The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-07-17
HISTORIC PLACE
TO Be PRESERVED
CONSTITUTION ISLAND IN HUp.
SON RIVER BECOMES PROP.
ERTY OF GOVERNMENT,
HOME OF WARNER SISTERS
House Has Interest to Government
Outside Of That Connected With
Famous Authors-Fiqures Promi.
nently in History Of Revolution.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

/ oy 6ONNfNb D. SGNhNs
Washington.-Cons island In
the Hudson river only u few minutes
boat pull from West Point, is long
ways from Washington, but Washipg-
ton, at that, today is taking a deep in
terest In this wooded isle which for
years was the home Of those sister
writer's whose fame still endures-
Susan and Anna b. Warner.
Today the United States government
owns Constitution island. Govern
ments are not sentimental, although
the officials of government frequently
are so. Uncle Sam wanted Constitu-
ton island as one Of his possessions,
but for economic reasons did not pur-
chase II. Finally through the gener-
! osity Of Mrs. Russell Sage and Miss
Anna b. Warner, who survived her SIS
ter a good many years, the island was
purchased and given 70 the govern
ment Of the United States.
Washington is watching with inter
est the efforts OF the Martaer's Rock
association to secure funds for the
preservation of the Warner house on
Constitution island. The house has an
interest for the government, not only
because IL was the home Of two women
whose influence ON the lives of many
Of the cadets at West Point was mark
eddy for good, but because the old resi-
dence contains as one Of its constitu-
ent parts wall of an old Revolution
AIRY fertilization.
To Preserve Historic Home.
The earliest history of Constitution
island goes to show that IL once was
the property of a man named Mart
laer-hence Mariners Rock associa-
tiOn. the name of the organization
which under the leadership of Mrs.
Charles T. Tracy of Highland Falls,
New York, was organized and is work
ing Ito arouse interest In the preser-
walton of the Warner house. and TO
arrange. label, and care for the furni-
ture, books, and other objects of value
that belonged to the Warner family"
was cadet at West Point when
Susan Warner and her sister Anna
lived in the old home on Constitution
island. They had lived there from
girlhood. had known all kinds of hard
ship, and yet. with a serenity Of hope,
coupled with spirit of endurance
and Of labor, surmounted their trials
and became the instruments of far
reaching good in the world.
Every Sunday afternoon a certain
number of cadets were allowed to 90
to the Warner home. There these
women of gentle religion taught it
in lasting way to their young soldier
guests
/ was asked to write little some
thing about the effort To save the War
ner home. and the request was as crate
full to me as my poor response is heart.
felt. Throughout the United States
there are still living thousands upon
thousands OF people who read Susan
Warmers "The Wide, Wide World"
II was published in 1919, and was, as
Lyman Abbott has put it, one of the
best sellers"
"The Wide, Wide World" was read
throughout the wide, wide world. The
success of the book brought relief from
pressing poverty TO the Warner sisters.
Ii was refused by many publishers and
IL was left to woman, the mother OF
one Of the publishers who happened
TO read the manuscript, To recommend
its publication and to prevent its loss
to the American public.
Susan Warner wrote many other
books and her sister Anna added her
contributions To the literature of the
time Contributions to the fund for
the preservation of the Warner home
have come from far-off places in the
world from persons who read 1.-THE
Wide, Wide World" and whose inter
est in the author of this and of the
other Warner works never has failed.
Kept Hudson Safe.
II was on Constitution island that
Washington's bodyguard was mustered
out of the service on December 20,
1888. The fortifications were built In
response to n resolution Of the Cont
mental congress that post should he
taken In the islands on each side. of
the Hudson river and batteries erected
In such a manner las will most effec-
tually prevent any vessels passing that
may be sent TO harass the inhabitants
on the borders of said river"
The great chain which was stretched
across the Hudson river from West
Point was anchored to the rocks OF
Constitution island.
Americans I'm whose libraries "The
Wide, Wide World" "Queechy" and
other OF the Warner books still have
n place who still read them for the
worth of the story and OF the lesson
which each book contains, may feel
that the old home with its interest OF
history and of sentiment Is well worth
preserving. think that l may say
that Mrs. Charles Il. Tracy Of High
land Falls. New York, will be glad to
give any information concerning the
preservation work and TO point the
most ready WaV I'm which Ia helm Sava