The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-25
THE OLD SIP HOME.
IN INTERESTING OLD LANDMARK
IN THE BERGEN SQUIRE
VICINITY.

Iarity of Ben Bolt-A Physician on
Low Shoes-Personal and Other Items
for Ladies' Reading.
For many years the old Sip home
stead has been a landmark of interest
to residents on the Heights. 1t be-
longed to the old Sip estate which was
in the vicinity of Bergen square and
covered a large amount of valuable
land. The estate has long ago been
divided and the handsome brick
houses and pretty cottages quite OBJ
literate from ones thoughts the idea
that the land was once an immense
farm.
But the part of the estate in which
every one who belongs in Jersey City
feels a decided interest is the home
stead which stands on Tonnele
avenue, directly at the head of Acad-
envy street. 1t is an old fashioned
farm house nearly one hundred years
old. The lower part is built of jagged
grey stone, and the upper part, which
was more recently erected, is OF tiles
and shingles. Pretty vines creep over
the house and cast a pleasant shade
over the long veranda which stretches
across the front.
The house is now the property OF
Mrs. Wandle, and she and her sister,
Mrs. Henry Hallerman, live there.
Within one soon forgets the house is
the old farmhouse of revolutionary
times, for it has been much altered to
allow innovations of style and fashion.
The immense hall remains, but the
floor has been handsomely inlaid with
valuable woods, and rich, warm rugs
lie upon it. To the right of the hall is
what is now the drawing room, but in
former days was christened by the
first residents ''best room" Those
residents would never recognize ii
now. Large French windows look
out upon the piazza and over the
lawn.
A soft velvet carpet v the floor,
and rich furniture is a~rtistically ar
ranged about the room. The wains-
cotting has been entirely altered and,
of course, made to look more modern.
The pretty reception room, which
was once the old "living room,n is now
completely transformed. Bright paint,
pretty paper, and artistic furnishings,
together with valuable bric-a-brac,
have made it a room at which the first
owners of the house would stand
aghast, and think it but 1.-The fabric OF
a dream" The upper parts OF the
dwelling have also been greatly
changed, and the latest improvements
have been put in.
The house stands in the centre of
large grounds, which have been hand
somely laid out. A smooth lawn,
which covers nearly a block, lies in
front of the veranda, dotted by agood
number of large shade trees. Many
rose bushes and new and pretty
shrubs line the walk which leads to
the front door on either side.
There is. also at one side of the
homestead, as in former years, an old
fashioned kitchen garden, and fromft
vegetables of the best are gathered
each morning to supply the demands
of the table. Mrs. Hellerman and
Mrs. Wandle together preside over
their lovely home, and greatly enjoy
the unique mixture of the present and
past about their residence. They are
very fond of the place and eve tire
of telling the interesting stories and
legends that cluster about it.
Thomas Dunn English on His Famous
Song.
From the PiainJfeld Neaus.
The growth of the popularity of
"Ben Bolt" was something wonderful.
1t spread all over the country; it was
sung everywhere; they named a ship
and O steamboat after it; and though
the ship was wrecked and the steam
boat blown up, it made nc difference.
1t went abroad, and became as popu-
lar in England as here. Forty years
AGO it was sung all ove the streets of
London, and replies and p~arodies
abounded among the street ballads.
A domestic drama, OF which the song
formed the basis, was written and
PLAYED. 1t was a poor affair, how
ever. 1t was played in this country,
and Burton, on occasion of my com
ing to New York, produced it one
night for my benefit. This rage
lasted for years, and wen now a few
old stagers are to be found who like
to hear sung this relic of a past gener-
alton.
There have been more melodies that
claimants of the words. Boston pro-
vided four, Washington one, Philadel-
phia two and New York two. Among
these was my own air, published by
Willig. of Philadelphia, in 1S48, though
originally composed in 1916. Another
was arranged by Getze, from the Ger
mar air stolen by Kneass. But
Kneass's version vas the first in the
field. and maintained its popularity.
| have never changed my original
opinion of the dement's OF Ben Bolt"
/ thought it ''patched-up-affair' when
/ sent the lines to Willis. / think SO
still. The popularity of the song was
due to the memories, common to SO
many, told in the venacular, and to
the simple nature of the German
melody which struck the popular ar.
Had not a dispute arisen, rejecting on
myself, / would have been quite con-
tent to let some one else be known as
the author.
A Physician on Low Shoes.
From The Washington Star.
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