The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
FRANCIS WILSON'S FUNNY roRr.
The Actsr's GIFT to View Rochelle Arouses =
storm Of Protest.

NEW ROCKVILLE, N. Y. Aug. 21.-It IN proba-
Bile that II Francis Wilson, tho comic opera star,
who Lives In an imposing looking house in Resi-.
dence Park. were q candidate for Pound Master.
or Sheriff. or Trustee, or any elective office in
this village he would be showed under by an
enormous majority. Mr.. Wilson has been q
popular resident In this village until recently.
His house IL valued at many thousands Of dol.
lars and he has never kicked about his taxes,
Neither has he ever kept dogs that bark at
night. In other ways he has acted as q good
citizen should. and New Rochellians have re-
turned the compliment BY going to New York to
sec Mr.. Wilson on the stage, and paying the
usual rates for the privilege.
Mr.. Wilson came to grief through his desire to
do something to testify his appreciation Of New
Rochelle. He didn't want to give the town q
library or a college. and while he was debating
the matter the United States Government made
an opportunity for him. 1t presented two con-
demnedc cannon to the town, and when they were
deposited Alongside Of the soldiers monument
the local @. A. R men and the village trustees
began to speculate as to how they should be
mounted. Mr., Wilson. came to the front and
fort designer. The local supply was limited. and
nnaliy Mr.; ". Kemble was invited to draw
Mr.. Kemble Is an artist but he is not much Of
. fort builder. He has never done enough OF It
TO get the swing and IL Is only in an emergency
like this that he will consent to build n fort.
The members Of the G. A. r post contributed
the stone and Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Kemble
supervised the masons The fort was con:
structed around the granite shaft Of the soldiers
monument which STAMPS in a small triangle of
a park. 1t was completed this week. It 10 q
dismantled fort as the artist has designed it.
trast strangely with the white granite shaft
within. Here and there bombshells have been
plastered on the outer walls like, SO many
shells OF the 90 model. Here and there breaches
have been left in the walls as IL they had been
battered ont by heavy artillery. The general
effect Is that OF an ordinary stone wall that had
been wrecked by a runaway trolley car. -.
" Il looks more like n dill pidated sheeptold
than \ fort said n veteran. and It spoils tho
view OF the base OF the monument. Two seen
Wilson on the stage and he's n good actor. Ho
has often made me laugh. bnt I must say that
this fort Is the funniest thing that he ever did.
Why, it's a sight! Horses shy at It. women
the block to avoid it. All it needs now to rom.
plete it are q few theatrical playbills posted
about artistically."
Mckinley Powers, q lawyer, in q letter to the
The Size OF the dismantled fort and it's tou.
ensemble are out Of proportion to, the monu'
m D,snt ~ Which + surrounds. and are hideou' in
with all respect to Mr.. wilson," sayl
another. and with duo credit to his generosity,
think the fort Is a monstrosity and desecrates
the
The New Workers who live In Residence Park
and who have to pass this monstrostty on their
way TO the station are now seeking a short Gu
Across the aelds By whjSh they can AVOID IL
they soften their criticism OF Mr.. Kemble on the
ground that IL is probably his hrst fort. Thi:
doesn't alter the fact that the atmosphere oil
reminiscent OF q one-nignt stand on the Oil City
circuit