The Newtown bee., 1893-10-06
Around the Preside.
AN AUTUMNAL EXCURSION
Into Westchester County, N. Y, from Norwalk
 Conn, by Rev G. W. Nichols, D. D.


 During these delightful fall days of bright sunshine, and cool, invigorating brcezes, it is very pleasant, to take trip, now and then, into the country. The other day we set out on one of these pleasant excursions in company with Rev MT Selleck, formerly rector of St Pauls, NOrwalk, and drove through shady groves and thckly wooded forests to the pleasant little town of New Can aan. On high level hedge above this place are situated many fine residences of worthy citizens of New York.
 REV DR GEER
 of St Bartholomew church, N. Y chose this locality for his summer residence. Passing through this charming little village, we drove on, amid hills and for ests and mountains and rocky cliffs until we reached the village of Bedford, Vest chester county, in the state of New ork. This is a quiet, pleasant little village of no little interest to the writer, who came here, when an infant, with his father and mother in the year ISIS, his father being then just about taking up his abode, with his family, to assume the duties of rector of the Episcopal church of St Matthew's, where he lived and preached for the term of P years, and where the years of the writer's early boyhood were spent. Of those families who then oc- cupied the village,
 NONE NOW REMAIN
 and only few of their descendants can be found. We drove on one mile north of the village to the church and parson- age, which is now occupied by Rev MT Luquer, who has ofliciated in the church of St Matthew for a period of p years, and who is greatly beloved by his people. The same once familiar objects and scenes now greet the eye, as then. The , church and parsonage, and rural ceme tery, the tall mountain which lowered up behind it. But the familiar faces ot homes inmates, father, mother, brother and sister are not there. Some are scat f tered far and wide and some have gon, to the Better Land. From this WI drove on to the Jay homestead, once oc cupied by the
 DISTINGUISHED PATRIOT, JOHN JAY,
 when in 1902 John Jay retired from tn - cares and turmoil of his public life. is beautiful domain of 800 acres, finel situated, midway between the North an V East river. Here, in times gone by, liy ed many members of the Jay family T noted for their good deeds and exceller !. character, such as Mrs Banye, Miss An Jay also Judge William Jay. It is no' L occupied by the Hon John Jay, the so
 of William. It is noted for it's fine librar e where the chief justice studied and wrot
 and it's many superb paintings of note e historical character in American histor |. and also the family portraits, whic 10 welcome from John Jay and member
 of his homestead, now occupying u mansion, pleased with the privilege { .a visiting house
 so RICH IN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
 We bade them adieu with pleasant mer y ories. But I must not forget oth
 striking scenes and objects which 8 lg tracted our attention during the day, ( <, a subsequent trip in somewhat diffe
 ent direction, and which led us over Il tn high territory to the east of New Canaa
 and nearer to Ridgefeld, which is no II fast becoming a great resort of Ne Id York gentlemen of wealth, and whe
 are being erected many most costly sur n- mer homes. To the east, mot far from Ne
 Canaan, lies Elmwood Avenue, ii r high ridge of land, from which may ps seen the water of Long Island Soun
 and in the distance, the Hudson al