WEST ROXBURY PARK. 57 



able concession, I have had the charity to iircsiimc that 

 it did not reach you promptly, as it would not have l)ecn 

 quite an act of courtesy to delay answering the lU'g'cnt 

 appeal of one who has done so much to advocate and 

 promote the public park enterprise. 



I am not, however, so very much surprised at this 

 lack of courtesy, having witnessed too many of life's 

 conflicts to be easily moved by trifles. A long experi- 

 ence in business leads me to believe that I do know 

 what belongs to courtesy, justice and fair dealing 

 among merchants and high-minded men, in the various 

 walks of life, and I must confess that during all these 

 years I have never before witnessed such an imperious 

 disregard of other people's rights; such a close prox- 

 imity to absolute robbery, as the process of getting pos- 

 session of these park lands, has disclosed. The poor 

 owners have been squeezed without stint by cutting- 

 down valuations, and then jewed in ])rices in oi'der to 

 obtain a public park for the indulgence of a wealth}' 

 city. Ap])ly this same kind of treatment to yourselves 

 and then you will see how you would like it; probal)ly 

 you would rebel as I do. 



I now here])y withdraw every ]iroposition, or conces- 

 sion, written or verbal, heretofore made by me, Avith the 

 view of settling for the lot No. 17, leaving the price as 

 per bill or claim rendered, under the date of May 25th, 

 1883, at 18 3-4 cents per foot, or |89,317.50. 



Respectfully j^ours, 



Samuel E. Sawyer. 



