The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-18
THE 1R1yELLING PRINCES DL4RY.



New YORK, Sept. 2.-Ncwport almost com
PEELED me to give up writing my diary. The
friendly hospitable manner in which we were
received here makes II incumbent upon me to
remain discreet All could possibly permit
myself TO say would have to assume a compli-
mentary form, and that would be tiresome. l
shall never forget tho charms. both moral and
physical. Of the numerous ladies we made the
acquaintance OIL These charms are such as TO
make all possible criticism silent
With the men of Newport the case Is different
We are under no obligation to them. They arc
snobs. most Of them; silly ones. too. The lfc
they lead here il one OF almost diotlc idlencss
Pigeon shooting and polo playing arc their
most intellectual occupations. Tho whole OF
their time is spent in changing costumes four
or five times II day. in driving and riding. in
taking drinks on the sly and in indulging in
petty scandalous gossip about each other and
about the ladies whose society they enjoy. 1
never saw one Of them with "a book in his hand.
and never heard them talk OF anything outside
OF commonplace. fashionable trash. Happily.
they are not the representative men of the coun-
try. still. they eccm 10 represent the young
generation of Americas best society" And If
it be so, the prospect must be pronounced very
sad.
The general style OF life at Newport IL perfect
~ surprising 10 mo. IHb luxury Vi tI' up
pointments surpasscs anything of the kind that
can be- seen ON the continent of Europe. and is
cauallcd only by the sumptuousness OF the
country seats Of the oldest and richest families
of England. With us II country seat is mostly n
mere repository Of broken and worn out furni-
turc. chair loses u leg. and you at once hear
the butler receiving an order TO send 1t to the
country house. Most of the time it Ia sent there
even without being mended. Here the cot
t,gcs' are bjou-palaces in their appointments
Works OF art. bronzes libraries. rich silver
plates. the costliest Notwithstanding Ia want
ing. Tho cooks are the best that can can be OBJ
tanned in Paris. and the cellars can compete
with those of Bignon and Voisn. And. then.
what cXtravagant luxury Of drcssi do notbe
leve have seen any of our lady acquaintance
twice in the same dress. however rich and ex-
ponsivc They seem TO change even their riding
habits every day. At all events. have inyaria-
bly, noticed some change about them.
True. strange things and manners are occa-
eionally to be seem and strange ideas are TO be
heard expressed in these surroundings OF lux
ury and wealth. One secs sons and daughters
Of oyster or rag merchants. OF whiskey dis
tillers or pork packers. living the life OF the no.
best descendants Of tho Crusaders. and one
feels the queerness of 1t. But the awkward inn
preston is soon got over. for everything is 30
a,c,sto,no1 ~ in ,ha Oh viii ~, chivoIric
traditions TINT nil inclination to draw com.
norisons disannoora Moro thon onvvhnre olso
arn vou comnall.d hcra IN ,,,ke ufa no II comea
and must saw that no n rule II comcs vcrv
nicely I moan bowevcr onIv N,v YORK. and
N.wnort. Out.ide Of the proat Emnire CITY and
tho nr.ttv littln wn,ering ulocc Iahould not ike
In live nj ali in America and should not care
much even 10 visit again the places wa have
seen.
Naturally enough. Newport Is considerably
afflicted with an atmosphere Of small talk.
Everybody knows everybody else. and minds