Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-09
WHOLE NO 100

! Doge's palace quite suggested their
mien. Life was IA festival worthy lthe
sphere, worthy the illin liable splendor
and capacity Of the world. They were
only gondola dreams, the ariiculate song
of the mystery and magnificence Of Ven
Ice. They were only pictures on the
air, the evancscent mirage Of romance
that hOvers about that spot. Yet wasit
strange that the pleasant dream inspir-
ed by 30 singular triumph Of art as the
city Of Venice should return upon the
cliffs at Newport, in view Of the posi-.
biities and influences Of society just
beginnng2 IL was not strange, but il
was sad For we shall never fulfill the
destiny that Hope has allotted us. since
Hope always paints human portraits
with the coors Of the Ideal. Even upon
these cliffs the Spring promised bright
er Summer than was pOssible-lor the
Spring is Poet, and sings to Us in our
speech the visions beh.ld in another
realm. And if the faithful Year thus
fails, we will not anticipate much in any
other quarter. But why should we NOT
still claim the privilege in these Septem-
ber sunsets OF seeing, if we can, fair and
| graceful figures moving along the cliffs,
fair and graceful enough to walk by the
sea and under the sky as Kings and
Queens tread their palaces2 Let them
be only mourners over the years decay,
| il no more. but comiorters also. For
Yet doth Beauty, like dial-hand,
Steal from It's figure and no pace perceived"
And still vainly striving TO see the pro-
! cess of decay, which Is yet so evident,
the cynical Timon bending over the ash
es OF another fashionable season at New
port must again wonder cui 6ono' An
omnous valediction!
Yet must not forget TO mention the
one poetic aspect OF Newport-li.e, and
that is its iestal leisure. There is bot
one aim here-enjoyment. If there is
noise and hurry, it is not the world which
everywhere else distracts us. The shop
sinks at Newport, and alth ough we may
still be only shop keepers masqueradmg
yet we are not shop-keeping. We are
initiating, with more or less success, the
aspect oil a life refined graceful and po-
eilc, of which the distinctive American
spirit can never be more than the sub
structure. 1t will harm no one 10 stand
little apart and watch the game. Is
you separate yourself enough. the form
OF the life may satisfy your imagination,
and thus extracting the drop OF honey
from the Haunting weed, you can endure
with greater heroism the compassionate
criticism that 'it is pity to see every
thing with the Imagination" delight
in those men who dwarf their souls by
contemplating whatever deformity the
spectacle of life offers, and then sniff
complacently that they "take things as
they are" Whoever sees more Of the
Devil than o! God in the world is sure
TO bear the palm for great practical
human nature. But whoever in the
sprcuting plant foresees the glory Of the
flower is lamentably impractical. These
are ludicious conclusions. But when,
like a poisonous atmosphere, they begin
to overspread the world, it may not DE
amss 10 use the Imagination as teles-
cope to make other worlds nearer and
more real.
hoped TO have tod you OF the Corso.
or semi-weekly promenade at the Fort !;
which began galiantly enough but de-
clined rapidly because veIvet-coated
fast gentlemen would trot their fast horses
over the ground as if ii had been a race
course, and because instead of forming
two contrary lines Of carriages, TO ena-
bic us TO pass and see and chat or atop-
ping as at the Cascine in Florence for
conversation, we all trotted meekly one
way in each others dust. With our
graceful carriages and the famed beauty
of American women, this should be one
o. the most attractive features Of the
watering places. But our exaggeration
spoiled il. What American is ever go-
| ing behinl IL What is the use OF z, 40.
! if you are to walk in n ring2 So we
must wait little. until jockeys ripen in
! 10 gentlemen and eagerness mellows in
to elegance. | wonder if wit from
! Mercury coming TO summer on the
earth, would suspect that our Newport
am was enjoyment. fear even he
/ would draw upon his Imagination for
such conclusion.
But there is another Fort, a circular
vein upon the rocky point Of an Island
at the entrance OF the harbor, which you
can reach in hall hour from Newport,
and is well worth an afternoon. ltis
called Fort Dumping, because il is near
! a cluster of rocks so named. You glide
from the beautiful harbor directly into
The smooth water, and the cove like
reaches among the rocks. The bright
vegetation clinging to the crevices OF
their sides is touched TaTneresqreiy, (if
you will forgive me, by the afternoon
sun. and ns you land upon the island,
its low, bare, melancholy outline reminds
you of days and feelings by no means
low or bare OF melancholy. You climb
over the rocks and pasture lands luxu-
RANT with scentless asters, crisp ever
lasting, and yellow golden rods, and find
them the onl ly garrison of the ruined old
fort, which is perched upon II cliff over
the sea. They nod along the ramparts,
and fame in the crumb ling walls.-
Girls toss pebbles through the port holes,
aud muse upon the distant sails at sea
But best Of all, quaint old Newport lics
white against lis hill, and the sinking
sun plays with il, making It what city
you will, OF all the famous and stately
\ cities upon the sea. Let us leave IL so.
!. Ofthe many memorable pictures of
= pleasant Summer none is more beauti-
ful. For the last time, your all.
\ HowADJL