History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
With his fleet, and his guns, and all that ; He stoiKl where the water was w ettest --
It almost came over his shoes -- And he cried. Ml my 5H)ul that regrettcst
The glory the Kates did refuse. What a mercy to all these Scarsdalers --
That they in this stream couldn't lie; For at once with my frigates ami sailors
I had blown their rebellion sky-high, When these shores, which I now have my eye on.
Had been fuller of saii-s ' than of 'dales,' And the unicorn here, and the lion.
Would have roared and erected their tails. 0 where this tine sylvan dra|iery,
tir these villas of woiiderfid shajK', Or hot house, or gi cen-liouee, or grapery.
Had they once got a taste of my gnijie'! Btii-ause Washington pulle«l at their trigger
They fancy 'twas up w ith our jig, But if only the Bronx had been bigger,
Then hers had not been so big,' 'Then, iiuoth I, ' this old salt should bo throttled,
If his long yarn is false, as methinks. But if true then the Bronx should be Ijottled
To mix with Centennial drinks ! "
Another statement, presumably not a legend, in which Scarsdale can justly take great pride, and which is vouched for by excellent authority, is "that no Scarsdale-born person was ever in jail or the poorhouse." Considering that the town has had a corporate existence of over a century, this indeed may be a source of just satisfaction to all the inhabitants.