Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-01
Letter from Martha's Vineyard.
IcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE DAILY sPT.l


of resources to draw upon, perhaps, as at hom'
in orr own ceiled houses; but it nevertheless
seems rather more irksome here, as the out-ot
door recreatons form the much greater staple
of daily occupation than at home. The differ
ence of feeling and results of we weather here
from that inland is quite noticeable, and reminds
one of the Irishman's wooden shirt that "eyeI
so cold and wet was always warm and dry
There is not the sharp chill that paralyzes the
marrow of ones bones, as it were, that we feel
in the northeast storms at home. Nor do we
have the resultant colds, for this sailed damp
ness is more comfortable and seems to have a
more harmless result than the other We have
had some warm and dry weather, of course, but
not any long continued hot weather that gives
the greatest satisfaction to those here in the re-
freshing sea-breeze thinking of friends swelter
ing with the heat at home.
The camp ground and the Bluff cottages and
boarding-houses are fast filling up; thousands
are already here. Every days boat adds to the
crowd, and on Saturdays many transient visitors
come to spend the Sunday, which makes it per-
haps the liyeliest day Of all. Meetings are now
held at the regular preaching stands, attended
great canvas awning is this week to be raised
over the meeting ground, making of it a mag
nifcent pavilion, that is not usually arranged
till the regular camp meeting time. There is
now regular preaching, for ministers are in good
supply, and sometimes the Methodist line is va
ried by the introduction of preacher of an
other sect, as last Sunday morning an Episco-
palian did the preaching. The meetings increase
in interest too, as they grow in size, for Method
ism, with all its hearty zeal, is not insensbe to
the sympathetic magnetism of a crowd. There
is always ready prOmptness, a warmth and
earnestness in the usual religious exercises of
the Methodists that is really attractive; their
impromptu singing, in which all join with hearts
in earnest, if their voices are not always in
tune, has a very magnetic effect, and is with
them a very powerful agent in drawing people
to fill their ranks. A few evenings since ayoung
preacher, in town for the night, conducted the
meeting.
He had firm face and figure, a good voice, and
was evidently cultivated and vain man. Occa-
sonally he started the singing with tune new
| and entirely astray from the routine tunes that
every Methodist knows and can join in. Some
would try, but fail to catch the tune, and give it
up leaving the preacher to sing his long new
hymn through alone, with splendid voice, fine
musical taste and skill, and with really fine ar.
tistc ffeect; but it seemed to cast gloom over
the meeting, in throwing the old line brothers and
sisters out OF their regular place in the
carrying on the meeting. The regular sing
! ing, though Outlines homely, is neverthe-
less inspiring, it has soul and life in it,
and when the great crowd joins mons in
OF those quick moving hymns, it really is better
in its social and sympathetic effects than many
finished concerts given by great artists There
are among them some very good voices, and fine
singers, and also many who are not, so that oft
times a distance, where the rich melody can be
heard without the many discords and jars,
gives the best effect.
Methodists, like other people, are becoming
more refined and civilized, and the wild noisy
insanity of singing and praying that formerly
characterized their prayer and camp meetings
are now very rarely witnessed, except at some
of the smaller tent meetings during camp meet
| ing week.
| The chapel Of the Bluff corporation is nearly
complete, and soon regular meetings will be held
there. 1t is fine structure, and will give little
variation to the tent or out of doors meetings,
seeming more like meetings at home.
| 1t is surprising to see how many Worcester
people live here, and it is daily remark that
we really become better acquainted with our
own neghbors and friends here than we do at
home, because, you see, we have nothing else to
do, and everything here tends to great openness
and sociality. Although, as before mentioned
in this correspondence, the pomp and vanity
| people do not gather here as at Newport and
Long Branch, but more of the common people
the middle classes, the real democracy, on
which, after all, all our greatness and goodness
rests, yet some noted people come here, as, for
instance, Senator Sprague of Rhode Island, and
our own Gov. Clahin, have cottages on the camp
ground. And the other day that sturdy con-
sentative, Harvey Jewell was here bluefshing
with that fanatic radical Frank Bird. And, by
the way, it is reported that Mr.. Jewell was at
Worcester afterward, junketing with republic
cans there. Perhaps he is trying to secure the
aid of the radicals to get him the reversion of
any nomination for governor after polished and
supple brother Loring fails to receives it. Mr..
Jewell has more solidity and backbone I'M
doubleday than Mr. Loring, and has more prin-
ciple perhaps. At any rate, his principles seem
to be more honestly his own, while George BPS
seem to be more those of his prospective con-
| stituents. Ought we not to be able to find and
elect for governor man of the radical principles
LOring avows, and the sturdy dignity and
weight Jewell carries?
Have you read the Swedish novels of Md'me
Schwartz, now in course of publication by Lee
& Shepard? They are having a great sale, and
are very fascinating. The young lady transla-
tor, Selma Borg, pronounced Bory,) a hearty,
happy, rollicksome Finlander, with her quiet as
| sistant, Marie A. Brown, are stopping at the
Pawnee house, where they have taken rooms for
the season, and are busily engaged with their
translation.
Some Of the Methodist brethren and those in
terested in the camp meeting association, stimu-
lated by the success of the Oak Bluff corpora.
| ton, and perhaps jealous lest Methodism should
not wear all the honors Of this watering place
have purchased the large tract of land on the
bluff lying opposite Camp Meeting wharf, north
of the camp ground and Oak Bluff, and sep
arated from them by Squash Meadow pond,
(which they have named Lake Anthony and
laid it out very tastefully in avenues and parks,
with cottage lots in very pleasant locations. They
have named the site Vineyard Highlands. A
number Of cottages, very tasteful and good
were put up last season, and many more are
being put up this year. so that soon this will be
a well populated summer village OR city, and
will have perhaps more pious Methodist as
pect than Oak Bluff.
Directly north Of here, some six miles
across Vineyard sound, on the main land, is in
full view the embryo summer seaside village Of
Falmouth Heights, projected and built by oul
Worcester friends, Smith and Rawson. And
here towers above the bushes the Tower house
kept by that prince of caterers, Geo. Tower o
Worcester. The site for village is splendid
one, facing the south, and receiving directly thu
cool southwest sea breeze, which is the prevail
ing wind here, and being at the same time NOR
sheltered from the cold northeast storms thai
! the island, which gets the full force of them
! whie in hot days we get the southwest Sc;
! breeze only at second hand across the island