The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-08
SUBURBAN LEGENDS.
New-York's Environs Rich in Tales
most FORGOTTEN.


York. And certainly no similar group
of places has been more careless about
preserving, indeed, perhaps, more
eager to forget, these heirlooms of the
past. Authorities on such things in,
sist that when a legend is once forgot
ten by the people who live near it,
scene it is a true legend no longer.
New legends are impossible, for the
days of legend making, except perhaps
for summer resort purposes, are gone
forever.
! If the Hudson river, for instance,
flowed through Germany instead of
through New York state, every rocl
which lowered above its shores, every
inlet which cut them and every ole
house which stood upon them wonld
have its story dignifed with the an.
tiquity of centuries. If the people
were nature loving Gauls, instead Of
practical, money worshipping Ameri
, cans, they would know these storie:
and swear by them. They would tel
them to their children in such a way
that the children would never forget
them. Strangers who came among
them would hear the legends an6
onor them. The same would be true
of the whole Westminster and the ad
joining counties, where the Dutchmer
had their crude farms, and where the
cowboys of the revolution crisscrossed
their trails of blood of Long Island,
where Captain Kidd and other pirates
spent their days putting mythical
treasure under ground in all sorts OF
impossible places; of the border coun.
ties of New Jersey, where less than a
hundred years ago every other country
house had its story.
Yet there is hardly a stone or tablet
of bronze in all this region to recall
the legends which should never be for.
gotten. The children, in whose i'm
questionable minds legends are best
preserved, and through whom they
must be handed down, know nothing
of them. They may have faint idea
that such and such a place had a story
connected with it or that certain old
houses were haunted. But when il
comes to the story-they know not g
single detail.
The city of Yonkers, in preserving
the old Manor Hall of the Philipse
family, has done more Ethan any Other
town to keep--alive the Pickering flame
of bygone lore. Yet even in Yonkers
the child who can tell you single
story connected with the quaint ole
landmark is not to be found in days
search.
"That's the Manor Hail. said q
little girl. pointing out the old brick
house which once sheltered the aristo
cratic family of Philipse.
"What abont it2'' asked the
stranger.
''It is the Oldest thing in Yonkers, -
replied the child. "It's older than my
grandfather.
what else about it9'
'Oh, it used to have secret closets
and tunnels and trapdoors and lots of
funny things" she said. sob, yes.
and there was deep we'll full OF
buried. treasure.
won't you tell me the story of the
treasurer" said the stranger.
''No one ever told it to me, SO how
can 1 tell it to you? I just know that
a long time ago people used to tell
stories about the place.
The strangers face clouded and the
child, noticing the disappointment,
continued:
"My grandfather knows it, I guess.
He knows everything. I'll ask him to
tell it to you.
She guided him up Warburton Ave,
past many modern houses, and finally
stopped before cottage which was
older than it's neighbors. Grandfather,
dear old man, with hair that was
white and hands that trembled lit
tie, was on the piazza watching the
autumn sun of the wide, blue river
He had seen that same sun for more
than eighty years, and there was some
thing in his eyes as he watched the
yellow glow that seemed to be saying
"Goodby.'
"Grar1ad, 1 brought you a gentle
man who wants to know the story of
the Manor Hall, " the little girl said,
running up TO him for the usual kiss
of greeting. 'No one ever told it to
me. but was sure you would know. +"
Perhaps he caught the note of re-
greet in her voice. Anyway, he said
softly: "Why, child, I didn't know
children cared for legends any more.
You have your wonderful fairy stories
with fancy pictures and all that.
"Oh, Grandad," she cried, "but
think how much nicer it is to have a
legend right here in Yonkers, fairy
story about place that you can go to
see every day. Do tell us, dop'
II wonder if I can remember, he
said to himself. "It has been years