New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-03

the whole man. They should him IN the
forest by the riverside when families OF neigh
boring farmers come Cor days outing. the
farm wagon heaped with goodies for luncheon.
the horses embarrassed and tied TO the long bar
between the trees. All know and reverence him.
Every hat comes of as he walks. like the father
of the land. among the people chatting with the
wives and daughters. pattiug the little ones on
the head exchanging a few words with the men
about tine crops-gentle, kindly, benevolent, a
blessing in his very smile. or they should have
seen him in the summers when one of his cot
tages was filed with convalescent children from
the hospitals in nearby cities and from crowded
tenement houses. coming as his guests to re-
cover lie and strength Here he went about
doing good, like the Galiean Master who walked
about the fields Of Palestine
1t is nature and the people whom Mr. Letch-
worth loves best, not money making nor COM
mittee ruling. To give % the people chance
TO learn TO love nature az he loved H. 10 draw
from life among the trees such boous as he had
won, his generous heart long ago devised max
ing this a peoples park for all time So every
pain mas been always open 10 friends and neigh
bors TO the people Of the neighboriug city and Of
all cities. and by the thousand they have
taken advantage OF his kindness and he
has seen how much they needed and apprecl-
ated such boon And il IS theirs forever
Small wonder that in other parts Of the state
and in other states, they saying: Would
that n Mr.. Letchworth would give park OF
a thousand acres" And others would could
they see his Joy, FOR he has felt to the full the
realization that IT is more blessed To give than to
receive.
The home of Mr.. Letchworth IS a reflection
OF his own character 1t is simple. but filled 70
overlooking with books and pictures and the
mementoes OF those who love him. 1t stands
with broad. inviting piazzas, in a sunny lawn;
by is a gigantic outdoor birdcage. where NongO-
Han pheasants are reared never firing attrac-
ton 10 the visitors who throng the place in sum
mer. Undaunted by the fact that selfish hunt
ers occasionally shoot them these birds are
given their freedom as soon they can care
for themselves. and II is a pretty sight uneN-
pectedly To catch the vision Of a brilliant pleas
ant darting across your path while wandering
through the woods.
The woods are so open that they are full oF
lovely flowers from spring TO fall, beginning
with the earliest anemones and bloodroots. hous-
tomas, columbines. violets. the trinity flower
with It's marvellous white bloom; the mandrake
with It's waXy blossom, and Il thousand others
on through the azalea and laurel season. till the
goldenrod has faded and the last autumn
blossoms are swept away with the dying leaves
These have been guarded in such way that
they increase and multiply and conserve beauty
for the days to come.
For rainy weather there IS a fine museum on
the hill where the Indian council house stands q
building from olden days transported here for
preservation along with relics of Indians to the
number of thousands. Here too is a char
acteristic thing. one day Mr.. Letchworth found
Workmen IN another town building culvert Of
gray stones that had marked the spot where
Indians had been buried. He secured from the
town permission TO take possession of them
paying Tor common stone to replace them in
the culvert- How many busy people would
have concerned themselves to pay honor TO the
Dust OF a redman? But he religiously moved
the stones TO spot near the monument to a
white indian captive which stands by the old
log council house; where they are mute wit
nesses TO the gentleness and spirit of reverence
which have marked this man through life
Letchworth Park! II is not yet wholly ours
the peoples-because he lives there still among
his beloved trees. an old man.. filling every mo-
ment with care and drought for others a way
he has had Of doing for threescore years and
ten Long may he be there In body. as he will
always be in spirit for every day of the pres
ence OF such a man adds benedicton to his
gift!-The Independent.