New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01
TO SAVE MT. M'GREGOR
An Appeal for the Preservation of
the Grant Cottage.
To the Editor Of The tribune.

10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Four and twenty years ago there went down
TO inevitable defeat the silent hero who knew
martial defeat in all the long. and probably most
stuooornly contested. costly and numerously
manned war OF the ages.
During the few weeks before his end and in the
midst Of contest with his terrible malady, this
heroic soul PERFORMED great and unselfsh a
work as any he performed in the Civil Wharf.-The
writing of his Personal Memoirs for his loved
familys sake. The scenes of this mortal struggle,
NOUN MacGregor, and the details of this great
literary achievement are still instinct of heroism
around and within the modest cottage in the foot
hills of the Adirondacks.
Here is the Eastern Outlook" where even as
late as July % he took his final view down upon
tnat rare rural scene in the upper Hudson Valley,
which in its grand reaches sweeps from the Sara
toga battlefield clear around to the historic sur
roundings about Lakes George and Champain.
Here is the broad piazza where many OF hts
numbered hours were spent, and to which the eyes
of thousands of his-anxious visitors turned in the
hope of catching look at the patient sufferer
and gaining a token of recognition. they fire.
quently did.
Here still stand the great trees. their spicy fra
GRANGE and beauty his delight under which he was
sheltered, yet giving ornament TO the mountain
slopes and sumnlt-ever contributing. the silent
hero said, TO the atmosphere which enabled me
to live in comparative comfort another time
doubling whether otherwise he would have been
alive Again and again he praised the health
giving qualities OF this EIacGregor air. Once he
wrote. I am exceedingly pleased with this de-
lightful mountain air and again. II find this air
very fine here" Even the physician later said
in praise: His life has been prolonged by the
invigoratine air here" And his loving work
was completed And here, too, Just as then, still
stands the table holding the reading lamp the two
easy chairs, where, propped up, he wrote his book
thankful for being spared TO complete the work.
or gained few hours of restless sleep in the long
night. Once 10 quiet his anxious ones, he wrote
DO as I do. Take things quietly. Give your
selves not the least concern" and again i am
ready to obey His call without murmur.
But what Of all this?
\ bill passed the last Legislature Of New York
providing for the salvation of Mount MacGregor
from the woodnan's axe and creating state park
there but as it carried appropriation. Governor
Hughes reluctantly and against strong appears
was compelled to veto the bill though few days
afterward he delivered of the greatest euloges
OF Grant on Memorial Day The option which mad
been secured on the land expired, but mas oeen
extended and work is temporarily stopped Tor
short time There is nothing but earnest ACTON
now 70 restrain the cutting OF all the umoer WITHIN
iftv feet Of the cottage wall, not only an act OF
great forest destruction in these days OF forest
preservation but d sad commentary on the apPre-
citation in which this memorial OF our greatest
commander is held, shrine having on its record
book the names OF visitors from every clvlNzed