The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
RURAL SCENES At CITY DooBa
What People Might Enjoy n They woulA
Explore Manhattan Islana,


Within the city's limits is big patch Of wild
bnckberres to which any one may 90 and
pick. Near the blnckberries is smaller patch
Of raspberries that has been permitted to ripen
with hardly any molestation. That would be
remarkable enough II it were told Of the an.
nexed district. but the wild berries are on
Manhattan Island, in as rustic and Wild Q
place as could be found In the hills around any
little country town. The only houses In sight
from the bushes are along the Palisades across
the Hudson River
The blackberry patch is near 20Oth street,
below and out Of sight OF the stone building
on the top Of Fort Washington Ridge. known
as Twceds Castle. 1t is told in the neighbour
hood that the stone building was built By
Tweed for q country house. and that his down.
fall camo before 1t was completed. 1t stands
on one OF the narrowest points of the ridge.
and has commanding view Of the Hudson
River from Nyack Bay down to the Statue Of
Liberty on the one side. and OF the Harlem.
the Westchester hills. and Long Island Sound
on the other. A drive. known as the Fort
Washington Ridge road. is in front Of the
castle on the Hudson River side. running
along the brow of the ridge.
Tho grounds OF the houses on ton OF tho
ridge slope down to the river and the Hudson
River Railroad. No houses have been built on
that side OF the drive for mile or more. from
Fort Washington Point up to Inwood. An old
lane ran alongside Of the hill. short cut from
the hingsbrdge road to the Inwood landing.
For vehicles the lane was abandoned years
ago. and it Is no longer open to --lblio travel.
The mounted policemen use 1t 1. ,neir rounds,
and occasionally a horseman WHO has learned
where it is wanders along 1t. It starts from
the ridge road on top Of the rise beyond
the James Gordon Bennett place, and
{Iun
have never been disturbed. North at the
old Tweed castle the lane narroyhs psnent e. :
path 30 overgrown with bushes asse payable s in
horse has to force himself, ~ ant rese,ves q
two riders could not 20 abreat gnrct FOR sly
Is uncnred for. the trees are Entrimmed and
the undcrbrush is in full growth. From dog
wood trees. blooming white in the spring,
chestnuts. Nearer thet ailroad is a big chest
nut tree to which thts,ttnwood boys who knoy
nuts be- ore the !ssost opens the burrs to 1T
them ripen and drop on the ground.
Of te eabs
Ess%i E 1sssS
blackberries have hardly been disturbed this
hold DECKS and eT bushes s Of berries. N
Wh hIa the pink is changing into the black.
that tho horsemnn does not see them until his
steed brushes back tho bushes from the path,
revealing tho ripening clusters.
>. 1t shows how llttle tho inhabitants OF New
which they live. that those berries are allowed
to grow and ripen almost within touch OF its
100000 inhabitants. The fresh air socie-
tios; tho childrens homes, and tho other
small inhabitants of the east and west sides
out to the country to show them what sky and
trees and grass and berries are might make
up little excursions right on Manhattan Lei;
and. OF which two car fares would
found anywhere. There is a bend up on the
lnwood hill known ms the Horseshoe. from
which view can be had up the Hudson. boz
buy. and the houses built up along the hill
look like white dots against the green, and
down the river to the statue Of Liberty and the
Jersey City ferries. with the trees on the Sta
sky. and only enough houses are near by TO
to heighten the effect Of the view with touch
There. is a field Of grass around the big
chestnut, tree with slope, which children
river across the cal, tricks are fish that some
times bite. Then there is little pond whore
small children might wade. and purple flowers
grow Ing around it, and yellow pond lilies
fers from the fountains of Tompkins square.
New York is n pretty good place to live In,
after all. if one will only take the trouble To
find out how many things there are on Man
haitian n n Isn I'D t? ENJOY Some Of the people
Island or Long BRANCH to spend the Sunday
might try lying on tho sward beneath the
Ridge roal under tho chestnut tree and look.
Ing M and down tho river. with a cigar and
from! ming too far of In the skies and over
the Palisades.