New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-07
HAMPSTEAD HEATH.
Il Plea in It's Defence by ThGckeray's
Daughter.

Anne Thackeray Richie in a letter to The Lon
don Times.
VIII you give a little space for a very mat
ter-offact expression of feeling, before it is too
late to have anything to feel about except, in
deed the greater facilities for locomotion from
one ugly spot to another? I think there is little
doubt that Englishmen are born lovers of
nature, and that with all our bad taste in prac-
tice we love the beauty that is not made by
hands.
Last night from the brow of Hampstead Heath
with many others. we watched the sunset lights
travelling across the great valleys and the
beautiful fields that run toward Harrow and the
Chlltern Hills; worn out, shabby man lay in
the grass gazing al the noble view; little fam
ily-father, mother and chilGren-sat in a
Raphael-hke group against sand heap watch
ing the exquisite lights and the flow of the
beautiful open country turning to dreams.
turner's pine trees somewhat the worse for
wear in the foreground; close at hand
stood the old cottage, with it's rose trees still
Towering, where Blake used to visit his friends.
In the valley beyond the haymakers, with their
wagons, were bringing in their last loads Of
hay A noble ridge of woods fringes the other
side of the open country. where the birds come
and go unmolested under the pastoral rule of
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
Hampstead ITSELF had not seen ii for many
years-was terribly improved and necessarily
built up; the poor Heath of my childhood looked
trampled and oVertaxed, still CALAMITY holding
its own Notwithstanding the thousands of foot
steps, and the wheels and the engines and the
inroads of men who love pleasing prospects.
But a really beautiful corner one turned to with
grateful delight-the enchanting western space.
At the end of the Heath proper there is an
avenue of trees divided by hedges of blackberry
and wild briar from the country beyond of
which l am writing. The present cruel scheme
for the benefit of the world is to bring rows
upon rows of houses with their little drains and
chimneys and dust bins. alongside of the black
berry hedge, closely abutting on the Heath and
adjoining the entrance of the proposed tube, of
which station will open where Blakes cot
tage now stands, all of which means the very
soul of the harassed Heath will be destroyed
1t would be otherwise If the fields could be left
green TO divide the Heath from the coming
city.
Certain friends are at work not without good
hope, and are trying TO obtain the necessary
funds TO buy UP the eighty acres so as TO lay
them out in playing fields, and resting fields
and breathing fields, for those who are TO travel
by the tube. Mrs. Barnett. of Toynbee, St
Judes cottage, Hampstead Heath, is the hon
orable secretary. Lord Rothschld and Mr.. Car
nege have generously promised the first and
the last $1,000 any others which come in be-
tween must be made up by the efforts and good
viii of those who love this beautiful place and
of many who live round about it, To bring
building speculatons into the centre of such
peaceful beauty calls 10 mind the we'll known
text concerning the money changers, who should
be sent outside and not allowed TO cucumber the
temple itself.