New-York tribune., 1870-08-26
CAMP MEETINGS.
MARTHA'S VINEYARD.

,o,o,s aroma Of the sea floating up tho piun''
across the long yellow stretches OF S~eetiern, anu
bursting into tented limits, riotS 6o,'ouy, -. . ,
with watts OF audacity the dainty curs Vi s"ooVcye
q, ga ts spell upon the quaint faces OF SAINT ana
,, ana does so warm this island world with its cheery
charm that doeful visagc ana tagging ioo' ,o '"s
impossible. With the culver ana qna'o, y, ''o 0a
branches chime the little chidrens mueh'e, anu 'o
u,o,Ino ,roIicking murmur OF waves on tho beach.
The heavy numbering steamers from we" Dono'"'
oded with picturesque pilgrims In scarlet ana Diue
ond ybite whistle themselves ashore, ana sIasnt"ay
,h naths TO the camp ground turn to moving srps OF
color and frantic welcomes clatter / INC an
The instant one sets foot on Vincyau soii son"o
hiarity the soul, as II the neatn VI 10 %
at lin ngered in the hooks and holows over winch tey
o hung From the dreary upcountry, along the gar
inc dusty roads, come mighty loads OF straw topped ny
wrinkled berry brown driver and store OF gay patcn
work quilts and rosy smiling babes Day arter uay'
for weeks past has crowd, orthodox, ana otherwSe
fmainy otberwise) drfted to the Vineyard, until now
there are nearly 10000 people here. Many have been
,1 a, the hotels and cottages all Summer for, sootn
70 the secular graces OF Martha are rapidly obscur
inc that ancient madens religious feryors The
distinctive expression OF the place ls no ION.
ger strictly religious. Ihough nS chci
attraction is firmly held to be the campmeetinS' M
growing more and to be appreciated as one OF the
oddest and most peaceful hooks for Summer lettering.
For three years the elders have mourned anen the rush
OF heretical joty, but nOw happily Philosophical they
subsde under this years swelling tide with equanmlty'
In buildings the camp has increased quite third since
last Summer and dainty little cottages are still perKng
up their French roofs from under tho hands OF busy
builders Since the last meeting two hundred OF these
cottages have reared their pretty airy balconies, and
four large hotels perched themselves pompously
upon the Blus-the Bluffs belonging to that company OF
unorthodox who hold that camp-meeting among
other things means business. On the Bluff side OF the
fence Of the most charming cottages, ond
general tone wordiness and uncompromising gayety
prevails Oak Bluffs people won't go to bed at 10 O'clock
and have been known to sit up In secular conVers
tion until the unhalowed hour OF H.
Thiry-ave years ago began the meetings, in circle OF
nine rough srawheaped tents, with preachers stand
OF Natures own primitive construction. NOW there
are tents and cottages nesting in the grove and
a latticed oratOry lifts itself under scarletedged
canopy large enough to shade 1000 devout heads Oppo
site the old camp ground the Highlands, new pur-
chase wooded hight OF more than 200 acres, OF which
$4,000 worth of lots have already been sold There Is
"pretty plum" OF quite s3OOOOOO represented In the
Highland Association, while the CampMeeting Associa-
ton mOdety deposits itself at the gate Of $4,000 The
lots the old camp-grOund have never yet been
sold, but simply leased year after year. while on the
Highlands they sold at the average price OF $780, Inc
graceful of little cottages costs only GoO 80 that in
point Of cheapness the Vineyard is model place for
summering One Of the pretiest of these cottages Is
that OF Gov sprsgue, little gray and brown abode OF
beauty Streets and and parks Of gsndoquent
nomenclature surround the central circle Of society
tents each a cluster Of tiny cottages. 1t is
az IL all childhood had leagued to build this
island city, and troopiDg hither had raised
these baby dwellings in a froc. Each Is mira
Gle OF miniature perfection built In fantastic shapes,
with faryke balconies and towers, with quaint device
modng and cornce and gable Of delicate color and
exquisite Each has four rooms two below and
two above-the littest of rooms, but the cheeriest
{ar alua a het
folding doors are always open brght-hued curtains
are ooped aside, showing in the book cupboard the
whitest OF beds the most deliberately fried OF pillows
Glowing carpets and rustic furniture give gayey to the
small domice, and pretty pictures in swised frames
dot the soft gray walls Sometimes little kitchens and
pantries are added behind, and Madame, dourshng in
big apron saucepan hand, is visible through vista
Of chairs and tables The front OF the cottage is nearly
al DOORS and those doors OPEN There are no
ceremonious restrictions; she most gen!al simple, |
natural goodfsowship gives this Life ttnse OF the
Aroadian.
The cottagers are continually hobnobbng with each
other in an innocent way ard smiling hepfulness ia
always TO be found outside the camp rules people do
exactly as they Ike II Tom Dick, and Harry of Beacon
choose TO play tag and oobta on the PIER they
do it with a VIM II Rosa and Lillian take fancy to
twist their waving locks into mprepossessng mot on
ton tler noddles and to promenade Clintonave. in a
calico gown, they do It, albeit Tom. Dick, and Harry
make great eyes o. wonder at ths bonny damses Lii
Ian little pquant face beside the door, while
dreesng gown and rocking chair she brushes her long
hair in sight OF the world and her grandmother AZ the
next door fair young mother nurses her babyand
laughs the sturdy, mustsched father who in his shirt
sleevess washing dishes with vigor than he
signed checks in his city office.
Jolly tn ng in camp. 10 go to bed with delicious
certainty to finding yourself there in the morning
after gusty night 10 listen to heaess propositions to
calm reasonings the propriet Of hanging yourself
1 on ts % dSss 5
tions to get spiteful and sputer TO battle in butter
1 the ss O joys | q & In Ss soft morning air
little oury-headed dame may be seen planted upon
boots in that proud position, forgetting to blush when
Sir slahad passeta by Across the way the Ponderous
uno onscious manner. From tent to another skip
youthful emssares bearing bills Of exchange in the
shape of eggs brushes, ink bottles, and pillows
-incongrqogs but highly necessary elements Of exist
helpful hSaTtfIl amosPhere s. surrounds the
and bltterdishes N this ocean-nest as to breathe.
sea. DANES who would, mayhap. be beautiful an they
liberal in heshly nteguments, trot down tho
like mill posss and elderly shoulders with ten
dency to scanty garments stretched to the last
women in camp possessed by annsane desire to prom
enade in bathing dress in the most conspicuous places and
like Venus IA can be imagined AS for the sprighty
demoselles the slender darngs of New England they
speed along the sands and In anil out of the water like
very beach BIRDS fair and graceful after their drench
in their eyes Numerous bathing houses have built
this year and mermen and naidens clad in bne and rcd
flannel scamper and dip from dewey morn TO
UP from New-YOrk during the last few days hive
flown The yacht clubs dottmg the blue harbor with their
ghtness and witness. The Cambria pretty creature,
has lan opposite the camp ground for two days, and
everybody has made his and her special business to
sail the wings OF curiosity to that cOQuettish craft TO
stare at her charming appointments her Jolly crimson
The usual interview:
Amiable Engshnan-" Aw, ya-as; this is our, sh, ice
house."
Chorus Of Boston Girls" How perfectly spendid a.
A E. Aw too good I'm sure. And these, you see,
are our pistols, our arms, in fact"
B. Gs.-" Lovely"
A E.-"Awl Here's our kitchen I'm really afraid |
cannot how nice IL iau - |