The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-02
AUTEMShE ASPECGS
Brilliant Co'rrs In the Cit,'s New Parks nnd
wild Smbnsbs Abnre The Ilnrlcm.

parts OF tho metropolis where ono must be
skilled in woodcTaft TO keep onc's reckoning |
right. With the approach Of frost comes the
appropriate season for getting lost in the
W lids Of tho metropolis. 1t Is pity that there |
are not moro holidays in October in order that |
lads who have Just como back to school,
books after weeks md months in the country |
might learn how easy II is to find n rural soil.
tuae without going beyond the bounds OF New
York city.
Van Courtlandt Park. with its 900 acres OF
meadow. lake. and woodland. is an admirable
place for n man or n boy OF stout legs and adj
venturous spirit to get lost in. Such a wan
dercr mny find here miles of shaded footraths
habitualy trodden by perhaps only half a doa-
en- men who cross the park in going TO and
from their work: long stretches of meadow.
arduous wooded hllstdes. unbridged streams.
and almost UNEMPLOYED swamrs. So near.
however. is oil this urban Wilderness to the
railroads running into tho peorled parts OF
New York that one may boldly plunge into Tin.
tried paths without fear OF being long lost to
the world.
There are half a dozen ways Of reaching Van
Courtlandt Park. and mono is rlcasantcr than
that along the backbone ofthe old CrotonAlue-
duct from 155th street or from High Bridge.
The New York and Northern Railroad. how
ever. lunNS ODS III 4NOSIlblu nlUtipu, uIilluSl ia
the heart OF the park. or ut Van Courtlandt
Station. near the familiar militia parade
ground. while tho Harlem Railroad Mt Wood
lawn Is within ten minutes walk of the first
slgnboarI proc'nimins the eastern edge OF the
broad reservation. II tho explorer has taken
thought to provide himself with stout stick
by way OF support. encouragement, and COM
pnnionslip. lie cannot DO better than to leap
the stone wall within n hundred yards OF this
sienboard md take his way eastward across
q velvet pasture edGinG the grounds Of what
was once II country residence. Beyond tho
next fence a oath leads across public
road. and at once rlunges into young
woodland now dyed in splendid autumnal
tints. A double cart rut filed with russell
leaves shows that tho path Ia simply woods
road. doubtless used at one time or another
by wood cutters. Lying half hidden here and
there In the LONG grass Mt tho pathsile Is n
golden brown sphcroil. which might puzzle
the average New Yorker. but which any c"un-
try.bred person would at once recognize as q
tutternut Tho Path runs thus for perhaps
quarter OF n mile when it suddenly widens to
O grassy triangle, closed with n picturesque
turustilo. Beyond is tho drive along the Cro-
ton Auueduct. From the western fence Of the
latter one has spread out the greater Part OF
the park, n view OF marvellous beauty. Tho
great uuLlic reservation is seen to be made up
OF Il broad valley, With level meadows. II con-
trni stream and lake; anh On almost every side
Narrow foctpaths unspu.lcd by Improvement
lead down from tho a!uenutt to III. valley be.
shrubbery. Brilliant haws show their thick
clusters OF blue and black berries again st their
tinted leaves; E,nea,h the thin,; she!l,liSe
tho large seed very good to those whose taste
has moi been vitintcd by, iuxurcs. Half way
OF ru t on the ground al its foot and yet @ther
bushels stu ciinsin: u the, twIGs, and AL LETT
erar Of y yrps pie IN Van Couanhtt rTk o' ''
The rath lends across two b4rbcd wire fences
that enclose the rairo3d in the valley. and ct
deeprns to a swami. The only evidences OF
c.vill77ation IN this parten"r SPOT OF the me.
orchard. the roar of pas sing trains. and rum
hle now and tlcn rs OF distant thunder riot
ntexpodine blasts where the rocky .I ribs Of
the annexed district are broken up before tho
St e fbsss Of tho TIN
Of its solitary. wldncss. Tho neg Iected
apple trees yield sour and acrid fruit in SYM
roundinGs. Great ropes Of grapevines knit
the trees together. and curious products Of
The iittle wilderness il noisy wit tho tho;
autumnal cries of many birds; None has any
m tRai e po h s r. dr 5ys
making. and when he season for lovrmaking
is over their music ccnsrs., Saucy robins.
only harsh md discordant notes OF selnshnosS
to keel, OH intruder:i The ar is filled from
ar ana near NV WIN ~ ,fe ard msstSnt faw Of
birds alternate the cry that sounds like the
sharp and sudden creak OF an ungreased
hinge with that which almost exactly initiates
the dropping Of water. The catbrd's 1ueru-
lous note falls uron the ear with harsh dis
throat, which in juno is IL fountain Of tune and
exquisite melody.
Half way through the thicket is dark
yct cla slupr Gb I'M
its mission as u feeder OF Van Cour,landt
Lake. The path. which has arccurrent life.
the opposite hank. One may cross the stream
here. as others have crossed by patching to-
take tho brssS
III avenue. This thoroughiare crosses the New
York and Northern Railroad hard by. and ia. rs
lundt Park All the rloriled hills about ars
Pog,r ,n nGn.s SasnrG ground .r
yard; beyond tho bridge. by 2 low rich
meadow which 81 gradually sw-!is eastward
the meadow and loss To- the thicFet winds !.
narrow footpMatth, hal' hidden III times win
apples from trees that overhang the edge
q! the meadow. From the rocky emf
sso ths west Whs ii 'G0 "ef thS.t one
the swamp and stream from which Van Court
and' 1ke is ed the 'aks it-ei ne broad.
old cemetery in which liz bnred Bay eys and
Sadlers ana tralgs. Ill related to one another
ana to the ioosrvelis. a. the names on tie
tomhs indicate and .apneicntly al lying TO-
gtther i'll two great mounds. Beyond the
parade ground les the Van Coultiaudt house
with its noble grove Of great horse chc.tEuts.
tho i.rest o! their species anywhere in tni,
region. and far sout Inward lies the valley Of the
Harlem. lit with the splendid plus Of III"
stream. hcinmed in with banks OF erin son and
gold. crossed by I.igh Bridge and Washington
Bridge. rs seen from here II single d..,ntt
structure. aud scutinerd 10y tho airy and
beautiful tower Of the aTucduct. Fully one
third OF the broad prospect j. park nnd.
EdGing the parade ground and marking the
western limit OF the park. Is Broadway. lined
with the gigantic poles that carry tho New
England tslephone lines out Of town, and look
narrow. Grass-lined foo,path. dared and packed
by the passage OF many feet; An ample young
woman mounted on locked sorr"l, and !idini:
evidently to reduce her S"per!iuoue flesh Il
postman delivering maj! from Hight hHG.:y.
and an occasional delivery wagon with irt-
tered sides announce the return 70 "iyi!isa-
park yet Offers safe retreat. Just north Of
the parade ground lie, small swamp
tho parade ground through What in