New-York tribune., 1904-10-16
TIE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.
"TViIie" KeeEer GiUeS Father ReSt
To Saue Historic Site.

ar,onx che strongest traits in the character OF
.szylilia'' Keeler. the great fielder OF the High
landors, who made such a plucky fight for the
ohampionship iH>the American Baseball League
are hliaI devotion ana love OF home. willy
ss a native OF Brooklyn. and is proud Of It He
lives In the With Assembly District In an ole
fashioned house that has been rebuilt into
modern dwelling. "WilHes" father was for
Years a driver on the De KaIb-ave streetcar
line IN the days before trolleys were introduced
After the young man had made hit on the
bail field and was commanding a high salary
his main thought was OF what he could do to
make bis fathers life easier and more happy.
But the old man refused 10 give up his work
Finally willie went 20 Colonel Partridge. the
president OF the road and explained that he
wanted hts father TO give up work, and was
prepared 20 provide comfortably for him The
result of the conspiracy was that the elder
Keeler was laid on. Ostensibly on account OF his
age.
willie" was happy and prepared to fix up
the ola homestead so that his father should
have every comfort "a his old age An addition
WIS put on. ana so many improvements that the
old man scarcely recognized the place Among
other things. doorbeu was put in, with gong
in the back hall-fhe kind that works with a
wire. The afternoon after this bell had been put
So working order Mr.. Keeler was doing IN a
chair In the dining room Outside two boys
were up 20 mischief and thought ii would be a
good Joke 10 ring the Keelers' new bell sud
denly the gong pealed out twice, loud and strong.
1ir. Reeler. dreaming no doubt OF the old days
on the road, reused up quickly, tottered 10 his
s went through the sT0 tbs 81 Tens ur e
INJURED. ~Gid apl" In a minute he was asleep
again
There Is q growing tendency IN Brooklyn 90
preserve historical property by adding it to the
park system. Many OF the small parks already
laid out have historical associations clustering
about them. The latest proposition is the pur-
chase for park purposes OF the two blocks be-
tween Third and Fifth SITS. and Fourth and
Fifth aves. On the property is situated the old
Oortelyou house. which was the headquarters Of
George Washington after his retreat from the
Battle OF Long Island. The grounds were for
rnerly used for baseball purposes. and there are
only few other buildings on them. The as
sessed valuation OF the property is $20S'O00 A
favorable report on its purchase has already
been made TO Borough President Littleton by
his engineer.
No one who has the slightest admiration for
nature or for rich eolorings should neglect to go
through Prospect Park at the present time, to
see the wonderful changes that have been
wrought By the fall. Persons who have been
in the park only IN warm weather would scarce
iy recognize It. It seems changed on every
hand, yet its beauty is no less striking than in
tne nei6nk OF lLe SeASol1 a1-u IS Ll4OES Tafs 4Ae
leaves, turned 20 deep reds and browns and yel-
lows by the touch OF the cold weather. hutter in
a riot Of color on the hundreds Of trees on every
hand, or dance madly at the piping Of the fall
wind where they have fallen the gward.
which IS still smooth and green The colors are
such an artist would Tevel in. The shades
are beyond counting. At every turn one sees
something stilI more beautiful and enhancing.
The dun gray effects are strengthened in the
late afternoon. From Lockout Hill, beyond the
Quaker Cemetery, looking out over Flatbush,
it IS easy TO imagine that one is far in the
country, hundreds OF miles from the great city.
one or two old fashioned Dutch church spires.
rising above the trees. and a few scattering
lights give the impression of q little village
nesting under a great hill. The scenes are sur
prising IN their beauty and yet scarcely a score
of people on foot be found in a two hours
walk IN the park ia the latter part Of these fall
afternoons.