New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-26
A DAY AT CHAPPAQUA.
THE GREELEY FARM AND HOMESTEAD.
MEMORIES OF THE GREAT EDIroR-MIss GREE.
LEYs BUSY COUNTRY L1FE-A VISIT TO
THE MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE

LEY's BUSY COUNTRY LIFE,-A VISIT TO
THE MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
Every one has heard of Chappaqua, the little
Westminster County town on the Harlem Rail
road, thirty miles from New-York famous "A
the home Of Horace Greeley and the spot where
he established his well-known experimental farm.
Many friends and admirers OF the Chappaqua Sage
may like to hear how his pet farm looks today
managed as it is, by his youngest daughter the
only surviving member Of his household. On a
delightful day, week or two ago the writer
went to Chappaqua 70 visit Miss Greeley on her
| farm and to see the workings Of the wel-knOwn
Mountain Institute, a Quaker school nearby
we were met at the station by the Institute
wagon, drawn by q pair OF fat bays, easy
| going as their driver, placid Friend in broad
orinmed hat The wagon was filed TO overflow
ing with eked college girls under the charge
OF the kindly superintendent. They all jumped
| out and gave up to us Black Maria as they
| called the vehicle glad OF the fun of walking
| back to the lnstitute-a mile and half distant.
we drove first TO Miss Greeley's home. The pict-
uraSque cottage can be seen far of. 1t is perched
| On the she OF one Of the two long ranges Of
bills That inclose the village Behind it rise
wooded heights, and below it is the famous meadow
"hich Mr. Greeley succeeded at such cost in re-
| claiming from the swamp. Great was his pride
In these redeemed acres Look At This no was
|
wont to say. sweeping his arm over the waving
nat. Everything else have attempted may be
failure, but here are solid results,
we drove some distance along the meadow
! part freshly pl0ughed part green with growing
grain. Along its rnincloSed edge stands a row
! OF old oaks. One OF these with wide branches
was pointed ont the tree into which Mr.
Greeley used to climb by means Of strpladdcr and
| there. seated in curve Of the limb, scrbblc his
editorials in that hieroglyphic handwriting which
was the terror OF printers and prOOf-rcadcrs A
! long flight OF wooden steps takes up the
side of the steep hill TO the cottage. There is no
| inclOsed yard around the house. no shrubbery
or flowers; only row OF plumy Norway pines
shuts it of from the edge OF the cliff. 4 big
dog met us with friendly wag Of his tail, and
a pleasant looking little maid opened the door
and led US into a large, sunny room, cosny and
quaint. with low ceiling, polished wood floor
| spread with rugs, many inches and Al
covrs. old-fashiOned furniture and walls almost
| lined with books The covers Of many
| Of these volumes told OF long and loving use
| One WIS struck with the absence Of flowers
| The held neither roses nor other cultivated
blossoms. but instead branches OF wild laurel and
hcmork.
! Everything in the room had some association
with Mr. Greeley. Here was his easy chair;
| IN" pigeon holes crammed with papers pile of
/ scribbled sheets lay upon the slab beside his ink
stand, crnsted with ink long dried On tn" desk
WAS plaster cast OF his hand. Opposite the
| desk IN % curtained recess, portrait Of
| Mrs Greeley, taken in her youth, and a smaller
! picture OF her husband While we were looking
ut the two striking and strongly contrasting
! faces the door opened. We turned and saw Miss
Greeley. We had pictured her grave and pale
| What we saw was n blooming, beautiful young
woman, radiant with health and cheerfuness,
! dmplcs in her checks. her hazel eyes sparkling
with animation. She fashionably dressed
! wearing u black cloth walking suit, mad" with
dircctoirc redingotc, and slightly trimmed with
| gold braid. Her manner was full Of cordial
warmth and graceful vivacity. This was tho
| rcclus' had been prepared TO see
| DO YOU live here oil aone?' the writer
asked presently.
| oh no, l have my dogs and my little maid
She is young, but she is perfect treasure, and
She is devoted TO me-
| Do you not get very lOn"ly?'
40, ind~.d am too busy 10 be lonesome
You occupy yourself with books and muslc?'
with u glance nj the open piano.
NO am not at all musical. I read. OF
cours" hut am no student
"Thcn Won superintend your farm2 You look
as though you lived great deal in this braclns
air"
Half nv time" she answered, laughing Il
oftrn walk five or six miles "a day. know every.
thing that goes on upon the farm, but nave
Good man who takes care OF it for me. He lives
with his family in u cottage near by. However,
am to have cows ,hls year. and II stone dairy
, hullt over IA stream. where can make outer.
[ think | shall ike that
mn, toll ,yllut kind OF work IL that
occrp,ed her time and kept her from being
lonely That presently was disclosed, but by
another.
IL, this the house that Mr. Greeley built
the one We have all heard about-the lodge in
vn>t wldcrnrsS?'
ION, no: that home was burned to the ground.
I'm, one wnS originally my fathers carriag" house
I IT.. had it rrmodrllcd and made into this rather
ounIn,, but very mfortable cottage. Would you
like, 10 see the ruins OF the old homestead in the
| hculock wood
! She tied on a shady hat, and started ont,
ACCOMPANIED by friend Of Miss Greeley's, who WAS
having her q visit. The path lay along the ter
| rpcc like top Of the long hill. Sloping heights.
| c,,,rc, with century -od oaks, rose our lett.
The trees wrrc just turning into green. Be
| low MS on the right, lay the reclaimed swamp,
Transformed here into white. blossomed orchard
| more ,suts from Mr.. Grcelrys experiment.
| lie had planted those apple trees with his own
hand The hills on the left grew more broken ns
we went on The oak woods gave way 10 u belt
| cf ccdarS then to n forest OF hemoclS-beautiul
! trees, with their trunks straight mast>, and
their coronas Of rich green foliage. In the midst
Of this hrrnlock wood we came upon the ruins
| Of the old house Only the foundations marked
| the spot where IL stood. TIE hcmlock trees had
come up 10 the very door MIR. Greeley would not
| let any OF them be cut down. lie was famous
| for hts Lutte hatcher, but he did not cut 'luwn
trees: he only had passion for trimming them.
| One Of the trees peculiarly graceful and beauti.