New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14
FATHER TIME
COUNTS TEN
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beauty of it's women and the correctness of
their dress, which was then imported from
London. Several of the old plays of the period
contain scenes laid on the sea wall Of the
Battery.
In this daily parade could be seen all the
men famous in the history of the country dur
ing more than half century. Here were to
be seen Generals Howe and Clinton and Bene-
dict Arnold and Major Andre. Later Wash
ington and jefferson were fond of walking
here as were Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamil-
ton, Washington Irving, Robert Fulton, ]. Fen
more Cooper and host of others. Jerome
Bonaparte was a familiar figure on the sea
WALL as was Louis Philippe before his return
to France and it's throne. Talleyrand, who fled
from Robespierre to England, then to New
York, was walking one day in Battery Park
when an enemy tried to murder him by throw
ing him over the sea wall.
The windows and balconies of the old Bat
terry Place mansions must have been filled
countless times to watch the fetes and celebra-
tons staged in the park opposite. One of the
most elaborate of these was arranged for the
landing of Lafayette in 1924, on his return to
the United States. On stepping ashore La
fayette walked for some distance to quote a
report of the time, son a carpeted way ar
ranged for the OCCASION under an arch richly
decorated with flags and wreaths of laurel
On the same evening mammoth balloon"
arose from the fort, Representing the horse
Eclipse mounted by an ancient knight in
armor." A few weeks later, when Lafayette
returned from a tour of the country fete
was given at Castle Garden, attended by 5000
persons.
Webster and Clay spoke several times in
the old Garden. Elaborate receptions were
given here to President Jackson and other
Presidents in later years. Kossuth was Off
caly welcomed in the Garden when he came
to America to seek aid for Hungary. For
many years the Battery the city's parade
ground, and the windows and balconies sur
rounding it were crowded with enthusiastic
throngs to watch the Pulaski Cadets, the Light
Guards, the Tompkns Blues and other pop
ular regiments of their time. In 1854 great
fete was held in Castle Garden to celebrate
the triumph Of the Wing party after the
charter elections in the city. To celebrate
the occasion three pipes Of wine and forty
barrels of beer were dispensed.
fatal blow was struck the aristocratic
neighborhood of the Battery with the opening
Of Castle Garden immigrant station
The old fort made the landing place for
immigrants in 1855, and continued as such
until 1890. During these years more than
100000 immigrants were admitted to Amer
lea through this gate. The effect upon the
stately old mansions on Battery Place was
disastrous. The old families quickly aban-
doned their homes For generation no spot
in New York so depraved. The homes
facing the park and the buildings on the
side streets nearby filled with low
saloons, where people collected who fourished
= by waylayng and robbing the immigrants
81 Castle Garden was closed to immigrants in
II 1890 with the removal of the station to Ellis
Island. But the change came too late to save
this arstocratic old neghborhood. The Sec
ton north Of Battery Place, which still con-
tains many old mansions, dating from its best
days, has become the so-calleG Syrian quar-
ter, harboring a highly congested foreign
population. The faces which look out from
the windows of the old mansions on Battery
Place have come from distant land, and the
walls are placarded with signs in. strange
tongue, which would have greatly surprised
the old inhabitants.
Meanwhile the section to the north and
cast of the mansions has become the fnan-
ei1t center Of the world, and is fast encroach-
ing upon the old residential neghborhood.
The value OF the ground once covered by the
nigh tides Of the Hudson River would have
@ecmcd incredible 10 the population Of early
days. The skyscrapers which replace the old
mansions meanwhile increase the population
Of ca>b block thousand fold.
The foot Of Battery Place has been an
important city dock from very early times.
A number Of maps and prints considerably
earlier than 1900 indicate the presence OF
some kind Of jsnding place at this point.
Originally boats locked ut point the
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