Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-07-15
NOTES OF TRAVEL.

y
cannon of impregnable forts. While it
is situated in the line of travel between
great commercial centres and among man.
ufacturing communities, it adopts neither
speciality, but depends for prosperity very
much upon the patronage of those who
can pay a high price for the luxury of
its situation.
AS the land rounds up from the wa
ter's edge, it affords beautiful situations
for residences and these are improved
by the lavish expenditures of money, di-
rected by the most cultivated taste in
planting ornamental trees and shrubs,
laying out gravel walks, flower beds, and
the adornment by vases, carved work
and rustic embellishments In the high
er parts of the city, the grounds about
the houses are so extensive that the build
ings are in some cases hid from view by
the trees. and the curved drive of the
whitest gravel, bordered by the neatly
kept lawn, are the only indications of
the wealth and refinement of the resi-
dents.
The most popular street in the city is
the one upon which the Ocean House
fronts. 1t is broad, we'll kept, and ex-
tends toward the south, giving beautiful
views of the ocean as we'll as of architect
ural beauties. Through the months of
July and August, at the close of the day,
from to ocl0ck-there is such a
display of equipages, from the poney in
his diminutive phaton to the skin hand
barouch, as cannot be excelled in the
world. These are not the displays of
shoddy or of speculative wealth, but are
the turn-outs of proprietors of CONNER
cial, banking and manufacturing bust
ness, to whom luxury and display is no
new and i'll fitting sensation. 1t is said
that mo one has seen Newport who
should not see Ocean Avenue at the close
of a pleasant August day That pleas
ure is still in reserve for me. Yet as /
loiter along at midday, | see the out
groupings of the pleasure seekers holi-
day. Here drives low-wheeled car
riage with two ladies. They arc shad-
ed by large yellow umbrella, the stick
of which is firmly fixed, standing in the
center of the carriage. Another appears
that has an iron rod curved up from the
back and holds suspended an umbrella
without any stick, which swings and
sways over the occupants. Another has
a light awning as it were, like an oblona
umbrella extended, and around its edges
is long silken fringes. Here is another
open carriage drawn by noble span o.
black horses, driven by lady, while
on a little back seat sits the coachmar
in livery, as upright and motionless as g
statue. There are several styles of car
riages with the seat for one extending
out behind the main part of the vehicle
Hardly two are alike. Some have har
nesses and carriage trimmed heavily will
gold. All the carriages are stuffed ant
cushioned in elaborate style, and many
of them have covering over the wheels
that prevents scattering mud. The car
riages seem to take the road to the beacl
east of the city, and taking the SAM
route we are soon in sight of that gentl
inclination of sand, where waves roll il
unobstructed, and never cease their dash
ing. This stretch of beach is perhap
three-fourths of a mile long and face
the south, and is bounded on the east b,
abrupt rocky shores, but looking soutl
) the ocean and horizon meet in the din
: distance.
: Along the upper edge of the beacl
stand seventy bathing houses, about fly
by seven feet. with door at eac
end, and stand on small plank wheel:
t In front of these houses is two or thre
. rods of loose sand-dry, white and deer
Then there is five or ten rods wide {
: firm sand that is covered every twelv
e hours with water. Here, when tide
l low, is beautiful drive, and here no
r are several carriages whirling along c
t standing while the owners are bathin
!, or are spectators.
: About twenty persons are in the W;
h ter, and as some go out others 60 in
: full half are ladies. AS they step fro
), their carriages, arrayed in style,-dres
d overskirts, puffs, bows, ribbons chigno
IS and flowers, -they enter the bathir
IS houses, and in few minutes appear bar
+ footed, with frock and pants for clotl
l. ing and a common straw hat tied on IL
e head. They run to the water, stop az
e wet their heads, then go deeper and ne
e the waves that come in heaps towal
h them. So gentle is the inclination TIL
n fifteen or twenty rods out a grown pc
son is not in beyond their depth. Th
l. day is moderately calm SO the waves a
4 not more than three feet high, and as tn,
lie pass the bathers, some dive into thel
of some sit down. some jump up, some XII
a. about in most comical ways. One chi
IN about a year and a half old was carri
rs in and dipped, then returned to its mot
w er, who wrapped it in shawl and ha:
IN ened away to dress it. One little gi
no Ia hout five wars old with 1,,r+ q not