Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-15
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
SKETCHES OF SUMNER TRAVEL.

SKETCHES OF SUMNER TRAVEL.
Editorial Correspondence Of The Sta,.I
mo. 161 August 4, 1850.
SrEAMISe Down BosroS HARBoR-B osroN,s
CHARITABLE AND PENAL ISsrIrurIoNs-wA-
TERIsa PLACE HOTELS, AND PRIVATE WATER
SIDE VILLAS AS SEEN FROM THE STEAMERS
DEck-THR PANoRANA-A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET
-NAHANT AS IT Is-WHAT HAS MADE II WHAT
1T AS SUMNER REsoRr-THE BosroN Leg
MAN-AGAssIz AND PRKscorr.
am now steaming down Boston harbor How
changed the island Of East Boston In twenty-five
| years since which time | had not seen It, Then
Its only individual enterprise In successful prose-
| cution was a single mammoth sugar refinery, IL
l remember correctly. Its now successful docks
| were then but projected and commenced, and a
comparatively few indifferent houses were scat
| tered over Its waste. Now, from the water side
it appears to be well built up as the main city
itself; shipping crowding its docks and wharves,
and immense warehouses and manufactures being
| In sight upon ii, (the island Of East Boston, }
| rising above surrounding buildings In all direc-
| lions South Boston, too, that forms the other
flank Of the entrance to the cty's harbor was them
when compared with what 1t II is now, a very
desert. At this time l find II a well SUBJ
stantial city At its extreme point of land) stand
the citys house Of correction for vicious boys, a
plain and modest collection Of buildings.
Further down the harbor we pass small islands
dedicated by the city and State to penal and ele-
| mosynary purposes, all having upon them sub
stantial and extensive buildings in admirable
condition, and forcing upon the stranger who is
accustomed to state of society like that in the
| South, where there are few paupers and fewer
| criminals, the impression that with all their
| wealth and all their piety, Massachusetts, and
Boston must be cursed with ten times their right
full share Of crime, and twenty times their right
full share of suffering among the laboring classes
| from poverty.
AS look back from about six miles down the
| harbor, with the sun just fairly down behind the
hills the sunset scene 10 charming indeed tinging
everything 1t touches with golden illumination
houses, ships, and even the undulations Of the
tops Of the lower clouds on the shore, which look
as though row OF brilliant lamps had been hung
along upon all of them for stretch Of mile.
We are now so far down the harbor (having
passed Its staunCh and costly Notifications, the
Long Island Watering place Hotel, &c, &c } as
that the swell Of the rocks the little steamer
amazingly, though not unpleasantly to me. Look
| ing seward, the broad Atlantic once more rests
under my eyes, while Its breezes rolling In upon
me, inspirit me to write on, which, however, ap-
| preaching darkness forbids.
August Sire reaching Nahant (where am
now writng) last evening, the boats windings in
the shore-channels iDtricacies exhibited to those
on board various very beautiful views of conspic.
| nous objects surrounding and within Boston bar
Dor, not otherwise to be seen to 30 much advan-
tage lighthouses, ledge beacons light boats the
State nautcal-school buildings, half a dozen
watering place hotels, villages, and sumptuous
water-side summering seats Of Bostonians Of
wealth, besides Cape Cod and Cape Ann; the
ocean being, from everywhere, In sight, the while
On landing, found the famous Nahant Hotel
closed the cost Of keeping itopen for the last two
or three seasons not being paid by the patronage
received. 1t is designed to accommodate twelve
hundred souls, and has a commanding position.
But, alas for the vicissitudes Of the tastes of the
fashions OF the times, Boston, though her wealthy
men took Nahant particularly under their wing
has been unable to draw sufficient custom to keen
such an establishment open, even at this really
nnest seaside summers journing point in the
United States. 1t strikes me that the reason why
for the purpose designed, Nahant has proved
dead failure, 10 just because Boston,s wealthy
citizens rather than her working thousands under.
took the job mentioned above Exclusiyeness
evidently reigns here now. The peninsula IL
| studded with beautiful cottages surrounded by
costly, .--l r.A.AsvAd a,nnnAa each i.h.hI..a INV
ceremonious dignity Of the Tycoon of japan.
Hence few except those whom they regard a,
equals In society find 1t agreeable to come here in
summer; and the magnificent hotel has conse.
quently proved dead loss to Its proprietors.
am at the unpretending village inn, where I
md every necessary comfort and very civil peo-
pie So have been enjoying the quiet Of this
day-Sunday-here, and the delicious cool breeze
from the sea, after my own fashion To me, the
absence Of pleasure-seeking thousands, adding
almost unexampled quiet to the soothing calm
ness Of the beautiful water views from Nabant,s
rocks and beaches, is luxury beyond expression
with the pen. Turn whittier | will, a new and
charming view strikes the eve. The rocky islets
near the shore each look like an uncomfortable
natural fortress, their rugged proportions rising
80 suddenly and commandingly from the water.
The multitude Of villages and outstretching
beaches laying scattered around landward, and
the dark blue Of the receding expanss Of water.
| looking seward, keep me constantly with out
| stretched neck. Nature and art have both done
more to make Nahant the most charming water
side resting place on this continent at this season
Of the year, to the person really seeking rest, cool
sea breezes and excellent sea bathing, than for
any other such point. Cape Mays surf is not to
be enjoyed here; but one finds here In its stead,
beaches equally as fine those of Cape Nav. a
multitude Of views thousand times surpass-
ing Cape Nays single view seward, walks
and drives innumerable, unsur passed anywhere
shrubbery and shade that will gladden. the heart
Of any lover Of those two 80 delightful luxuries
to the tagged out city man Of business; and sea
air that cannot fail to reinvigorate his overasked
strength when quietly enjoyed. With all these
attractions, were Nabant really within the reach
OF the toilng thousands of Boston and the thick
lY-poPulated country surrounding IL, its fortunes
as summer resort would doubtless have been
different. But the wealth and intense fashion of
the 'modern Athens" have practically tabooed
1t to all save themselves. They cut great dash,
1t 10 true as they rode leisurely along its beaches
on Their daily drives Observation-Disclosures noon, in
their very heavy and dignIned carriages But
they fail most woefully to pay the people living
here interested In the business Of Nahant an a
watering place, who, while they would not like
to lose the ornamental effect Of their magnificent
cottages, doubtless heartily wish every mothers
son and daughter Of them to the -, as the de-
stroyers Of Nahant's prosperity
The finest improvements upon the peninsula