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Introduction
GEO. W. BROUN.
YAPHANK AS IT IS,
AND
WAS, AND WILL BE.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ALL ITS PROMINENT MEN, THE
CHARACTERISTIC PROCLIVITIES OF ITS "FUNNY" PEOPLE, ITS
BUSINESS AND BUSINESS "MONARCHS," ITS FACILITIES
MOIL ENTERPRISE AND IMPROVEMENT, AND AN
IMPARTIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ADVANTAGES.
AND DISADVANTAGES ENJOYED AND
SUFFERED BY ITS CITIZENS.
THE SUFFOLK COUNTY ALMS-HOUSE AS IT IS.
THIS WORK CONTAINS THE MOST AUTHENTIC AND PLEASING
HISTORY OF THIS "MODEL" INSTITUTION
BEFORE THE PUBLIC.
BY L. BEECHER HOMAN.
"Every town and city in the United States should induce its best-informed writers to pu its annals into the permanent shape of a book that its early history may not be forgotten. Of these volumes of local interest and value, there cannot be too many.''-New York Herald.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1875,
By L. BEECHER HOMAN,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington
John Polhemus,
Printer,
102 Nassau St., New York
TO MY MOTHER,
THE DEAREST FRIEND I HAVE ON EARTH,
I Dedicate this Work,
THE CULMINATION OF HER FOSTERING INCENTIVE,
AND KIND, CHEERING WORDS.
INTRODUCTION.
"To know your country to its farthest veins, Find out its heart ; there all its being tends."
I deem formality, or apology, not requisite as an embellishment to the INTRODUCTION of a work that must prove of intrinsic value to all to take an interest in the local affairs of their country.
To become acquainted with the lives of men who have figured in conspicuous capacities, and whose names are familiar in coalition with the LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, UNDERTAKINGS, EXCITEMENTS and AFFAIRS of their times, is an almost insatiable desire of some; and to be familiar with the RELIABLE HISTORY of any town or village, and the peculiarities of the people, is an acquaintance as eagerly sought as it is laudable and beneficial.
To gratify that commendable propensity, I have gathered and carefully compiled the RELIABLE FACTS contained in this MINIATURE HISTORY, and look to the hearty appreciation of my reading friends, and the public, as a verification of its GENUINE WORTH.
When first I took my pen to write,
Strange bodings whisper'd "FAIL!"
And grim prognostics did unite
To make my faint heart quail.
I knew that rhetoric were vain
In lauding OLD YAPHANK,
And that success I must attain
By writing bold and frank
I know the place of which I write,
And know thee people better ;
Of ev'ry sentence-wrong or right
I am the sole begetter.
I've tried the simple facts ty write,
Impartially and true ;
And ev'ry thing that tends to blight,
Did faithfully eschew.
But if mistakes I do record-
For writers sometimes will-
I hope my FRIENDS will not accord
And blame an erring quill ;
For I am sure my heart was right,
And that no bias did
Encourage me to falsely write
What JUSTICE would forbid.
If I to please the Tinker write,
And not the Tailor, too,
I may be term'd a flatt'ring wight,
As "penning" Devils through.
In this fast age of Great Events,
The wonders we expect ;
And one will be "My Compliments"
From those I least respect-
If Fortune ever smiles as sweet
Upon my luckless head,
Or fills my heart with joy replete
O'er things I've never said.
L. B H.