The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-22

park, is a natural avenue on a spine or
ridge 100 feet high to the river. This
avenue is quarter of a mile long, and
rejoices in the name of the Devils
Backbone" At it's end, directly over
the river bank, there is a sharp curve in
the cliff, forming a natural amphithe-
ater, and before It, on the river shore,
sandy arena which will be a capital
place for all athletic sports and con-
tests.
The park slopes away from the man
sion house to the river, and is crossed
by tiers of rock over which fall in min
iature cascades the water which gushes
from the rock walls and numerous
stony basins on the farm. There are
nineteen of these clear springs on the
farm, and the channels are green with
water cress all the year round The
lower part of the park is made up Of
number of picturesque glens, one after
the other. These rejoice in such names
as Happy Valley" Peaceful Valley"
SLEEPY Hollow and "The Glen of Easy
Wooing." Along the river are a num-
Der of large, isolated rocks, which have
been given names suggested by their
situation or contour. On many of these
are tall trees and shrubs. OF them the
most beautiful are 1.-The Giants Shell
ter" ''The Twins" "The Contented
Sisters" and ''The Lunch Tables
AN UNIQUE EVENT
The opening of this park to the pub
lie is in itself a great sociologic step.
The amphitheater is to be provided
with seats. there will be shelter, bath
and boat houses. swings, tennis courts
and bicycle track. Visitors, campers,
picnickers, Sunday schools, conven-
tions, literary societies-in fact, all re-
spectacle gatherings, will be welcomed
to Riverside Farm. Mr.. Bryan expects
to entertain many guests at the man.
sion house, and, as there will be the
atrical, literary and artistic people, he
expects to have addresses and other
entertainments during the summer,
which will make the farm the liveliest
place in the neighborhood.
SO much for the altruistic spirit Of
Mr.. Bryan. He will go farther and
endeaVor TO interest not only intelli-
gent men but intelligent women in
the farming.
Any reader of Mr.. Bryan's book, and
those who know him as a member and
patron of the National Council Of
Women, will remember his radical
ideas on the subjects of woman's abil-
lty to care for herself, the sacred
ness of maternity and the education
of parents. He was one of the few
men asked to address the late moth
er's congress in Washington, and that
Is peculiar because he is bachelor.
He believes that much of the female
energy in tne world is misdirected and
he is going to give woman a square
chance at Riverside Farm to do soma
work if they will. He has declared
that there shall be no sex discrimina-
tiOn there, and ne means what he says.
Riverside Farm will be carried on in
departments, and Mr.. Bryan wishes to
place each department in charge of
an intelligent man or woman who will
undertake the work as a speciality, de-
vote time and energy to it and en-
deavOr to thus acquire a knowledge
which will make them Independent.
The departments mapped out by Mr..
Bryan are: Farming proper, dairy de-
partment bee culture, poultry raising,
cattle and swine department, a car
penter, wagon and blacksmith shop,
a carpenter wagon and backing, cook
ing, gardening, a stone quarry, a lime
kiln, the taking of sand and gravel,
the taking of clay and mari for build
ing purposes, a vineyard.
THE PROFITS.
Others will be added from time to
time. The head of the department is
to have the profits, paying Mr.. Bryan
a per cent on the money invested in
the department for him or her.
The human material for the expert
ment was. according to the original
plan, to have been gathered from the
neighborhood, but the plan has been
modified, and now applications are
coming in from intelligent and college,
bred people all over the country. Sew
eral departments are in operation and
doing we'll
Cottage life is to be a feature of the
plan, a number being projected on the
estate. There is good building mater
ial at hand, and numerous sites Of
beauty.
"Will I tell you what I expect to
do?" replied Mr.. Bryan to a question.
Il expect to prove or disprove a few
things. l want to make a little oasis
in the desert of pesslmsm, and if /
can do it at Riverside Farm others will
take courage and do it elsewhere.
feel sure that l will succeed in many
ways although l clearly see the diff
ficulties in my way. l hope, in addi-
ton to my avowed objects in coming
to Riverside Farm, to influence the
agricultural people about to make more
use of the inventions of the age, such
as the telegraph, the telephone, and
all labor-saving Inventions and de-
vices. l want to keep in touch with
the agricultural departments at WASH
i7gton and Columbus and to be pro-
gressive.
Riverside Farm is not to be So
cialistic or a communistic community.
have no desire but TO strengthen
the state. l hope the leading principle
VIII be common sense, and honest en-
deaVor it's rule / encourage women
to wear proper costumes about their
work. and think as far as / have been
able to observe that the bloomer cos
tune is the best and should be adopt
ed by all women who desire to make
success of farm work" John Bryan
is a bachelor or the sunny side OF
middle life and looks the man to carry
out a project without any unnecessary
fuss about it, He has a smile as gentle
as that of a woman, and If he gathers
about him the community he desires,
will only be following the precedent
of Horace Greeley, Thoreau, Emerson,
Margaret Fuller and the others of that
noted company who make the memory
of the Brook Farm community a brill
liant thing, even if the project itself
fails. There is no such word as fail
to a man of the temperament of John
Rryan and the world will watch with
interest the effects Of this philanthro-