"The old gentleman likes his game of cards as much as he did when Abraham Lincoln occupied the White House." My informant feeling sure that this was a case of mistaken identity, inquired of the train conductor, only to hear the information confirmed. This free-and-easy style, even to an American born and bred in New York state, seemed rather grating. He confessed there was room for more reserve and dignity in a man of eighty years, especially one who had occupied a position of honor and trust in the government of a great nation.
The Canadian social chief or public man may possess no more moral value nor personal worth than the above free-and-easy veteran, but he will not make free with utter strangers or so readily mingle with casual acquaintances. If he have occupied a high position in society, politics, or the public service at any time, his subsequent demeanor is usually of a kind to preserve the fact ever after in the general remembrance.
Prosper Bender
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, October, 1890.
I. For William, prince of Orange, famed, And later England's king, they named A county by the highland stream, And where it broadens in a dream
Of bay-like beauty, England's Queen, The good queen Anne, whose arms had been
Assisted by Palatines brave
In Europe's wars, a refuge gave
To their distress, when fiercely driven
From home by persecutions given
In Louis's harsh religious zeal.
With patents from the royal seal
Foundations of a town they lay,
A Newburgh called, and on the Tay
In Scottish land near high Dundee,
But nearer Perth washed by the sea,
An older Newburgh erst was made.
But weary grown the Teutons bade
America's Rhine a long farewell,
And in their stead there came to dwell
The English, Irish, Huguenots,
To risk their scalps and crops and cots
Amid the lurid Indian's yells,
Whose breast with raging envy swells.
The heathen aborigines
Were wont to hold horrid orgies
Upon Dans Kamer's Point that lay
At northern end of Nebwurgh bay ;
And Bachtamo their god adored,
And help in all their schemes implored.
When to the hunt or war about
To march, here first they held a rout;
Conjurers turned in somersaults,
Or smote themselves for all their faults,
Leaped round the blaze in maddened
Or charged, abandoned, through the fire.
Then all the tribe with caterwaul
Invoke to come the devil foul,
Whom in an animal they see,
If ravenous, bad prodigy,
If innocent, fair augury.
The savages with warfare sly
Oft scourged the settlers doomed to die
Beneath their hands, and Minnisink
Fore'er remains a dreaded brink
Of massacre, once wrought by Brant.
At Goshen now a shaft extant
Commemorates the whites who fell,
Contesting for their homes right well
That Julian day in seventy-nine,
Where Delaware's ravines entwine
Their rocky knolls with bosky vine.
In Orange saw the Clintons light-
Immortal trio, George who right
Wisely as governor ruled the state,
And James who led to war's debate
The soldiery, sire of DeWitt,
His greater son, chosen to sit
As chieftain of the state, and plan
The great canal, now free, that ran
Between Lake Erie and the sea.
*The following stanzas comprise the sixth canto, "Newburgh," of the centennial epic, "Washington," composed at Cold Spring on Hudson, New York, by the Rev. Edward J. Runk, A. M., in 1889, and about to be published, with notes, in book form.
The people raised six regiments.
Du Bois as colonel brave presents
The continental Fifth in line.
From Goshen Allison the sign
Of valor leads; from Florida
Come Hathorn's soldiers to the war,
And Cornwall's patriotic host,
By Woodhull led, maintain their post. James Clinton heads New Windsor's braves,
And o'er the Newburgh warriors waves
The sword of Hasbrouck in command-
All sworn to free their native land.
Quebec and Montreal in fight
The Orange valor bring to light,
Fort Schuyler, Saratoga's field
The scene, with Gates and Lafayette, Whilst in the village, neighboring yet, Had Washington his quarters set.
In prosperous Newburgh, toward the south,
Above Quassaic's broadening mouth,
Lies Hasbrouck's house with gable roof,
Built six score years ago, and proof
Against the gnawing tooth of time.
Within its walls we hear the chime
Of mellow memories-the shrewd
Designs of patriots, imbued
With yearnings all the state to free,
The mustering of company
And regiment that marched away
And Yorktown's cape fresh honor yield, To swell America's array,
And in the annals of the state
Their names enroll among the great.
Where Otterkill its waters pours
Upon the Hudson's favored shores,
Now Moodna creek or Murderer's
called,
On broad Plum Point a battery walled And armed with guns, by Machin made,
An iron chain and boom surveyed
That stretched across to Pollepel's isle
To close the stream 'gainst force or guile.
Below the creek Sloop hill arose,
Where vessels landed their cargoes,
With beacon fires illumed at night
To flash the news along with light
In days of periled freedom's fight.
West of New Windsor lay the square
With mansions round about, and there
The generals erst their quarters placed.
Greene, Clinton, Knox, and St. Clair
graced
E'en valiant Hasbrouck's own command,
To help emancipate the land.
From Philadelphia, where he stayed
The winter after Yorktown made
Our arms victorious in war,
Came Washington to dwell afar
From home once more another year,
And in his house of stone from fear
And danger ward the waiting state.
Upon the stoop the Highland gate
And stream he might with ease survey,
And mountain range across the bay.
Within, the room of seven doors
And single window, where fire roars
In huge recess, a welcome gave
To peaceful guests and warriors brave.
In Pennsylvania's ranks enrolled
Led Lewis Nicola in bold
Array of arms a regiment,
Who in the bloom of May had sent
A missive to the chief revered,
In which he pondered on the feared
Stability of government
Republican, to represent
Advantages of monarchy,
The English one particularly,
And urge with gentle hint made plain
The kingly title and the reign
Majestic for the chief addressed.
But Washington such schemes repressed
With patriotic promptitude,
Rebuking all such hardihood,
Injurious to the struggling state.
Unlike ambitious Cæsar, great
In war, who thrice refused a crown,
A single nay enough renown
With ordered tents the landscape gleams.
September's speeding fortnight beams.
Upon the serried martial lives,
When Rochambeau the brave arrives,
His welcome host in arms to lead
'Twixt dual lines that orders heed,
Arranging them from ferry pier
To quarters of the chieftain near.
The right wing under Gates is ranked
In two divisions closely flanked.
In one McDougall leads again
Rhode Island and Connecticut's men,
And in the other, Scotch St. Clair
With New York and New Jersey's pair
Of bold brigades, four regiments,
Deployed in steady line, presents.
The left wing stands with sturdy Heath,
With one division ranged beneath
The sabre in Lord Stirling's hand,
From Massachusetts' eastern land
Brought him, who played no pompous And bleak New Hampshire's mountains
But showed mankind an honest heart.
The camps amid the highland hills
Columbia's resting army fills,
While Frank allies the winter pass
Within Virginia's lines, alas!
The keeper, too, with Maryland,
Of Britain's second lost command.
Revolving time the summer brings,
And northward Gallia's army wings
Its homeward way across the lea.
Their brave allies once more to see,
And bid farewell and fond Godspeed,
Columbia's soldiers, valiant breed
Of foemen armed, to Peekskill wend
Their way by road or boat, descend
Upon Verplanck's high pointed shore,
And wait their martial guests before
The bay that like Lake Como seems.
Whilst Howe's division is complete
With men from Massachusetts, meet
To start the war, and victory greet.
All uniformed and armed they rest,
Five thousand strong, to hail the guest
Of Gallia lingering in the west.
Up from the strand the Frenchmen
With banners flying, sound of drum,
And martial music, horses' stamp,
Artillery rumbling, and the tramp
Of ordered thousands, bright arrayed.
De Lauzun's legion undismayed,
With Viomenil's light infantry,
Appears, the flower of Gallic chivalry,
Whose regiments are marching on,
With Montmorenci, De Deux Ponts,
Wounded at the Yorktown redoubt,
And Custine, leading them 'mid shout
Of victory. At Crompond, near
Mohegan and Mohansic's mere
Of dual waters beautiful,
The French encamp; and dutiful
To Mars the allied hosts review
Their mutual lines, marshaled in true
Allegiance to the warlike art,
Nor are there lacking to the heart
Of patriotic chivalry
The rites of hospitality
And joyous round of courtesy,
To celebrate the victory.
A month they spend in social joy,
When toward October's end, with coy
And envious wing, the flight of Time
The allies sundered from the clime
By stream and mountain beautified.
Eastward the army dignified
By Rochambeau's wise leadership
In perfect order marched. 'Mid drip
And pour of rain our soldiers strike
Their tents, and follow the turnpike
O'er Sachoes' brook and toilsome hill
To Redoubt mountain wood, where still
The pleasing forest shades the eye.
All night beneath the heavens they lie
At Garrison's, till morning light
With dawn salutes their waking sight
And rouses them the stream to cross.
Their journey meets no loitering loss
As up the Butter hill they press,
And though, another night, caress
The couch and pillow of the ground,
The morning's rise and march hath found
At New Windsor the camp regained.
So left they ancient Peekskill, drained
Of all that grand array, the forts
And lookouts toward the bay, and sports
Of international delight.
Now to Fort Independence site
The soldiers of the state repair
In summer months the garb to wear
And arms to use of warlike drill,
And keep alive our martial skill ;
Whilst from the village near to view,
Where matchless Whitefield's preaching
A saving charm o'er sinners called,
And all his listeners enthralled,
Doth silver speech her power renew
In world-famed Chauncey M. Depew.
X.
So rested in their winter camp
The army, and with reflection stamp
Unbearable their tardy pay.
To their memorial delay
And empty promises are given
By the congress, till onward driven
A mutiny seems ripe and near.
Bold Armstrong calls a meeting here
Within the camp of officers
For measures as occasion offers.
But Washington censures the call
Disorderly, and to forestall
Disaster bids the chieftains meet.
With words dignified and discreet
And sympathetic the revolt
In bud he nips, and spent the bolt
Seditious falls. Wise words enhance
Again the stoop of Hasbrouck's manse,
Where he the speech of power writ,
As rosy June there sees him sit,
And governors of the states address
Upon the prevalent distress
Throughout the body politic,
With feeble constitution sick.
In later day a gifted child
Of letters hath in Idlewild
With rhythmic power brought delight,
As Willis thrilled his lyre, and sight
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