264 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



the desert of brick and stone, and a breathing place in that densely 

 built portion of the great city, is due principally to the watchfulness 

 and energy of Professor Egleston. He it was who saved that park 

 to the people of New York, and a debt of lasting gratitude therefor 

 is owing him from them. This is an unwritten episode in the history 

 of our city, and the present writer, who knew something of the facts 

 at the time, is gratified to be able to put them on record now. But 

 let us not fail to note the lesson that they convey. " Eternal vigilance 

 is the price " of all that is valuable in a community like ours, where 

 the demands of business greed and the devices of political schemers 

 and " bosses " may at any time unite again, as in the past, for acts 

 of profitable vandalism, and dismiss as " sentimental " all considera- 

 tions of beauty, health, or historical association. The sanitary im- 

 portance of our smaller parks is now better understood; and the 

 city is buying property for such purposes at heavy cost, in locali- 

 ties where fifty years ago parks could have been laid out at little 

 expense, and maintained at a vast saving of human health and life. 

 Such articles, also, as that of Dr. Stephen Smith, in the February 

 number of this monthly, are educating the intelligent community as 

 to the sanitary value of vegetation in cities. But nothing is safe 

 or sacred where the evil trinity of the boss, the speculator, and the 

 " soulless " corporation may combine their forces ; and the call is for 

 ceaseless watchfulness. 



Professor Egleston has been all his life in active association with 

 the religious and benevolent work of the Episcopal Church. He be- 

 came president of the Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society in 

 1871; was vice-president of the Protestant Episcopal City Mission 

 Society from 1870 to 1897; a trustee of the General Theological Semi- 

 nary, and a member of the corporation of Trinity Church from 1878. 

 In connection with the last-named body some of his relations have 

 an interest wider than his own denomination, and may fittingly be 

 mentioned in a sketch relating chiefly to his scientific career. Two 

 points may here be noted: the schools among the poorer classes 

 maintained by the Trinity corporation; and the unique jeweled 

 chalice in memory of his wife, presented by him to Trinity Church. 



Aided and controlled more or less by Trinity corporation, though 

 in different parts of the city and in connection with different Epis- 

 copal churches, are now eight schools, with about one thousand pupils. 

 In these are taught careful and scientific methods of training along 

 modern lines, of eye and hand development, hygiene, economy, and 

 thrift, to children and youth of the neediest classes. Already for 

 years much interested in these schools, Professor Egleston has, since 

 his withdrawal from professional activity, given much of his time 

 to their advancement, and has found intense gratification in observing 



