The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-18
A HILLSIDE Pill OSOPHER,
He Dwells In Pcrc. md Content Within
Sight OF the CITY.

A septuagenarian philosopher over,ooks
New York from the western shore Of the Hud-
son. His small domain. close down by the
river bank. peeps out from beneath tho stccp
hillside Just south Of the Palisades. On sum
mer nights he can hear the waltz music from
dancin. pavilious two or three hundred feet
overhead and the Tapping Of the river at the
edge OF his garden. The philosophers ~rctrcat
may be reached by way Of an irregular path
that creeps from Fort Leo along tho base OF
the hill through n fringe OF woodland reach
in. to the very edge OF the Hudson. The
path leads northward Just under his windows,
and passcrs-by can pick tho French beans that
run in straight green lines UP almost to the
caves OF his cottage.
The house stands with its front gable look
ing southwark over q little fenced garden thai
slopes toward the rivers edge at a steep an
gle. Atew flowers bloom in tie yard. and n
wcll-bcaton Path leads to 4 pent-roof shed. in
which the philosopher keeps his winter stors
of provisions and fuel. Another nnth climbs.
in steep. ruEgcd zigzags. the hill TO TIL west.
with y fcw chickens. nr" tho Old mans solo
live stock. traverse. this perilons way with On
they can LOOK down tho CHIMNEY I" Ill the s" cote
ta.c.. Hall u dozen fro young pines and a
liourishlnc tulip poplar shade the dwelling
afternoon it needs no such aid. for then no
CLINT Of sunshine penetrates the deep shadow
betokens comfort, Thrift aud modest plenty.
New, York is a squeezed orange TO this hill
side philosophnr; and lie looNs calmly across
to The towers OF the spreading c!ly without an
~rnyious thought. He lived and lnbo:rd Tor
twenty-five years in an east sidc factory. ana
Ia retired L" tho spot where ho has lived in
ret,e. rearing his family and seeing Grand
children come TO cheer the cottage. hc has
worker. nt one thing or another. sometimes in
the ncighboring IInrries. and for several
years past rs wgtrhmnn and snles-aEent a;
away beneath the hillside ut tho rivers ciEe.
far from any labitation snvolhat, Of the phil.
o%sopher, He has not visited New York in tlrra
fifteen minutes. and has not sot loot in tho
city more than q dozen times since his ,yile
ter. goes when She, VIII but oven ler visits
nrc lrss 70 tho city, than to relatives. and tho
single stores n of tho family arc in large rart
breakfast coffee, and the rardo3 diocs. wona!"tss
co MTssr i fiihissn grew .E Seref foot % o! it s aist
ne 4 do.ltr., says tho philosopher; and doubt
cna s ei t ,ha ia ,ng truth T ! thoMsh he haa not r1r,
morning sun. but It's thin soil. partly carried
thnither 10y the old man himsel}. o~vorlies II bed
thg garden |, highly productive under The
I has trg r. som n"h rs sh 10, tMs 30. eh', sis n.rrels n ai
nota'""S as tire AS any that can, be iouni in
the h"w York. market. though how they
managed - defy GravititioR and ripnnrd in
their beds Instead OF rolling into In" Hudson
grounds are tended by the old man, while his
son,in-law makes .perilouS tril' tnck and
forth on tho Boats thar rep!gnIsh the powder
magazine.
Tho wood, j hillside affords abundant fro
wood, and grayitation docs the hauling.
tribute Al tn" philosoi !ler'- feet. l.ies OF sawn
wood orcnrgin e pent-roof 7i'.d aIons with tho
six barrels oil big potatoes. The philosopher
exhibits wood and potatoes with the pride OF
u man WHO has had . hnnt in their produc.
ton. and -lniIeSa slnilH OF c0utrnt.
look over my whole estate in Two minutes. but
1 don't envy ;hn folks across the river"
4 litt!e girl ! six or seven. whose playground
is III" stcep hillside and whose playmates mre
ne leaning q 9ats, listens with wonder and d.
light to her Grhndfather's talk. and the philos-
bis cheerful lace: Our eldest here was a boy.