APPENDIX III 



TO THE MEMORY OF 

 ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING * 



By FRANK A. WAUGH 



NEWBURGH has fine parks. It is surrounded by the 

 most ingratiating natural landscape. In the fore- 

 ground flows one of the noblest and most beautiful 

 of all the rivers of the world. Yet for none of these has 

 this body of men come here today. This great interna- 

 tional association meets here, drawn by the memory of one 

 eminent name, - - the name of a man whose genius stands 

 out like a steadfast beacon light through all the crowding 

 events of three-quarters of a century of American history. 



Andrew Jackson Downing was born in this town of New- 

 burgh, October 30, 1815, and here he lived the whole of that 

 short and wonderful life which until this day breathes its 

 inspiration upon us. He was the youngest of his family, 

 the child of his parents' age, physically weak and slender, 

 but mentally a giant. His parents were poor, and Andrew 

 was reared on the great American diet of plain living and 

 hard work. He had little schooling, the principal feature of 

 his formal training being an attendance of a few months on 

 the Academy in the neighboring town of Montgomery. But 

 he did have the large benefit of work in his father's nursery 

 and of quiet association with this rich and noble landscape, 

 -two things which left a marked impress upon his character 

 and showed their influence conspicuously in his life's work. 



* On August 24, 1914, the American Association of Park Superintend- 

 ents held its annual convention at Xewburgh, N.Y., in commemoration 

 of the centenary of Mr. Downing's birth, at which time this memorial 

 address was delivered. 



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