The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-04
THE TRAyELL1No pRrYcrs DIARY.
The Biarrits OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and its
Resources-Poio and the Polo Players.


NEWPORT, Aug, e.-Now York became in
tolerably hot. and. every one Of us feeling an
imperative need Of sea bath. we exchanged oul
quarters at the Windsor Hotel for tho Ocean
House at Newport. Why our new home Is
called Ocean House 1t would be difficult to say
since ii Is more than milo away from the
shore, and has not even 80 much as a bit OF dis.
tant sea view to boast OF. But that docs moi
make any difference. The hotel is good and
the rooms are. comparatively speaking. cool
That is all we wanted.
Newport Is the most fashionable and prob
ably the most charming summer resort of
America. II is the nearest approach to Biarritz-
Had they had here q Napoleon. a Duke de
Morny. and few fast bellies OF the Second EN-
pirc. they could havo made OF tho quiet Rhode
Island village a spot of worldwide celebrity.
No elements arc wanting for that You have
here the grand beauties of the ocean the COM
fort OF several soft. velvet beaches the wild at
traction OF violent yet perfectly safe surf. and
tho prestige OF a wealthy and select" society.
The only picturesque feature missing is the
dark-bluo chain OF tho Pyrenoes in the back
ground. But this can bo easily dispensed with.
ms In foggy days. 80 frequent in Newport. no
background could be seen anyhow.
In most other respects Newport ia n small
copy Of Biarrtz. You have here the quaint old
fashioned aborigines. right on the shore of the
bay and the elegant villas OF the beau monde In
tho rear. The ladies and gentlemen, while
bathing. appear in the same plastic costumes as
Mt BiarriH. and havo the same privilege Of
bathing together. 80 as TO enable the stronger
sex TO instruct the weaker in the useful art of
swimmng-a privilege which English conscr-
vatsm still denies. Then you have tho ocean
drive. the polo grounds. the cliff walk the fire.
qucnt yachting parties. and tho numerous cot
tage receptions. providing ample flirting OPP
portunltics. True. there Is no Casino: conse-
qucntly, no public gambling. dancing. or STINT
lar entertainments. But n great deal OF the loss
is made up by private efforts. Gambling goes
on at the club and at private houses. Once n
week tho Ocean House opens its large parlors
to everybody who wishes to dance and there
are also plenty Of cosey little hops at the cottages
As to music though there is no good music to
be obtained. there is bad music to DO heard all
day long.
There IL only ono social feature Of Biarrtz
missing here. and that 10 fashionable hotel life.
You see nothing Of the paatial cdinces and ap-
pointmcnts OF the Hotel d 'Angletcrre. de France.
de Europe. or DIES Princes. There is also no
true aristocracy TO be seen at all. except such
few specimens OF II az may by chance form part
aspect Of the place is none the less as elegant as
it can possibly be In 80 thoroughly democratic
and republican a country. Tho very best fami-
lies" OF the land adorn Newport by their pres
ence.
The mode o. llfo Is supposed TO he exclusively
that Of family circles. But believe this to be n
mistake. Tho actual life OF Newport is on the
road. on the benches. and on tho polo grounds
nj, NJ
want for eating. shopping. and reception pur-
poses Besides. tho male members of the FAM
lilies are absent. as rule. five days out of seven
Consequently. If there ia any family life at ALL it
Ia OF n very onc-sided description. AS far ms
have observed. tho ladies are never TO be found
at home. except by appointment or invitation
And there is also just us little garden life rs
home life going on. Every cottage has bcautl-
ful garden; some Of them have little parks yet
at no time Of the day do you sec any Of the in
mates OF the house taking advantage Of them
1t il all driving. coaching, riding, visiting. and
receptions wonder that they don't get sick Of
it. especially at such a hot season Of the year.
Tho male portion Of society consists hero,
almost exclusively ofwealthy and Idle bachelors
OF New York and Boston. with a slight admix-
ture OF more or less distinguished foreigners,
mainly members Of European legations. Tho
Elc"' h'h nhpne th'se Hohs N inc celoprhp'u
D. IT, Bennct'th the proprietor OF tho Herald. He
IS gong 10 marry one oil the protti"st girls
nave yel seen IN THIS land OF pretty girls. and is
naturally IN the very blast OF social life. With
most OF the young men here no is the leader
ana inc law giver' lie makes them play polo,
shoot pigeons drive four-in-hand coaches.
ana lhdulse generally In all the manly
p"sumes "hlch are conslderei fashionable
among inc English nobility and the French
anglo-maniaes' HIS popularity among tho
American beauN Is versing on something like
serVhe suonlsslon' But not 80 does II seem to
100 WIN inc peles' Ihey DO not appear 20 Ike
Nun III AL nave not yet seen n lady' young or
o'u' married OF ha'urh' VINO MAJ hot an irohl-
onl smile or sarcastic WORD on nor Ups when
'ho hhihe oil uhls wealthy ana exceptionally SIT
u""u young man Is nl'huohod' some oil them
'n'u'Ec III very uhpleasHh'' m"'ter-oi-iat re-
,,,,h ti,Iof ti,,or s,, la. -.
',stia,d ,ho, ,,' ,,,'o,I'. =, IN ',a
,,Its ,,,n1, rri,,I. .I - -,
,lis v.i,, toIi 10 a,'',,, - .i ,,'''i
mont. ,ho, nnrro,, - s,a,i II,
wrath Of on ,ho holl,,s ,,,ho ,ro,,o, ,,,, ,'',
could not cct hin, ''' wv