SKETCH OF THOMAS EGLESTON. 263 



the notorious Tweed regime, and would have succeeded but for the 

 keen insight and vigorous action of a few public-spirited citizens, led 

 by Professor Egleston. Washington Square had been dug over and 

 torn up, under the pretext of remodeling and " improvement," and the 

 unsightly mounds and piles of earth were left for many months, not 

 onh' to offend the eye, but to generate malaria. The ground had been 

 originally a Potter's Field, and the opening and upturning of the 

 soil, frequently unhealthy in its effect, was markedly so in that case. 

 The south side of the square had been " worked " already, in the 

 first attempt, and had largely lost its population of old residents; 

 but the north side w^as still occupied by a select class of old New- 

 Yorkers. Now, however, between the desolate aspect of the park 

 and the malaria that began to be felt, an exodus of the owners on the 

 north side was imminent. Then began to be hinted some schemes 

 for which all this was preparatory. A great militia armory was 

 to be erected on the western end, and other projects vaguely loomed 

 up, involving the ruin of the park as such. A bill to legalize these 

 schemes was quietly introduced at Albany, and had been brought 

 nearly to its passage, by " influences " no less potent for their careful 

 concealment. Professor Egleston and a few other gentlemen of the 

 vicinity were anxious about these rumors, but could get no informa- 

 tion. Inquiries from city officials were met with positive denial of 

 any such intentions, and it was only within a few days of the time 

 set for the passage of the bill that they succeeded in discovering its 

 real meaning. 



At this late juncture the " Public Parks Protective Association " 

 was quietly and quickly organized by a small body of public-spirited 

 men, of whom the late John Jay was president and Professor Egleston 

 secretary. This association set itself to work most earnestly to reveal 

 the danger, to arouse public sentiment and public protest, and to make 

 these felt in the Capitol at Albany. Circulars and petitions were 

 prepared and widely disseminated, at the cost of great labor, within 

 the brief time left ere the bill should come up for passage. The 

 New York Academy of Sciences, speaking in the interest of public 

 health, passed strong resolutions of remonstrance; and various other 

 bodies took similar action, including the Academy of Medicine. 



The result was that legislators were aroused, some to the real char- 

 acter of measures that they had not fully understood, and others 

 to the existence of a public sentiment upon which they had not 

 counted, and the bill failed to pass. Nor was this all: a resolution 

 was adopted, prepared by the association, guaranteeing the ground 

 occupied by the square to be kept " forever " as a park for purposes 

 of public health and recreation. 



That Washington Square remains to-day, an oasis of beauty in 



