New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-18
CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
CELEBRATING A HUNDRED YEARS OF
PEACE.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TO-DAY's CEREMONIES AT NEW
BUEG-vIsIToRs GATHERING FROM ALL QUAR-
TERs
fFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBUNE.l

oraDle town OF NeWburg Is in the premOnltOTy
ecstacies of tO-mOrrows Centennial celebration,
which commentaries the closing events of the
Revolution. There have been some unfavorable
criticisms of the date chosen but these, though
rect as to the letter. are unfounded as to the spirit
For it was the wish of the citizens of Newburg to
celebrate at one fell swoop" the memory of the
days hundred years ago when in their little
streets, and around the hill that rises from New
burg Bay, walked and talked the ragged, miserable
Army of the United States Of America, half-fed
half-clothed, but wholly unconquerable. 1t was on
the 18th day of October, 1888, that the wandering
Congress of the country passed the act that dis
banded them and gave them once more to the peace
full pursuits which they had abandoned in the
sacred cause of patriotism.
The contrast between that day and tomorrow is
one that the people Of Newburg have been cOntin-
ually making; and not only they but all the
little communities up and down the Hudson
and around the Highlands and the West Point
region, where so many memories Of tho dark and
bloody days of the Revolution cluster. For Wash
ington generally had West Point at his back in the
last year Of the war, aud from the ncighbohood of
that impregnable position sprang like a panther
upon the British foe.
Nothing tends to throw greater light upon the
awful misery of that time than the fact that
those starved and ragged soldiers cncampcd at
Newburg were dazcd and panic-strickcn when
restored TO civic life. The prospect before them
seemed utterly dark; nor did they know how they
should earn their bread, for the industries of the
land had been destroyed in the terrible war. Tho
firm hand of Washington had brought the fainting,
rccling, exhausted Nation ont Of the turmoil of war
into the quiet OF peace a strong rider guides his
horse through the foaming waters of Il torrent.
There was utter and absolute exhaustion, so that
the victory could not be enjoyed in all its sweet
ness But to-day in the pcnitude of n growth
unparalleled in history and with the proud con-
scousncsS Of mighty strength there is pleasure in
recalling the uniorgotten past and rcvcing in the
comparisons which are inevitable
1t is because Of this that there is such n move
mcut toward Newburg from all the littlo
muuities roundabout There are scores of places
that have no communication by rail
boat with Ncwburg, from which buggies
aud wagons are arriving all day long.
During the hours Of to-day they first stroll up and
down this street admiring the flags and the painted
signs and transparcncies and the store windows,
which have been dressed for the occasion In many
Of the latter are displayed Old pottery, porcelain
and silycrwarc, and old cnTayiugs and tickets Civ
ing the alleged dates.
wksuINGtoy's OLD HEADQUARTERS.
After sauntcring up and down Water-st. ~ far as
South--t., beyond which there are few decorations,
the visitor. flock to Washiugtons Headquarters, an
old rubble stone building built by High butcher
ma. o~d Hasbrouck IN 1850. The State and the City
ot Ncwburg have united to make this "a sort of
patriotic museum filled with relics of "a msccllane
GUS character but all or nearly all Of the Rcvolu-
tiouary epoch; and these and the house are under
the charge Of cute old gentleman named
Alfred Goodrich. Conscious Of the tendency
Of visitors to pocket portable relies, Mr. Goodrich
has carefully locked up and sccrctcd everything
that is not nailed to the wall, or that does not
weigh half ton or thcreabouts. lie
not be judiclous TO secure moro amply the
many fine cannon that are disposed about the
grounds, having heard that somewhere in New
Jersey a cannon was stolen by tho students Of one
college from the campus of another Aud many Of
these are French pieces manufactured at Douay
and Strasburg, by Berengcr, having on them the
famous motto Ultima ratio rcgIm tho final ar
gumcnt Of kings. They splendid specimens OF
bronze and OF bronze casting, and are fully equal to
those on the ramparts of the old castle of Monaco
made by the same founder, and a present to the
Grimald from Louis NV Of France. Mr.
Goodrich calculates that he has been asked the
same questions by several thousand people in the
last few days and has come to the conclusion that
the history Of country is not learned, though
may be taught, in the public schools.
In front Of this old stone house stretches fine
lawn of considerable extent which IL generally
guarded by numerous signs, " Please Keep OIL the
grass In honor of the occasion these have been
removed and the consequence is that the spread Oh
prccnsward is dotted with numerous figures of
charming country girls with golden or jctty curIs,
frocking in the breeze red checks aud bright
dictated
hats with feathers Of brilliant coors, and
cloals of plush of strong hucs, adds not a
little to the pleasing character of the scene and
gives it the air of garden party on colossal SCALE
Beyond this grand lawn and all its moving figures
and the hum Of many voices and ringing peals or
feminine laughter il the broad Hudson with the
war ships floating on its bOsOm-the tennessee the
Kcarsarge the Alliance, tho Vandalia and the
Swatara. There are steam launches covered with
bright bunting dartng from ship to ship and from
stream to shore like many gorgeous water f'socls.
On the further shore of the grand river Is flshkl
and the crested slopes of the Duchess County Mis-
They are clothed to the very summit with oaks
whose foliage has been turned to deep red by the
fross of the fall. The distance blends these INTO
one mass Of color, deep crimson IN the sunlight
purplc-bluc in the shadows. At the foot Of these
hills are the white dots of the houses OF Matteawan
Here and there amid the glowing crimson are
botches of pure gold where some maple STANDS III
isolated beauty among the oaks
SCENE Of BEAUTY.
To the right of tho lawn is the plat form where
tomorrow Senator Bayard will speak, and where
the orator of the hour Mr.. Eyarts, will weave the
golden meshcs of his labyrinthne eloquence lhe
raw timbers of this structure make discord III the
harmony of this exquisite scene, and great tent
of dusky canvas would have been preiea-
r bk from an artistic point of view.
Over the pankings the eye strays To- scene Oh suG
the fall of the year, when Time lnyerts It's t0rch
aud fills the land with hush of Ioyollness. Here
the Hudson River makes a,grand sweep TO the VEST
,,arJ and tbe storm King raises his colossal form
against the blue sky, aud descends in slopes OF
marvellous beauty of line to the urgd flood OF the
i ir and tbc str:,lgs Of bIue and gray Under the