New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-02
SUMNER LEISURE.
ME HAMPToNs OF LONG ISLAND.

EASTHAMPTON, L. l., Aug. 26.-Bef0re say
ing anything of this calm and somewhat stately place
is necessary explain that the Hamptons are four ID
number Taking them in their order from east to west
they comprise Easthampton, Bridgehampton southamp-
ton and Northampton. Tho last mentioned however
can hardly be properly called member Of tho group al
though 1t is In the township OF Southampton. 1t lies
about III cen miles to the west beyond Quogue, and Is
separated from Southampton by ShinnecocK Bay. Ihe
narrow isthmus at Canoe Place, along which runs the
low ridge known shinnecOck Hills Is the entrance
from the west to the original settlement which Is de-
scribed tho Indian stretching eastward om
the place commonly knOwne by the place where the In
dams haye over their OF the North Bay to
the south side Of the island" This IS now called Canoe
Place traveller by the see as he passes
It, waters Of PecOnc Bay the north and OF shinne
Bay the south The land to the west was later
acquisition by the tOwnsmen.
Passing eastward from Southampton Brdgehampton
and Eashampton are reached succession and beyond
the latter there Is nothing but the pretty little village OF
Amaganset between tho traveller and the rugged
grandeur of the prOmOntory terminating ut MOntauk
Point about twenty miles to the east After leaving
Southampton, the frat place reached is Water Mill, an
attractive village tho head OF Mecock Bay, the most
westerly OF the OF nclosed waters which extend
Jamaica Bay along the greater part OF the south
ern shore OF Long Island. few miles further take Us
TO Bndgehampton village covering a far greater area
than its population appears to warrant The surround
under cultivation The streets like the main street of
Southampton, are wide, grassy highways, lined with
houses at irregular intervals. There was nothing mean
the old settlers in their ideas OF @lotmens ana
their have similarly liberal views Ono has
accordingly TO travel long distance up and down the
spacious streets In order to few houses and
very small part OF the scattered population. TO com
olete the rural character OF the place, windmill Is
swinging its giant around almost In the heart
of the village, and ten minutes walk brings one to
farmhouse which, not model OF neatness or OF clean
lness I'm its surroundings, certainly entitled TO 10
ranked with OF the od;ashlOned sort They yard
is surrounded by wooden buildings Of the diiapidaed
order that hint OF cunnnsy hidden hens nests and OF
the sweet breath OF just driven IN from the clover
Here flock Of turkeys stalk through the long grass ana
"gobbe" at the intruder; there number OF geese Wad-
die slowly along their necks aud hiss as one
passes This Is within sight OF the stcepes Of tho village
churches, beyond which the north runs continual
ton OF the low hills OF Shnnecock One popularity OF
the village very likely attract strangers attention.
although trivial itself Is the abundance OF lightning
rods some OF tho buildings fairly bristle with them
On one small house counted six, and an adjacent barn
was protected by three. Their sh points obrus
i've as actually to form In the Landscape.
failed TO learn BdgcEamptOn subject to extraor-
binary ystaons in the OF Thunderstorm AMI the
only conclusion can arrive az is that the community
has at some period In its history been yicmized
by some moro than usually glib and ingenious lightning
sence, is a hotel Without presumng TO dictate
10 the villagers, whose fathers and themselves
have managed, with fair success, the business
OF tho place for about 900 years, may be
pardoned for remarkug that hotel not an undesr-
able adjunct toe eve OF hungry traveller There
arc boardinghous BY tho dozen, but II Is pity that
the entertaining propensity Cf tho people should have
been diverted INTO one channel. Boarding houses MAJ
be very good to bOrdcr but On5 misses the dumb
welcome OF the opeHarmed hotel AID tho kindly greet
ing OF the rural Boni'ace. There Is opening ~ Bridge
hampton for an Cnterprisin; man. who can make hay
with his boarding house ncishbors when tho Summer
sun shines and lao viii possibly find something better 10
do than brood throughout tho Winter and wait for
the next years harvest.
There are roads by which the sea is reached one
passes south between Pond aud the eastern arm OF
Mecock Bay. and terminates upon the beach within
few hundred yards OF the end Of tho huge sandbank
which Is known further tho west he Great South
Beach road passes to the east OF Sagg Pond
through the old village Of Ssgabonach, abbreviated
into Sagg, which settled about the year 1000. OF
the entire section would DO hard 70 speak In terms OF
too enthusiastic admiration Tho hcart Is not stirred TO
troubous depths by the contemplation Of grand subm-
ity nor ia the eye fascinated by gnpscs Of wonderful
beauty but tho rapture Of reposc that's there Is ul-
speakably grateful wear!cd citizen, and ihe easy
tansiton from tAe picturesque smiling land TO the ma
icsty Of relieves 10 OF anything Ike moa0Ony
or the iuslpid tamtucss OF drowsy fiat
Leaving Bridgohampo It IA optional % take the cars
TO sag HaGbor. aud thence come by stage TO East
hampton or to take the direct from Bridgshsmp
ton either the drive = pleasant. Coming from
sag HarbOr one passes through shady woods, and
along beautiful lanss boTdercd by wcli-tiled nelds,
with here and there the houses Of farmers dotng the
landscape Tho road strikes at right angles the main
street OF Ea-th.mpton from which. with It's shady
rows OF lofty trees. tho village derives mucH OF that ar
stately calm upon winch remarked AT the opening
Of mi. letter. Tho village consists Of this street.
and OF It's southorly continuation toward the sea-
shore.
Easthsmpton was settled about tho year 1913 by
company Of nine OF the inhabitants Of southampton IN
GLIDING Mr. Daniel Howe, OF she most Influential
pioneers OF tho Qatte) settlement, aud magistrate.
probably a. long as he member Of the colony" IL
IL unlikely that M Howe would associate win other
than honorable ana equally worthy company. That
they we're jndoIOus Is showR by tho location Of the
town on the long tract Of comparatively rich Land
which extends from Canoe Place eastward along the
middle OF the peninsula almost to tbs sandy
beach Of Heapeague. As passes down the street,
fnds among the houses few ancient survivors or
tho raYages OF time. In OF theu tho author OF
" Home Sweet Home" IL said ~ have beon born. My
inquiries upon the mbc not wholly Satisfactory.
on my arrival addressed myself 10 aged man. who
replied 10 my question where John Howard Payne
born by saying: Vol, now, some say Sno thing ana
some another Tue people tlat live IN the house on
side of the street, IS store, that no
born there; those that live III tho old house on this
say that 10 wasn't born EasthamptOn at ALL but IN
Massachusetts" went 10 the house whose claim seems
ito OF tho two. aud add esSng the first
/ saw, obtained the reply! Really, don't know, I'm
only here for the summer" second told that in
decd behtd in tho old building before O with It's queer
gables aud long sOplng IOo the birthplace OF Payne
II IL singular that there should already be uncertainty
about the home VI the who sang sweety OF Its
attractions.
What next foows applies with equal justice to the
district have passed through. Although mosquitoes
unusual plentiful everywhere In the country this
Summer, hardly single specimen OF the busy tor
mentors ia any OF the HsmptOns scarcely heard oven
what Lowell curi0usly calls
Tho slender clarion OF the unseen mldgs"
Thls blessed immunity is TO DO attributed TO Ibe