Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



and accepted, asked to be advised if there was any other 

 need of the Museum which he could supply, instead of the 

 flag. The purchase of a certain rare and interesting old 

 lithographic birdseye view of New York Harbor and the 

 adjacent part of Staten Island, published in 1854, was 

 suggested. Mr. Durkee promptly transmitted his check for 

 $25.00 and the picture was secured. 



Our collection of old maps, prints, documents, and litera- 

 ture relating to Staten Island is one which the Association has 

 the opportunity to make almost complete. Unlike other mus- 

 eum material the items are definite individual entities, limited 

 in number, and may be acquired by purchase as opportunities 

 arise. Many desirable items could be secured in the near future 

 if a sum of $50.00 was aavilable for the purpose, and an immed- 

 iate contribution of $5.00 would assure the acquisition of two rare 

 old colored engravings by Wallis, issued in 1838— New York Bay 

 from the Telegraph Station [Staten Island], and the Narrows 

 from Fort Hamilton. 



Among recent accessions to our library are "Poems by 

 Alan Seeger," and "Letters and Diary of Alan Seeger." The 

 author was a Staten Island boy the first ten years of his life, 

 from 1889 - 1899, and he is remembered by many of us, especially, 

 no doubt, by those who were his companions nnd playmates at 

 the Staten Island Academy. He joined the Foreign Legion of 

 France at the outbreak of the European war and was killed on 

 the battlefield of Belloy-en-Santerre July 4, 1916. Every Staten 

 Islander may justly feel proud that the author of these vol- 

 umes was once a resident here. They can not fail to prove 

 an inspiration to all who may read them, even to the slacker 

 or the pacifist, and should be read by everyone who admires 

 the courage that prefers death in a struggle to preserve ideals 

 rather than living in peace and comfort while others are doing 

 the world's work for them. 



His poem " I Have a Rendezvous with Death," has already 

 become a classic, and its closing lines are prophetic of what he 

 expected his end would be: 



. . . I've a rendezvous with Death, 

 At midnight in some flaming town, 

 When Spring trips north again this year, 

 And I to my pledged word am true, 

 I shall not fail that rendezvous." 



