. finely wooded in parts and with the land swels
rising to goodly elevation There were points where
the view really superb. One valley. in
which grim old farm house stood alone; around it
steep hills rose against the sky, clad with heavy
growth Of locust and cedar while yellow
patches. where the wild oats grew. spread
about their bases. and orchards covered the
wth their mellow
fed in the meadows and bsrnyard fowl strutted
through the short grass in aocks Taken all in all.
1t was perfect picture OF rural abundance and
privileged retirement as could look upon Fur
ther on very old houses dot the county here and
there Dy tQelr aSSOc1AtOnS WITH yne
slumbering recollections OF the Revolutions dark
days. These old white walls, without speck flaw,
whose quaint. roomy porches and verandas have SO
pure . flavor Of comfort about them, standing
here when the region about was the of battle
and contention and patriot and tory struggled for the
mastery. Old graveyards lie along the way with head
stones craven over century ago. and beneath their
green turf the generation that the nation
birth Stopping only to view remains Of peculiar IN
valley and appropriately named Glenville Some dis
tance this side Of it one Of the most
club members was unfolded. II was at the point,
where Rye Lake comes into sight, an old, tumble
down house, crouched by the road side. with couple
Of willows dropping near it. Just between them a
golden fash of light on bed Of green hills and vel
vety pasturage attracts the eye to beautiful ex-
and feck upon the heavens reflected in it. 1t remains
in sight the road is followed for about half mile,
then is swallowed up by the hills
INTO coNNKcTIcuT.
Beyond this scenic features and objects Of in
tercst met the walkers at regular intervals but as
they had good distance to they had to content
themselves with short pauses and press at a
rapid gait till nine miles passed. and from an
seen with the Sound lying beyond and Long Island
hills bounding it's further shores. To the pleasant
Connecticut town the club moved on. and reached il
In good time for dinner. stoppage made at the
Lenox House. and then the place was exploiAd The
old house where Governor Tryon quartered was
visited. and then to "Old Puts leap the party went
The OF the sturdy old hero's ride has beer
changed of late to make room for modern improve
| ments. But the cliff is there to tell its owr
story. Here. one day in 1779, the patriot general
with 150 men. attacked by Governor Tryon. with
/ 1,5OO. He held his own, though. till III
| saw that the whole strength of the Senemy
| was to be pushed upon him. Then he told
1 his men to take to the swamps, while he led the
British wild goose chase. Once alone, Tryon's dra
goons closed upon him and riding him down when
he came to the edge of the cliff His capture seemed
aeertainty, with that precpce before and the enemy
behind. But "Old Put WAS of prime metal. and with
the rowels struck into his horses side he went down
the steep descent like FASH while the bullets Of the
surprised and chagned troopers fell harmlessly about
| him.
| 1t was near sunset when the walk was taker
up again. White Plains the club destination
and the pedestrian strobe along toward 1t in fine style
glory Of gold and crimson. dyed with purple the
clouds. which seemed like gorgeous curtains drawn tc
hide monarch's rest. Then, the club went along
the darkness deepened. and when Ophir Farm. where
the paatial mansion Of Ben Halliday Ia located
reached, the moon came out and shed weird ligh
over the silent landscape
"BEN" HALLADAY's.
The beautiful little church of the Haladays In
spected. where now is laid every member of the
family but its head and his only The latter
now in the West, and their beautiful mansion and
park have been transferred to other hands, be used
1t Is said, by educational institution. Another
stoppagc made at Caulheld's Fort. a minia
ture castelated fortalise, which gentleman residing
near White Plains has erected the spot which once
witnessed so many stirring events The monumen,
to the dead OF the battle inspected and then the
club tramped through the town and took the train
for home.
CnIrpT TENnARy TIITC nav