The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-09
AT ANDRES CELL.
A Little Lesson In the Meaning Of
American Patriotic Achievements.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: My
friend Christy. who has enriched the
columns of THE NEW York HERALp's
Sunday Magazine with part of his ex-
tensive knowledge OF RoclIland county
| history, suggested that / visit the prison
house and tavern at Tappan with him.
Chrlsty tramps in an old Ford car. A
real tramp dlsdains ceremony. and as
1910 Ford is some remove from be-
ing dignifcd / consented.
Denis and myself-Denis is a real
tramp-had trudged up the steep hill
from the ferry landing to Alpine on a
Sunday some time previous and had
stopped at this same tavern in an at
tempt to quench our thirst. but, being
refused, had footed 1t to the home of
charitable friend further down the
river, who opened a bottle Of real Scotch
for us. But that was before the United
States had become dry.
When Chris.y spoke of Revolutionary
shrines 1 wondered what he had under
his hat Revolutionary shrnes to-day
are palpitpnt-like wilma and Warsaw.
I suggested this to Christy and instantly
he exploded.
That's like you backsliders, putting
the present before the past!"
IAN anachronism.' / grinned
'Tll let you In on some ground facts
of American history" he exclaimed, ig-
aorins my jest.
What's the tavern you are taking
me to like? 1t sounds good but apoc-
ryphal." said cannily.
Don't you know that the Tappan tav-
ern was Major Andres prison for a
week." he asked.
was it? But why pick a dungeon
for a pleasure trip"
We found the old tavern. One-half
of l per cent and sarsaparilla flowed as
Jamaica rum had in the good old Co
lonial days Christy stood at the bar
and punished me with soft stuff while
he talked about the spy, the traitor.
Washington. Mad Anthony Wayne. and
went over the story of how the talented
young Britisher had attracted attention
In Philadelphia and had danced with the
beautiful Miss Shipper, who afterward
married Arnold
Old rifes-antiquated flintlocks-hung
in racks against the walls of the ancient
taproom. 1t looked like Bourbon
arsenal at the time of the French Revo-
luton. Christy Piled me with unlimited
one-half, of / per cent. and reeled off
whole chapters from George Bancroft
! and Jared Sparks while 1 examined the
arms.
These guns must be a pattern of
those the Russians used against Won
IfindenbWg in the East Prussia
marshes" said.
Christy grunted. Come, I'll show you
something"
He bolted from the room, and l found
him in a rectangular chamber with
door on either side and window at
the end.
Andres cell"
He fiourished his hand like a verger
in an ancient monastery.
1.-THE Major didn't show much STRAIT
egy for a military man. Couldn't he
get out OF the Window" asked.
Couldn't. Two sentinels--armed."
We was impressively serious.
with fiintiocks?"
My friend ignored me. had offended
his patriotic sense. Being an American
I was a bit ashamed of my levity. But
it all looked so pitfully ineffective in
an age whose armament is dynamic,
whose prisons are dungeons and the
story OF Andre was so trte.
Then I reflected. Wasn't my friend
right? His almost fanatcal patriotism.
his enthusiastic recital OF the vital facts
Of the heroic struggle, the story of Won
derful achievement. was the lesson
needed to awaken the millions who are
making America their refuge to real
ization of what has been won for them.
! stood abashed before my friends ear
nestness. F1NDLAY SAcKETT.
SUMMIT. N. j.. November 8.