Smyrna times., 1878-07-31
MarthaS Vineyard.

Leaving Smyrna at A. NJ, we pass upward |
and through our beautiful State, changing |
cars at Philadelphia we have look at the |
Geological Garden, Paramount Park and |
the buildings of the Permanent Exhibition, |
we cross the river at Trenton, thence up |
through New Jersey, arriving in New York |
/ city we had ample time to inspect and ride !
upon the elevated railway. Leaving New
! York at ) P. N. N one of the elegant palaces
of the Stonington & Providence line of
| steamers we have fine view Of the city,
Brooklyn, the forts, the wonderful suspen.
sion bridge now being erected, prisons and
asylums on Blackwell and Governors Islands,
we then pass through He'll Gate-that
terror TO navigation-our eyes feasting all
the while upon the scenery, both natural
and ornamental. Arriving at Providence,
K. l., at an early hour the next morning,
we take look about the city of our Tscn
! Sister State. After light bre.k kfast we speed
away TO New Bedford where we took steam
er, passing up Buzzards Bay, we arrived at
Woods Hall-a passage equally as danger
Gus as He'll Gate, y. H.-on our left, miles
away the eye can decern point Of land,
which upon inquiry, we found TO be Cape
Cod, on our right Marthas Vineyard is in
sight, for we are now in Vineyard sound,
gliding into the Atlantic Ocean, soon the
first landing on the Island is made, we
leave the boat at the next landing and
after greeting old frinds, We take look and
find it is high noon. and our trip of 4j0
miles Is accomplished. To form a correct
idea of the location Of these islands in this
vicinity ii would be we'll for the reader to
get map Of the Eastern States, you will
then find a chain of Islands jutting out
from the north west corner Of Cape Cod.
these are known as the Elizabeth Islands.
I H. -. ! Il -
Is the town Of Nantucket and other small
islands with peculiar Indian names. Mar
thas Vineyard lays 10 the south east.
These islands-so the story goes-derived
their names as follows 4 father about TO
die called his three daughters around him.
Elizabeth the eldest chose the islands that
, now bear her name as her portion: Martha
took for her portion the Vineyard, hence
''Marthas Vineyard and the youngest
daughter, Nancy, had 10 take what was
left-hence NQa.tuk-tt. An Indian legend
tells US that the great giant, Maushope,
, lived on the Island al Gay Heai-DeveNs
Den-here he broiled the whale on fires
made Of cedars, he tore up by the roots.
After separating No Mans Land from
Gay Head, he changed his wife into rock
. and left the island, when out few leagues
! from shore he emptied his pipe into the
: The island Of Marthas Vineyard is q mile:
{ long by about 10 miles wide. At the town
: proper, we find it sub-divided as follows
: Oak Bluffe, portion of the town beauti
r fully laid off and built up with costly
= cottages and fine hotels. The highlands
:, extending around for a great distance
: dotted here and there with groups O
= cottages and cozy homes. The grounds o
: the Camp Meeting Association of the N. f
= church, and also the Baptist association
: are tastefully and beautifully laid off with
e avenues, groves, parks and lakes, and art
= built up with substantial and cozy cottages
! indeed some of them are truly elegant
:. The whole combined. makes il the Ameri
- can Cottage City, numbering perhaps thou
= sand Of cottages. The walks and carriag
- :. drives are all of concrete, making it clear
= and enjoyable TO the humble as well as tn
- rich. 4 board walk for several miles wind
= around the lakes and thence to the sur
- making one of the finest walks, includin
scenery, on the coast. Vineyard Haven,
-, nice town layes a little west, and is not VI
- frequently thousand sails anchor for tn
:, night at this place. We counted Is shiT
- at one look, bound for New York, yeste
= day. There are a number of places
- worship on the island, first, Union chap,
-. on Oak Blufe, then an u. T. chapel and
- large taberr racle that will hold four tho,
-. sand people, the Baptist also have a tabe
- nacle capable Of accommodating two tho
- sand. Services are held every day an
- frequently in the evening, our church hi
- a minister with regular work at the chape
~, and by the way it is a beautiful buildin
~ and was dedicated only short time ago
~ Bishop Foster. Camp meeting time
~ approaching this is seen in the erection
- tents and the repairing OF those allowed
stand over from last year. The averaj
"a number of visitors already is more thi
- equal to last year, it is estimated that for
far thousand people visit here during the seaso
While am writing this, the remainder
L. our party are taking a dip in old ocea
Tba The sport of this place is bathing, fishil
~ (and of this it is almost unlimited), sailin
The driving and walking, but the greatest enjc
ment to our party yet, was a genuine \,
England clam bake. Large stones are la
mt together and hot fire kindled, when &
r. stones become very hot the ashes and CO..
~ are taken off and a lot Of sea weed Z
- on and then from to 25 bushels Of clal
are put on-by the way these CLANS
-, what We know as the B9dHan0Se-and tn
- on these, pans containing blue fish, lobste
- green corn, potatoes, &c. are placed,
-. heavy canvass covers these and more
II weed, these hold the heat and for abe
80 hours they steam and stew. They
brought to the table hot and are eaten W
az melted butter, spices, &c. l am asham
: . to tell you how we devoured this dish,
-; as it was the first clam bake to many of
+h do you wonder that we fingered at sue
b;-d place. l forgot to tell you that this gra
80 dinner was at Katama, about 10 miles do
;, - the island, and we reached there by a L
: - row gauge railway. The car we rode
7rbe was built by jackson & Sharp, Wilmingt
! - Del, so you see Delaware is known
h here, and when we talk about our be
ne from Delaware the peach country, they
ond 81 want to know" and if we do know
r;no thing, we must tell it, for these Yank'
ne are an intelligent, thrifty, inquiring peol
,-as One thing is very noticeable, viz,
absence Of beauty among the young lad
| am sure / can see more beauty in Smy
FINS. among our young ladies in a walk up N
anne. and Commerce streets on a pleasant ey
the ing, than have seen here during the
the week among the thousands that thr
nent the walks along the beach. The New Y
olied 7th regiment is encamped here, and
hole night there is to be an illumination
ONE honor Of their coming. Ny next lie
ozen will be descriptive of that event and oi
rome. incidents Of our trip.
nd Is Yours Respectfully,
, has A. P. GRIFFITl
them MARTHAs VINEYARD, July oath, 1878.