The advocate., 1897-05-05
Topeka, KANSAS, MAY 5, 1897.

side Park. For twenty miles the placid
Hudson can be seen vending It's wind
ing way to where the tall mist-Covered
palisades blend with the western horizon.
On the Jersey side is old Fort Lee, the
ferry-house and dainty villas that dot
the banks and look like Swiss chalets
Nesting in the warmth Of the Alpine
summer, with no grim, snowy peaks to
cast shadow on their rural lovellness.
On the bosom Of the Hudson, palatial
pleasure yachts, ferry boats, steamers
and putting tugs made their way by
summer, while in winter solitary craft
plow through ice and silent grandeur
reigns,
Looking to tho east are the signs Of q
great city, the tall smoke-ata Of FAC
tories, the hum from the busy streets,
and the distant shrieks Of trains and
ships. To the south is the smoke Of
Jersey City, with its myriads Of mRsts
and outlines of dock that gradually grow
indistinct until nothing is seen but the
blue waters Of the bay that seem to
mingle with the eastern sky.
The area OF the park is about 177 acres
and is ON the bank Of the North River
from I'D Street to whore l04th Street
would Ont through.
Its average breadth IL 500 feet, but the
"drive," as the park is more familiarly
known, is much broader where the
curves on the coast or inland sides con-
tribute to its area. Running north it
presents q series of elvations, each rise
little higher than the last, until at the
hill it meets an abrupt descent Of l50
feet. The 'drive" when originally laid
out provided for two carriage drives, a
bride path and promenade. Bicyclists
have found the park delightful wheeling
ground and are always tobe seen in great
numbers on it's path.
The history of the park is as interest
ing Rs it is unknown. Before Revolution.
ary times the English aristocrats built
their summer homes there, and around
many a board, in mansions long since
gone to decay, glasses clinked to the
health and long reign OF George III.
Modified by modern architecture, with
but few traces left of what they were in
earlier days, q few of these old land
marks still stand. The many mounds
along The surface Of the hill tell with
silent eloquence the fate OF their former
owners.
1t was not until 1872, however, that
the city acquired the property, although
negotiations for the purchase had been
opened in 1869. While the natural
beauties Of the place were manifold,
there remained much to do. SO the road
builders and landscape gardeners we're
put to work, but it was not until after 1886
that the "driye" began to present any
thing like the appearance it has to-day,
It was good that to such spot as
Riverside Park such an honor should
have come, for there the General liea In
the bosom of natures glory, within sight
of great city but beyond It's tumult,
and amid the trees chat whisper strange
tales of old Manhattan to the grateful
crowd that seek their shade. And for
miles around, his tomb can be seen
towering above the stately Hudson, b
fitting tribute OF the nations honor to
it's noble dead.
VIEW OF THE TOMB ITSELF.
One hundred feet above mean high
water Of the Hudson River the Grant
monument stands, solid pile Of white
granite $50 feet in height. The
first " feet Of this height is a
cube of the Grecian Doric order, which
measures 80 feet on all sides.
The entrance, on the southern ride, ia
inclosed by q portico made up Of q row
of recessed coluHnns Above and behind
she portlcO rises ar almost blank wall, n