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Bruce, Wallace, 1844-1914

"The Hudson Three Centuries of History, Romance and Invention"

Vanderpool (sister
of the late President Martin Van Buren), on the north.
In locating the residences along the river and dealing so often in the
words "north" and "south," we are reminded of a good story of Martin
Van Buren. It is said that it was as difficult to get a direct answer
from him as from Bismarck or Gladstone. Two friends were going up with
him one day on a river boat and one made a wager with the other that
a direct answer could not be secured on any question from the astute
statesman. They approached the ex-president and one of them said, "Mr.
Van Buren, my friend and I have had a little discussion; will you
tell us, does or does not the sun rise in the east?" The ex-president
calmly drew up a chair, and said, "You must remember that the east
and west are merely relative terms." "That settles it," said the
questioner, "I'll pay the bet."
* * *
How grateful is the sudden change
From arid pavements to the grass,
From narrow streets that thousands range
To meadows where June zephyrs pass.
_Henry T. Tuckerman._
* * *
It is a drop for the old Hudson, and a merry time it
has until it gets down off the mountains.


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