New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-18
MARY DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK,
DAUGHTER OF HENRY vi.

Motorists whizzing through Fort Wash
ington Park on Sunday afternoons OF late
have been surprised 20 see one az the old
deserted mansions overfowing with He.
For years It has stood empty and be-
draggled, melancholy reminder OF the
days when people lived in houses instead
Of in apartments. II Is melancholy no
more. however. for 1t has been turned into
a playhouse for girls-not all girls, but
lust those Of the Working Women's
Club" who. whatever claims they put for
ward about being women when they form
clubs TO demand fire escapes, call them
selves girls when they go a-picnicins.
This house was given them for outings
By Park Commissioner Slower. Mr.. Slower
felt that the unoccupied houses in Fort
Washington Park along the river front
ought to be put to some practical use. so
he communicated with Mrs. Henry ole
shelmer. president of the National League
n, Women Workers. and with Miss Nlr-
,iria Potter. president If the New York
State Association, and they gladly agreed
IN do something about it. All the working
girls clubs OF the city are expected now
. 70 20 I'D TO Fort Washington Park when
aver they want days outing. Each men,
her Of the club Will have a free ticket
guaranteeing her right 20 enjoy the PRIV
ueges Of the house. ana only people with
tickets will be admitted. so they VIII be
protected from the inconvenient crowds
which might visit the place uninViied II 1t
became too attractive
The house Itself is a three story bstck
building. with hood veranda running
around three sides From it one looks down
between the treetops TO the Hudson and the
mighty. wooded Palisades towering on the
other side. unspoed here by buildings or
electric signs as they are further down
the river. Nothing is to be seen but the
green Of trees, the gleam Of waves and a
strip Of blue sky at the top Ii is impossi-
bic TO sit on this ancient veranda Tor Two
minutes and not see visions OF the stately
company which watched the river rowing
past some sixty years ago-mid-Nictorian
women IN hoop skirts and hot headed beaus
who probably were much more inclined 10
talk ante-bellum politics than To admire
the scenery. Later in rs career the house
belonged 10 the Bradley Martin family WHO
lived there so the caretaker tells every VS.
ftor. until twenty-five years ago. Various
and sundry tenants occupied II after them.
until Of late years II has been used only
as a storage place and office by the engi-
neers engaged in the construction OF upper
Riverside Drive.
The working girls this summer VIII have
not only the romance meeting verandas,
but also a fascinating interior at their dis
posal Each room has a real old fireplace
with brass andirons. and the floors are
marked with deem scratches striking off at
angles from the windows and doors, which
are supposed TO be the remains OF burglar
alarms A very modern new piano stands
between the open French windows OF the
drawing room and there will soon be
books magazines and games for the
amusement OF girls who tire OF the view.
The caretaker's wife. who lives in the
basement. will provide tea, coffee, lemon
ade and sandwiches for luncheons. Up
stairs are what used 70 be very charming
sleeping rooms. but now they are stained
aud empty. and II IS when bemoaning this
fact that the visitor is Informed OF the one
great drawback 10 this house. II cannot
be used at night. for the park IL not light
ed and not pollced These great airy
sleeping rooms must remain vacant. and
the girls who might be in them must stay
in their hot stuffy little rooms downtown
For the same reason the house must DO
closed at o'clock at night-just the love
Hest hour beside the river-and the re-
luctant girls must tear themselves away
from the sunset because the authorities
do not consider IL safe for unprotected girls
In the park after that hour. on Saturday
afternoons from TO s o'clock and on Sun