Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-08-21
From the Baltimore Patriot.
NEwPoar, Aug. IL, 1861,
Ocean House,


place. Since the last season, some
thirty or forty Of what may be called
suburban villas, have been erected here
and many, wto formerly were guests at
the House, now occupy their own mnn-
SONS for the summer. Nor is il in this
particular alone, that Newport is losing
the character peculiar to watering pla-
ces, and be coming city'Wis Society
is assuming It's city shape; and the "Te-
ceptions" at Newport, are those Of New
York, Philadelphia, or Boston, so far
rs the size OF the mansion will allow
Nor is there any thing Objectionable in
all tins. Ii used to be comfortable, in
some respects, to live IN ones slippers
at "the springs" and to be released
from the more formal observances Of So
ciety-but there were disadvantages at
tending this also and il is unquestiona-
bly, great improvement to the sea-
shore, 20 far as the enjoyment Of the
visitors is concerned, that there should
be, in addition TO air and sea bathing.
sailing, fishing, and shooting, pistol gal
lcries, and b,wling, refined and or
ganized society, as part Of the a,trac-
tions Of the place. The Hotels will con-
tinue, however, to be as crowded as they
now are for every year enlarges the
circle Of the influence of the spot Of
earth, which may, even now, be called
"A kingdom by the seas"
and 30 it will be until the Pacific shores,
having contributed their quota Of visi-
tors, nothing will be left butrhe Hawa-
tians and the Chinese-the Kanakas
and the Celestials.
There is Ii tie Of every thing here |;
the most striking objects certainly being
fine women-the next fine horses-and
the next being fine weather. Touching
the horses, here you see the horse Pc
culiar = this country-ihe last trottcr in
his prime and glory-not perhaps the
racing trotter-but the trotters for every
day use. The ine roads Of the island
are un attraction TO their owners and
they are brought here, and exhibited
every evening in every description Of
vehicle and snder the saddle. Even
the milk wagon horse starts with dash
and rattles along at surprising pace;
and at every turn you see the northern
horse in the handsomest and in the hum
blest equipages, literally "goIng is."--
The ladies' too, eschewing the pace and
the cantcr, dash of in swinging trot,
and with great good sense, and kind
feeling for their horse and themselves
too, rise and fall with his motion, instead
OF pounding him by bobbng up and
down, IN the process Of being churned
into butter. Not the least a tractive
part Of an afternoons exhibition is the
female horscmanship Of Newport.
Occasionally, the amuscmcn,s of New
port are very unexpectedly diversified.
A few evenings since, one of the visitors
hired boat q, the wharf, to 60 over to
the shore Of Canonicui, by the ligh,
house and off the end Of Rose Island
at which last there is target for prac.
iicc from Fort Adams, space well
white washed, OF about six feet in diam.
eter, on the stone Of the circular work
which takes the place Of bastion on
the south western angle Of the iortifica-
tion there. One or two shot from the
thirty two Founders on the upper, or
barbette, battery OF Fort Adams had
been remarked by the gentleman in
question, but without at all suggesting
what was to follow. Presently, howev-
er, there was a dull hustling sound, as
Of a popping shot, and the boatman was
asked if there was any danger. His
answer was in the negative, and, as it
stood to reason, that there could be no
object in the officers at the Fort anus
ing themselves with firing 80 pound
shot at the Ocean House visitors, or in
playing Gen. Putnam and the Indian -
trying to see how close they could come
without hIt,ing-no,hing more vas said
Presently however, another shot, yelr.
ing, screeching, and bowling as only
81 pound shot can do, came so close to
the boat, across her path in front, that
both boat.nan and passenger Godged in
continently; it's effect upon their cars
being dcatening. "Zounds," says the
boatlnan, "but tina, was grazing" As
for the passenger he had no belief that
the barbette battery had any designs on
his IIe; but when he looked at the
broad face Of the walls on which the
target was, and saw that in all the prac-
tce from the Fort, they had never sue
ceeded in hitting the wall, let alone the
target, he could not help feeling that
such wild shooting might sometimes be
uncomfortable to those who were in front
Of the plane Of the muzzlc of the piece.
But he had scarcely time TO think to
this effect, before, with howl and screech
another shot passed just astcrn Of the
boat, which in the Interval between the
two had crossed the line Of fire, and
took care when she next crossed it, 10 go
ao cloas nndar tho .,alIs m Ia ha .a.u