Evening star., 1886-09-28
General Grnnf.x Tomb.

MANY VISITORS BUT Nc LONGER LARGE
CROwDs-THE CHANGES OF a YEAR.
Riverside Park, says the New York Tribune,
has resumed again something of the tranquility
that prevailed little more than a year ago,
before it became known to the world the
final resting place OF General Grant. Many
changes have taken place in the interval, but
these have been completed tor the present.
Little more Will be done about the grounds
until the monument itself is ready TO rise up
above the Hudson and look down over the city
TO the Barthoidi Statue oil Liberty In the bay ten
miles below.
The little knoll in the center of the park with
Its group OF hemlocks is bright green.
The broad pathway leading to the tomb has
been graded and smoOthed by the park Offi-
Gals. and on either side of ii the grounds have
been covered with IA heavy layer rich mould
and converted into thrifty lawns. Within the
tomb only the end OF the steel coffin with its
silver Inscription can be from the
trance. Japanese ivy, maidenhair fern and
groups of palms cover the rest with deep green
In warm contrast with the white enaIneled
walls. Every week superintendent Wooson,
Oh the park gardens, visits the tomb and ar
ranges the vines WITHIN, picking out those that
have w1ihered. Since the United States troops
were removed from guard duty last July de-
tail OF the park police has been stationed night
and day at the vault. They are relieved twice a
day, and one OF the policemen is always
tloned at the entrance. Every morning the officer
IN charge OF the detail directs the opening o the
inner doors OF the vault. IN the evening they
are closed again, the key remaining under the
care of the officer in command OF the detail.
An American flag is raised ON the flagstaff be-
Side the tomb each day. Many visitors go TO
the park, most oi them strangers, who desire
10 visit the place where the body OF Gen. Grant
Is lying On pleasant Sundays the visitors are
lDOre numerous, and mainly from the city.
Now that Riverside avenue and park have be-
come better known, they are steadily growing
In favor among New Workers, who lind pleas
Ure In stroiiins along the high banks overlook
Ing the river. Carriages follow the winding
drive up from I'D street, pauSing a short time
before the entrance of the vault while their oc-
cupantS allght, aud then pass around to the end
OF the blum, where on clear fall days there is
Gnobstrueted view far up tine hudson beyond
the Palisades. Now that crowds Of vehicles
longer interfere with them. bicycle riders have
resumed their outings Oh Riverside drive, and
at all times in the afternoon they can be seen
gliding swiftly and silently along the smooth,
Ra rd roadways.
The most frequent visitors are the members
II Gen. Grants faIniiy. Two or three times
week their carriage makes its visit with Mrs.
OranL Col r. D. Grant and often some old
friend of the general. The carriage always stops
Ia the avenue before the vault, and usually "a
little cluster OF nOwers Is LETT Oh the gateway.
livery week "A florist, under the direction of
Col. Grant, brings a special floral tribute To
place within ON the cofIin. 1t Is said that Mrs.
Grant Is becoming more attached to- Riverside
Park since il has grown quieter, and its beauty
has been developed Dy the changes that have
been made. Col Grant was pleased with the
spot and It's historic associations from the first.
10 the east and below the height where the
Tomb Is placed are the remains OF what was
once BlooInlngdaie road. n tradition says that
Gen. W asnIngLon during his flrst presidential
term, while living in New York made this his
iaVorite drive. Here he could overlook the
scene OF "A severe struggle On the Harlem Com
mons after the battle of Long Island, and the
sites OF the forts held SO long by tine continental
t.oops along the Hudson.
Several handsome houses have been built
aionS hiNerside avenue during the year and q
great many new buildings nave gone up in
Harlem in the streets ;pprOachin. the park
some OF the principal streets opening in the
lark are being graded or nllcd, ana il is said
mat d number oI new private houses are TO be
tuiit IN Riverside avenue next sDrin0