The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-01
IN THE COUNTRY.
THE PLEASURES OF A CONNECTICUT
SEAPORT TOWN.
Fishing without ANY of Its Annoyances,
Labor or ExertiOn.
Especial Correspondence of the Democrat.

the Italian lakes. 1t is true that the tower
ing Alps are absent, but the stretch of water
is greater, and yet not great enough to fa-
tigue the eye with the mOnotony OF an ex-
panse OF sea and sky. In place of mountains
there are hills of picturesque outline varied
by rocks, promontories, sometimes broken
into cliffs and crags, and sometimes clothed
with graceful trees, and adorned with the
white walls Of many houses glancing through
the summer foliage. Here and there the sur
face Of the water is dotted with islands, COM
binations of rock and tree, as pleasantly dis
posed as il they had been set in perfect
grouping by an artists hand The farther
shore, which limits the horizon, is
THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND,
and all between are the blue waters of the
sound Here lies graceful yacht at anchor,
there white sail glitters in the slanting sun
light or rapid steamer ploughs her way to
the neighboring city. / know of few places
where the beauties of sea and shore are 50
charmingly blended. The Morton House is
situated on the northeastern side of beaut-
full little cove or inlet known as Indian Harbor.
The other side OF the inlet is called Field Point,
a long promontory iutting out into the sound
o favorte resort of sketchers and picnickers,
of courting parties and flirting parties.
The Lelands had looked upon Field Point and
hankered for it as
THE SITE FOR GRAND SUMMER HOTEL,
but their offer to purchase at sum far beyond
the real value of the land was peremptorly
rejected by the owner. He belonged to that
old stock of Greenwichers who would rather
hold to their unproductive rocks and trees
than part with them in exchange for the gold
and greenbacks of the stranger. So, for
some time the Lenox House was the only
hotel in Greenwich, and that is situated in the
village, and not upon the waters edge.
Nevertheless, so pleasant and pretty is the
place, so easy of access from the city of New
York, and yet so intensely rural in all it's
features and all the phases of it's village life,
that the Lenox is an attractive and popular
place OF resort. 1t is only within the last two
or three years that the Morton House has
been opened to the public as an hotel Be-
fore that time, as have already told you, it
was
THE FAMOUS AMERICUS CLUB HOUSE.
Exactly what the Americus Club was, / am
unable to say. l only know that Tweed was
It's founder and its leader, and that its men,
bers were the members of the "ring'' and
their friends and followers. With the unlim-
tied command of money which those enter
prising persons possessed, it was to be pre-
sumed that the house which served as the
scene OF their festivities would be fitted up
with unusual splendor. And this, in fact, was
the case. The apartment which Tweed fitted
up for his own especial use is taken by New
York lady at $50 week. Otherwise the
charges, both at the Morton and the Lcnox
are moderate enough.
The principal delights at Greenwich, as at
other seaside places, are
BATHING AND FISHING.
Long Island cuts off the Atlantic surf which
rolls in so grandly at Long Branch and Rock
away; but to compensate for this deficiency
there is a praiseworthy absence of the terri
BILE under-tow by which so many lives are lost
every season at the surf-bathing places. Here
even the inexpert swimmer may brave with
out fear the placid waters of the Sound, and
the diffident gentleman may disport himselfin
the mimic waves without becoming the
cynosure of the neighboring eyes of a thou
sand curious wives and damsels. And as to
sea-bathing, | may be permitted to remark
that this sort Of scrutiny has hitherto scared
me from tempting the surf of Rockaway, or
Long Branch, or Fire Island. | have gazed
with wild wonder upon the semi-aquatic
gentlemen as they entered or emerged from
the sea, and-it may be vanity, or it may be
a natural dif1idence-but did not wish to be
as they were. The girls look pretty enough
as they come out Of the water, dripping dia-
Iy ~ c,fo nra @lo,S,
Naiads, or even syrens if he chooses but
man in a wet bathing costume is, perhaps, |
the most absurd object OF civilized society.
Besides bathing, of course fishing is to be
had in the sound and good fishing too.
Catching blue fish is the favorite sport. They
are generally taken by
TROLLING.
do not care much for fishing myself, but
have made experiments in the art. / have |
not trolled for blue fish in Long Island
Sound, but [ have trolled for pickerel among
the Thousand Islands Of the st. Lawrence. |
Presuming that you have not had that expe-
rience, | will venture to describe the manner
of it. 1t is a very hot day, say in July or
August, but a fishing party to wind up with
picnic on one of the islands has been agreed
sunburn, which will take all the skin off your
face and hands before the day is over. You
take a boat and boatman, and start for the |
fishing grounds. The boat is fitted up with |
wooden armchair, in which you bestow
yourself, with some thankfulness for the un-
expected comfort. On the sides of the boat
and just in front of you, are two rods, and to
each rod is attached line and to each line is
fastened piece of bright metal, sometimes
with the addition of piece of red cloth, but |
generally not; other bait there is none, it |
being the popularity of the deluded pickerel
to fancy that bright and glancing object is
necessarily something good to eat. Thus
equipped, you set off, expecting every mo-
ment to see your trolling rod bending to the
pull of greedy pickerel.
You watch it until your eyes ache. and you |
timidly ask the boatman when the fishing