Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-15
THE AFTER.GLOw AT NEWPORT.
The Close OF the Season-SteepIe
Chase-TorPedO Experfments-Fefcs
Champetre. Etc.

NEWPORT, Sept 8, 1878.
Although the season is commonly con-
sidered TO be virtually over here by the end
OF August, Newport has not yet lost an iota
OF that attractiveness which has this summer
made residence here sort OF ideal existence.
combining charms drawn from nature ART
and society in uegree rarely experienced
An added glory seems rather TO have fallen
upon the face OF these beautiful envIrons
since autumn made its imperceptib'e advent
The September sunsets have been superb
hey ond description. and as we glide along on
The gently undulating bosom of the bay, in
fest sailing pleasure bOat, enjoying the fair
prospect on either shore, glorified by the
gorgeous setting of brilliantly tinted sky,
rejected upon the miror-like surface of the
water, now In warm hueS of empurplCi
rose color, now of orange, so rich that they
appear TO transform the bay into a sea OF
ne often gold, veil OF enchautment seems
10 gather us within its folds. From Fort
Adams floats across the sound of band music;
other barges fit gracefully in view-a
palace steamer comes ploughing in, her
decks thronged with passengers, and a long
train OF snow-white spray following i'm her
wake. AS the rich colorins OF sunset fades
away, the moon rises to lend a softer but
more pOetlcal radiance still to this scene of
beauty, and many a voice is heard To ex-
claim: "Surely Italy could offer no scene
fa1rer than this" And TO make the illusion
more perfect, a bslmy and delicious breeze
has been tanning us all the while. A sail out
OF Newport harbor is a pleasure to haunt
one, and charm with many an after-glow.
ular source OF entertainment was offered the
community in the steeple-chase. Saturday,
the ith, and on Monday, the 9th of Septem-
Der, the whole of Newport seemed to adjourn
TO the long beach, where had been laid off q
two-mile race course. Six hundred and ffty
carriages were counted in the stream, which,
Tor hours, passed along every avenue aud
road leading in that direction. The specta-
tors expressed themselves as highly graft
fed, few accidents were recorded, and the
occasion was pronounced by co'uloissea1S a
grand success.
Those who had the pleasure OF witnessing
tho exhibition OF recent Improvements made
In destructive engines OF naval warfare by
the scientists of the torpedo station will never
forget the scene. Mr.. Robson, Secretary of
the Navy, and other high officials were pres
ent, anu upon thelr landing grand salute
was given them by the discharge of nineteen
torpedoes, set of from shore at intervals OF
SIX seconds. To the unscientific the specta-
Gle was simply sublime; TO the initiated
something more. A dull booming sound YVES
e"rd, then tall jet of waite leapei aloft IN
the helgh of 200 feet, really seeming TO touch
me sky-an exact picture of the Geysers in
Iceland or the Yellowstone region, as we
nave III heard described Imagine this re-
peated nineteen times in full view of the
spectator. Then the Lay Torpedo" per
formed its wonderful evolutions, blowing up
a raft awaiting her onslaught. But the in
terest of the day eliminated in the actual
blowing up OF a dismantled brig OF 80 tons,
anchored in the outer harbOr, around which
lowered in alarming proximity a perfect
fleet OF Vesself OF various sizes. In one in
stdnl lne work OF destruction was complete;
and when the tremendously brilliant foun-
tain had ceased its awful play and the sur
lace OF the water was again visible, not q
yestige remained save shoals of stunned
nshes and countless splinters and Spars TO
mark the spot where a ship had so lately
hoated. The combustible agents EMPLOYED
were torpedoes composed OF three hundred
pounds OF powder and two hundred pounds
OF dynamite. Representatives OF the Eng
lish PruEsian aud other European govern
ments were on hand. busily taking notes of
ooh lou &c
sclence-although IL was whispered this
might not be altogether legitimate pro-
ceeding in some points Of view.
To-day "Wednesday, the Sth) has been
marked by one OF those brilliant social gath
erings which for the past two summers have
formed so distinctive and agreeable feature
OF Newport society. The Town and Corn
try Club" gave Jete chdDlpetre in a rural and
sequeste.ed spot Known as "The Berkeley
Rocks" To one of these bold bluffs, COM
mandlng fne view OF the Atlantic, that
venerable old prelate of provincial DAYS
used 10 retire for purposes ofdevotfon aud To
indulge bis love OF nature. Moderns may
wei admire the Old gentleman's taste. To-
day The weather $50 essential an element OF
success In open air entertainments was per
feet, and the assembly OF seventy or eighty
ladies and gentlemen itly represented the
select circles 10 which they Belong. There
were Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Col. Higginson
and Mrs. VIM. Rogers, managers of the
feast, Prof. Childs, of Harvard, Miss Tick
nor, with many other cOngenial spirits.
Under wide-spreading oak the company
seated themselves in groups, and for an hour
listened with intense interest TO a discourse
on the geological formation of rocks, espe-
cially Rhode Island rocks, from Prof. VIM.
h. Rogers. president of the School OF Tech
nolOgy, Boston. The Professor has lost none
OF the fire OF genius nor his wonted elo-
quence, although rather feeble in health, and
such an Intellectual treat is not often en-
Joyed under parallel CHI cumstances.
The rejection was, of course, all that could
be de sired. There was sweet music, and the
occasion, on the whole, was most enjoyable.
a brisk southwesterly wind blowing for
the last two days has produced a grand swell
OF the ocean, and the drive home along the |
beach presented spectacle of magni6cence
pronounced unique by old deniZens of the |
place. How striking, then, TO the stranger!
In sooth, little Rhode Island has good
cause 10 he proud of embracing within her
domains place of resort unrivaled in many
respects in America-nay, in England IL
self. NJ = g