New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-07
TIE FOURTH ON an ISLAND.
rRox Az occ,ToyAL ooRREspovnyvr I,

the FOURTH o. NeW1Ork, resolved
never 70 be caught again I'm that dismal festival What
more disgusting than endure for week rolling FIRE
Of crackers night and day, and then tho morning Of
the glorious anniversary you lean gaspng out OF the
window for breath OF air 70 be picked OF 10y the
ket ball Of playful young patriot cast about for tho
most quiet retreat could think o. and settled Block
Island as the antidote TO New-York Resolved however
to escape season, set OF the morning Of the ist
July, aud By tho advice Of who set up TO know all
about It, left the cars at stoningtOn as the
point to embark But had the modification 10 find
that fishing smack which would have taken over for
dollar had just left and all the boats at stOnngton
were laid up furnishing for grand regatta which 10
celebrate the Fourth. should have gone 70 New.
port tried at Westerly with equal bad luck aud at
last came back 70 souington where toward dark,
was found who, with much coaxng consented for $40 TO
put me next day.
So early tho morning OF the third set SAIL and ct
p. m, anchored IN the harbor OF New shoreham.
On the beach cleaning dsb with carloads Of
Goldfish heads strewn around: busy tinkenng
their sharp doubleprowed boats others OF course lOung
ing and crtcizing Little boys atentlyely looking
at their elders playing n the mud, but all left TO
como and gaze at the arrival They Immediately
greeted with tomorrow = the 4th OF July, and the
steamboat is coming" and Informed me that Mr. Zeno
sprout took boarders Ga my way the hotel think
told at least twenty tunes that the next day
"the Ih OF July" and that the steamboat coming
l saw Mr. Sprout aud made my arrangements
Mr sprOut is tall weather-beaten. kind old fishermen
always ready with dry remark; he has travelled
some" am told Ho wore an old straw hat, flannel
shirt rolled up, which Is here the hight
OF fashion; going or wearing depends
taste Soon supper was announced. II consisted Of
Goldfish tongues lobster. blue-fsb. ham, wheat bread
brown bread, sweetened biscuit, cake, and pie.
The landlady comes from Portland; has supreme
tempt and dislike for Block Island, and Is quite polite
The daughter is about seyenteen tan, with hght HAIR
bright blue eyes, and very pretty MOUTH quite gsntee
looking There are servants here; she and hired
girl keep the house. My fellow boariers doctor
his assistant peddler, and couple Of inyalids, MI
Josiah Brock from Massachusetts,, and Mr.. Cobb from
Connecticut doctor styled himself natural doc
tor and seventh SON" Hecalms TO possess the Rf OF
healing and can be consulted in regard TO all diseases
affecting the human system, andgye the location, symp
TOMS &C. without asking anyi questions" for which he
charges nothing. lie with herbs and roots,
so adapting them TO the temperament OF
each person that all who take his prescription
become their own DOCTOR and escape future doctors
bills and drurtakingv FOR which he charges s.. His d.
rectous were printed and served for all diseases Boil
the roots &c, long, in much water strain add
pint OF molasses and piBt OF some liquor generally
whskyJ this the only varying constituent lie evil
IDENTIFY strongly In the spirits patroniEed them
extensively and only prescribed when under their In.
spraton He says he has cured lots" here, and that
there was not a sound the island when he
Mr. Brock IA a Oneeyedscorbuc youth OF Is. the son OF
Massachusetts, farmer He Is certainly not progressing,
but IN general appearance may bo said without attery
to either resemble OF the Gagged owls at Central
Park lie gives his opinions subject. and on
every OCCASION slow deliberate drawl as II lie had
until eternity to live, and everybody willing to live
10 listen 10 him. He Immediately started conversation
with a vOlley OF questions and remarks on the
weather 20 which I did not much attend
He finally discoursed the " table mercies
he went on aud on at last heard, "I ain't much
III I ah--fpn xpu
Tho Doctor here interrupted Eyes but you the dev
on pie" Mr. Brock agreed with an amemty very edfv-
ng in devil. and took his fourth cut. My remaining
companion is Mr. Cobb sharp boy Of eighteen. been
working in a machiuc-shop and broken down. He Is
rather good looking very active, and reminds one OF
black terrier; tremendous talker great ladies'
man. and possesses many photographs flowers &c which
he calls 'trcphlcs"-of what ala not ask He IS very
good-naiured and obglug besides being great hdget;
so to keep m out OF mischief the landlord has him In
stalled Us sort Of chief cook and botilewasher, and
gets good deal OF work out OF him.
Your Block Islander Is by no means devoid OF
sharpness particularly II ho has Travelled some"
After supper Mr.. Cobb took me under Ills wing aud
showed me around The first place was the landing.
Nothing was going here, so We went to the next
point Of attraction, the photograph gallery. This
IL very popular place. muco patronized by
the ladies, not for business. but 70 talk
that won't support the proprietor, 50 he mgr"'es
regular lonregg dovn.Elst Yankee from Maine. He
came here make sails and catchh,h went ~ assistant
70 srong p9oiGgRhe tnous y bon me- Go on and
FOR tito last year has been pracucng here uh ne can
equal those ON tho mainland icimproyed VERY much on
lie l,y coloring the ladies most gorgeousy
with carmlne, gamboge and Prussan blue - ne lt
marked "A man is nowhere you he doe'lt SUIT
Breakfast consisted OF about the same supper The
bill OF fare dinner was goldfish tongues, Duensn,
lobster corn bread wheat bread, stewed onions ahd e
AS wad Tor me rh stSamboa Is Coming and little
later the steamboat anchored I'm the hatbor invited
Miss Mary 10 20 with me sho replied win qhte an IN
t,red az :, A steambost Il no new thing 10 me- Two
Travelled some. aud seen plenty ana let you Know iN1
been aboard more than one /" That was conclusive
have since observed that the ladies' consider II great
proof OF rusticity TO 60 10 look M inc scamnca uut
ote-Cioing abroad Block Island means travelling 70
Newport Providence perhaps pushing as lar as Dos
ircted 10 SEQ the sights The shetcring them
selves in the shade OF lighthouses the ladies hnddled To-
course provided with excuse other than curiosity
they dressed up 20 hll-some WIN nti'o sltag
bas and blue ribbons, with occasional parasOI
and sprnkling Of last summers fashions. ih,y we're
generally smal, with very little hands and is1 sY G
eyed hatchetaced fellow driving colt IN one oi the
odfishioned vehicles peculiar 10 1nS lJ with fFrWs
and shouts "Hooa Jennie; how = the fourth Juyl
Oh all right; how's youi Come to look at tnese steam
The crowd being landed. began TO pass They were
mostly OF the gay and festive order from Providence a1
Wo,",.,rt They come 20 see Block Island do they y
saws Jennie ''Let 'em looka they II see As pie Of
tSot's Fail River Walk up and look at the CITY gentle
men; don't nothn'-f u II did you Know you g T
pay so go on Laughter, aud cries OF Ibats TiSh d
ME; talk To 'em Ike preacher knoN 10 49, Ier
preacher, even il amt washed yeI i gelf so bis
with his beaver hat; tho he does thlnk nsoa o
bet he amt got 25 In his pocket ia give more o
the rigging than would Tor enc h haa nero ''O'
o." ter willie small boy reported that there were
couple OF iau t u betre lie steamer started where
are they There they are And some oraeAct' OeNH
now S% do T1 You turn your horse. Jennie and go to
themP "No, won't an "a r so t % mack lis their