New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-07
FRANCIS WILSON AND NEw-RoCHEr.I.E.

FRANCIS WILSON AND NEw-ROCHEGT.E
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Any who has contributed time. services or
money 70 the pubic sympathze with Francis
Wilson in his chagrn az the lack of appreciation
Of his sift Of fort 20 surround their soldiers
monument on the part o. the people Of New
Rochelle.
The admonition Never look gift horse in the
mouth" however applicable to private gifts is
innumerable might be Cited: a re@ent one beins
that Of me He erog ny or T m S
Borough of The Bronx: and now cruel fate -aI'-
SSo oEen. destined 10 '"' last resting place '
But, casting sentiment aside. there is reasonable
OF the people Of New Rochelle is rifle severe.
His motive In giving the so-called fort no one
sion to his affection for the town Of New Rochc."
sha has caused oTi'eism v i was he 70
seved the approval Of Frederic keminEton ar !
trayer OF frontier life, while NJ. kemble7 fore i,
caricature. As caricature II must be admit 81
Wilson does not cite any architect sculptor as
appro'ng the scheme. 1t consisted o. wa OK
ground and pile In mounds or stone wals-Nerf ike
that the stones were laid In cement NOR ar ara me
wall Itself had gensTany '9mniedo WI. ap r ~
two cannon-bslis were also laid mp in cenen' NOR
tar in the wall The wall was neit no. high enough
and the only feature abon: thai woul1 enti'le it
20 the name of fort. was Two grea' gum given hv
triangle formed by me junction OF Main AID Huau"
sts.--not field guys carriages. sucn az might
he VI behind farm Wal rs maA"shif; de-
fence. but great stationary guns. such - may ne
found In genuine fortfcations
That IL not a thing Of beauty NJ wilson
admits when he says. The wall was bUi., NANNY 20
receive tho covering Of Ivy. Tn which case It miGh
he remarked tho nOn-bals embedded il n would
ne equally out OF SIKH; And because +. was TN
slightly / was torn down.
II New Rochelle is. ne Nj. Wilson SOS. 'the Ms
Malaprop OF villages" then. and chen only. was lie
gift appropriate. for this so-ca..d "t.rt" was az
Questionably the most malarronCs gr'tcson" SUI
rounding for soldiers nonu:nc"t Ger conce.Ved
carried into execution 81 civilized community.
Much that Mr.. Wilson says OF New-Rocnclio ma"
be true. Her lach OF public spirit. IN" bCNS,i9g
management OF local Improvements and The do
plora bic condition Of her main thorouEhdr"s cannot
ne denied Rut there evidences &C an awaken
ing from ;he lethargy which has characteri7ed her
in the past. She has recently voted % become In
colporatei city. has made an effort az least
70 improve her moral condition from te'cporan .
standpoint and Is talking o, organizing local
board OF trade. And II those o. he! citizens vino
live In restricted residence sections parks. ard
pay good portion Of her taxes. would TAI" ar in
terest in local affairs ther- is reason why New
Rochelle. gifted by nature a. few places are 10
quote Francis Wilson. should not become as mu n
a model town thai model o. 3OUns cities. her
next door neighbor the city OF Noun; Vernon.
And evidence Of her awakening IL mo 70
nnoval OF the unsightly wall around h"r soldiers
monument. for which she deserves praise rather
than y. r.. ID
borough o. The Rroix. April T. 1895