six Collegiate churches that trace their origin to the first church
organized by the Dutch settlers in 1628. Its succession to the "church
in the fort" is commemorated by a tablet, and in the yard is preserved
the bell which originally hung in the North Church.

Then, in East Twenty-ninth Street, is the rambling old Church of the
Transfiguration, loved by all true New Yorkers irrespective of creed,
under the name of the "Little Church Around the Corner." From it the
actors Wallack, Booth, and Boucicault were buried, and in it is the
memorial window to Edwin Booth, executed by John La Forge, and erected
by the Players Club in 1898, in loving memory of the club's founder.
Below the window is Booth's favourite quotation.

"As one, in suffering all:
That suffers nothing;
A man that fortune's buffets and rewards
Hast ta'en with equal thanks."
--_Hamlet_, III., 2.

Often as the story from which the church derived its familiar name has
been told, no narrative dealing with New York would be quite complete
without it. As it deals with Joseph Jefferson, let it be related in the
words of the stage Rip Van Winkle's Reminiscences. Mr. Jefferson was
trying to arrange for the funeral, and in company of one of the dead
actor's sons, was seeking a clergyman to officiate. Here is his story:

"On arriving at the house I explained to the reverend gentleman the
nature of my visit, and arrangements were made for the time and place at
which the funeral was to be held. Something, I can hardly say what, gave
me the impression that I had best mention that Mr. Holland was an actor.
I did so in a few words, and concluded by presuming that this would make
no difference. I saw, however, by the restrained manner of the minister
and an unmistakable change in the expression of his face, that it would
make, at least to him, a great deal of difference. After some hesitation
he said he would be compelled, if Mr. Holland had been an actor, to
decline holding the service at his church.

"While his refusal to perform the funeral rites for my old friend would
have shocked, under ordinary circumstances, the fact that it was made in
the presence of the dead man's son was more painful than I can describe.
I turned to look at the youth and saw that his eyes were filled with
tears. He stood as one dazed with a blow just realized; as if he felt
the terrible injustice of a reproach upon the kind and loving father who
had often kissed him i