The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-08-19

Nrxrosr, r. L, Aug. Il, ~

NO4oO u Z10v
NrwroRr, R. L, Aug. n, 1885,. =
Mn. Eprop-Dsar Sir: Ffon thia PLEASANT
watering place-once the summer home for
the chivalry--we greet iyou. Our ~ here
has been very pleasant, save the fare at the
hotel, the Ocean House, 1.-THE best in the
place) which is miserable, at only Eve dollars
per day. The landlord does not know how
to keep hotel, or is trying to get rich of of
this seasons business. rssa IL
Newport is very pleasantly situated, and its
surroundings are both beautiful and attractive,
and as it was, in days Of yore, 1.-THE Southern
watering place" for sea bathing, much Of
that exclusive style is still maintained by the
visitors who congregate here. Many of our
Eastern Millionaires have built summer resi-
dences here, which they FAcErIousLY call
cottages. In point of architectural beauty,
the buildings cannot be surpassed, many OF
them costing upwards Of one hundred thou
sand dollars, each surrounded by several
acres of ground, tastefu1ly laid out, and filed
with evergreens, shrubbery and flowers. The
avenue, which is over two miles in length,
running down to the ocean, is fine macada-
mixed road, and Is lined with cottages on
either side, prominent among which is one
built by Augustus Belmont, (of the Chicago
Convention notoriety) which is built some
thing after the old English style, but is,
nevertheless. one of the prettiest cottages on
T, the avenue The drive to Fort Adams is also
very fine. The fort commands the harbor
here, which, by-the-by, is one Of the best
harbors on the coast, and the fort itself is an
object of great interest Ii mounts great
number of guns, and is now garrisoned by
troops belonging to the regular army. II is a
fort of great strenth, and in time Of war, if
we'll garrisoned, it would look to common
observer impregnable.
"Thc Sea, the Sea, the open bounding Sea-"
After all the sights have been seen, to a lands
man, is the centre Of attraction, and the
beach is hourly thronged with visitors. The
view of the broad Atlantic is very fine, and
the beach at the bathing ground is unequaled
at any other bathing place on the entire
| coast-a fine sandy bottom descending gradu-
ally into the sea. The scene there at mid day
| (which is the best time for baehing) is both
| novel and fantastic. The beach for some dis
lance is lined with small dressing houses. in
| which the ladies and gentlemen attire for the
| bath-and re-attirc after the bath. The cos
| tune is as varied as the taste of the bathers
the most common, and might add, the most
comfortable, is grey or red flannel suit, with
| chip hat for both ladies' and gentlemen, tied
closely under the chin. When full rugged for
the bath, u metropolitan policeman, or detec-
tive, would lose himself in the motley crowd.
''and like Otheuo," his occupation would be
gone.
Upon entering the surf, which rolls wave
| after wave to the shore, the occasion is at its
hight, and the pleasure of o saltwater bath
is such that the most timid ladies loose thei,
fear and wade out boldly into the briny deep
and at every bounding wave bound above III
crest. Soon some unfortunate damsei. for.
getting that saltwater is salt, is submerged
1
again, tightly grasping her more fortunate
swain, coughing New York ~ and filling
the ali. with saltwater spray, which causes q
merry laugh from the surrounding crowd,
who readily know she is taking her sea- bath
number one: and my advice to all such is
never to 60 under salt water with your mouth
open.
The bath over, preparation is made fol
Table de Hote = at half past r. NJ, but as
| indicated the character of the fare at the
beginning of this, will say nothing here about
the dinner, leaving you to imagine it, if YOU
like. one of Delmonico's, bdt with bill of fare
printed on silk. After dinner the grand
promenade, through the halls and on
the piazzas, enlivened by music from the
band, until after P. ". Then the predomi
nant passion of the Newporters makes itself
domlnant-a drire in something diferen,
from anything that wds erer rode in before.
You see the old English carriage. with coach
man and iootman, drawn by two and fou,
horses, and carriages of every other imagina.
able pattern; highly polished wood and vii
low phaetons on low wheels, with seats for
two, with single basket seat behind, for the
coaehman, who is only an ornamental char.
acter, as he sits in full dress with white gloves
on, stove-pipe hat and arms folded, the
fair occupants in front, holding the ribbons
one-wheel carts of unique style and pattern
| lady and gentleman equestrians, and might
add, without making longer description
DC. The most dashing turn-outs here are
Belmont's and Frank Lesles. After thu
drive, the grand reception hop in the even
ing, (Which is attended by the residents o
the cottages,) the air being vocal with musi.
until after midnight, when even the light fan
tastic toe is ready to embrace Old Morpheus
as well as the writer, who will bid you good
night.
Yours truly, RAMBLER.
CcRATCH! SCRATCH! sCRATCHl