The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-30
IN NEED OF REPAIRS.
JOHN BROWNS OLD HOME IN
 THE ADIRONDACKS.
Why the AboIitIonIst Went to tn
 Wilderness to Make His Home Buried Beside the Boulder That He

Buried Beside the Boulder That He Loved.
 "John Browns body lies a-moldering in the ground"
 The song is right; over there in North Elba, in the shade of the giant boulder he loved in life, almost beneath the caves of the cozy little cottage he 1aSh- toned in the Adirondack wilderness De- fore those days of trouble and mar tyrdon came, the body of John Brown has lain all these years
 But while all the singing over John Browns place in history has been go- ing on many visitors to the Adlron- dacks this summer, declare that scant thought has been given to the pretty little home he reared in the wilderness when in the vigor of full manhood the hope of a great achievement was young in his heart. The historic farm is de- clared to-day to be in worse condition than it has been in years, and many say the state of New York should be- stir herself to care for it.
 Summer guests at the various hotels in this vicinity have begun their annual pilgrimages to the one time home and grave of the anti-slavery hero, and many have expressed themselves indig- nantly over the condition in which they find the buildings, and especially the house.
 "It is shame and disgrace" said one New York man. T propose to see if something cannot be done about ii" ryl. of 4I,a wi is also voiced by residents of the towns of Lake Placid and North Elba.
 'But what can do?' asked Reuben Lawrence, the caretaker of the farm and grave, who has held that position for thirty-three years. T can't go down in- to my pocket and pay for this work that needs to be done.
 "I shingled that roof and paid for it as it is,' he continued. pointing toward the barn, where the sagging foundation timbers and wide gaping cracks in the sides looked oddly enough beneath the comparatively new shingles.
 aBut that building needs fixing bad ly,, he added, directing attention to the carriage shed leaning heavily against the brn. People come here and say to me, Why don't you keep things up bet ter?" They don't understand that the state authorities are supposed to look after things. Mo- of course, I ain't to blame, but I don't like to have people think SO"
 Residents of North Elba and Lake Placid, who have known MT. Lawrence for years as a thrifty, industrious man, know that whatever blame for the pres ent condition of the Joan Brown farm may rightly exist none can attach to him. The rear portion of the house has not been repaired since Brown built it years ago. and now it is scarcely habit able although MT. Lawrence's family are obliged to use it for originally sup ported by huge logs. These have routed away, allowing the floor to sink and be- come unsafe The dropping away of these timbers has also had its effect up- on the whole rear portion of the house, causing the roof to sag. In addition, the old shingles have started up so that the roof leaks badlN
 Persons who have visited the place re- gently say that the state forest com mission, as the body having charge of the property for the state, should at once take steps to prevent the further decay of this part of the house. Other parts of the house are also in bad con- dition. While all recognize that the home should be preserved as nearly in it's original condition as possible, the contention is that to do this steps must be taken to make improvements about the house and other buildings at once.
 It is asserted that the total repairs needed on all the buildings would not cost over $1,00O.
 Another matter which should receive prompt attention, according to visitors to the farm, is the proper marking oi the graves of John Browns two sons Oliver and Watson, buried beside their father. Those graves are now simply marked by plain wooden stakes bear ing no inscriptions whatever. On Me fnorial day small American flags were planted above them, and are still in DO stiion, relieving to some extent their otherwise barren appearance The original stone planted above John Browns grave was some years ago GOV cred with wooden frame having { glass front. This still stands. and ha: served to protect the stone. This stone Is appropriately inscribed, as is also the huge boulder at the head of all three graves. It was Browns last wish tha his bodysbe laid at rest beside thi: great stone he had learned to love ir early life.
 That John Brown thought much O, his peaceful little Adirondack home thi: last wish reveals. It was not the place of his birth; he had lived in many larg. CT places, in the more fertile lands ot the West, in the milder climates he hat spent portions of his life; but it wa. John Brown, the man, not John Brown the reformer, who made the last simpl, request. Worn out in fruitless en deavor, deserted by friends, facins death, John Browns strife-siclleneC heart yearned again for that little gree, dip in the Adirondack hills for the sof soughing of the trees, for the birds, fo the sunshine, for the rolling fields am the blue hills beyond; for that hom, where he had spent fourteen of tn pleasantest years of his life. And h. asked to be buried beside the grea boulder where he had built that littl home many years before. The reques was needed, and his bones lie beside tn great boulder and floating in the buoy ant mountain breeze the stars an, stripes high over head proclaim to tn country for miles around that r1,;+bi