New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-04

pANIIION-pOLO PLAYING Al NENl'd'l'
A correspondent at Martha's Vineyard gives
the questions which, in a mild way are agi-
tating Marthas Vineyard. The throng at
Coney Island yesterday was greater than on
any other day this season with the eXcep-
ton of July 4. Saratoga has also been
visited 10y the hot wave. The season
there Is now at its zenith. Long Branch is
filed to OVERLOOKING with Summer boarders.
The great Chautauqua Pavilion, capable OF
holding 5000 persons, has been dedicated
with appropriate religious exercises.
MARTHA'S VINEYARD IN AUGUST.
INEFFl CTUAL FOGs-LoCAL PoLIUCS-REPoR1ED
Loss OF THE AMERICA 1.-THE REASON WHY
LADIES DO NOT swIM-TnE Town ChER.
FRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE Tribune
MARrHRs VINEYARD, Aug. 1.-The August moon
has done her best TO bring foggy weather. Ou'
fbe VINEYARD has thus far held its own. You may
stand on the Bluffs and see abrupt dykes, as ltwere
Of fog into which steamers and sailing craft Vaush'
and from which they unexpectedly emerge puV '"o
sun looks down on the Vineyard much as usual
although his rays are somewhat mtsateu ny
FLYING drift blown from surrounding toe-panhS
wh oh settle down like wet blankets on less 1aVoIeu
localities 1t is very seldom that iogS retain tueH
density IN this immediate vicinity. Iney attack
the island vigorously all sides, ana sometimes
temporarily capture some of the headIands, Dut
have never felt fog at the Bluiis that couu justly
be classified as dense.
AL is not peace even here. There are questions
Of local politics which obscure such comparatively
insignificant mainland matters as the Presidential
campaign. This summer city has grown up within
the limits of Edgartown, and is consequently sub
iect to Jurisdiction acceptable neither to the per-
manent residents nor TO the cOttage-owners, VINO
pay the bulk of the taxes, and would greatly prefer
to have the money spent and the local affairs adj
miniseTed by persons whose interests are ldentlhed
with the place rs a Summer resort. a motion iOr
division last year failed believe. simply because
of its excessive virtue 1t scOrned TO coDciate the
lobby of the General Court and was defeated by
very close vote 1t is curious how this question oil
division has permeated the entire social fabric, ana
even affects the water supply which Nature has
made so bountful and easy OF access that 1t would
seem TO be beyond the reach of political ac-
cldeuts All that one has to do anywhere
on the island in order to secure an unfail-
ing supply of cool, pure water is to sink tube
until it reaches the sea level and screw pump on
the top of IT, Tradition says that surface drainage
will not affect the quality of this water, and as all
the drainage bereabout is essentially superficial 1t
has been assumed that the water at least was be
yopd criticism. An "antl-dlviSiOn Board OF Health
elected by the local "Sod South" to wit Edgar
town. and the local Northern Democrats" to wit
the few aDt-divisionists resident here at Oak
Bluffs, profess to have found, through the aid OF
Boston chemist. that the well of prominent
"diysionistD contains impurities OF a shocking
character. A New-YOrk chemist, however, pro-
nominees the same water purer than the Cochltuate
The other side retOrts by accusing the aforesaid
prominent dlvisonist of having had his well driven
Il, Won nj was "a
Moreover the Board of Health has issued sundry
orders and circulars which their opponents could
not be obeyeG, even if they could be understood,
and as garbed extracts from these circulars re-
ferring TO contagious diseases have been distributed
by persons interested in rival watering places to
create the impression that an epidemic prevails or
is about to prevail at the Bluffs, the Board OF
Health and ITS supporters cannot be said TO lead
absolutely serene and unTOubled existence. The
simple fact is that Oak Bluffs ought, for perfectly
obvious reasons 10 be independent. When the town
was organized this pOpulOus tract was an unln-
habited sheep-pasture but now its permanent popu-
lation not to mention the vested interest OF non
residents entlle il to manage its affairs; and
there is every reason to believe that the next
General Court will grant the petition for division.
There WAS an exciting rumOr here the other day
that the Yacht america" had solved the political
situation in Massachusetts, by laundering with all
on board, including her owner, General Butlerj but
traced to its source the story resolved itself into
boats having upset and drowned man, then into
a mans having been drowned then INTO - boys
having passed through ike experiences, and finally
into a very small bOy's-one of very large family,
too-having fallen into the water from boat
landing and being rescued, when nearly
stranged, by a man who happened to see the
accident. Anyone can see with hat an eye That 10
is far better for small boy TO escape with duck
ing than great Statesman to be lost To hs con
situents. Persons Of right sentiments. therefore.
tell relieved when the original TumOr turned out TO
In nv last letter 10 THE Tribune mentioned the
rouph and stony condition of the bathing beach.
This had been, to a considerable degree corrected
by easterly winds, and not now especially notice
able Attentive observation has led me TO tie con-
clusion that the fear OF wetlng the halr more than
any other thing prevents ladies' irom learning
to SWIM. No one can be fearless swimmer VINO Is
disconnected by being submerged whether by
wave or any other accident. Summers ons OF one
kind or another incidents Of every swimmers
experience, and voluntary dyings ana ducklugs are
the ONLY safe means of becoming accustomed
thereto have talked with intelligent ladies this
Summer 10 whom the idea of habItually holding the
breath when under water seemed perfectly new and
original. To one who has gone through the rough
aquatic training incident to American boyhood. this
seems wcll-nigh incredible but let the reader test
IL fairly by asking his lady friends what they would
do with their breath if they found themselves under
wafer. The great obstacle 90 ACQUIRING TINS exp,rl-
euce appegrs in the female mind, to be the fear
Of wetfIug the hair, and have been
able only in a very few lnStances-F assar
students these most of thom-to persuade IN
diyidual ladies to encounter the temporary ncOn-
vepence of wet hair for the sake OF acquiring the
feailessness inseparable from confident swimming
There are ladies here. however, who dive and SWIM
with grace and ease and two of them-Brook
lynltcs by the way-are about to essay the crucial
test of local pTOwess, and SWIM out TO buoy which
Is mOored a quarter Of mile from the beach. OF
course they viii be accompanied by boat but
they will find the swim longer one than they an
ticiDate
The new Methodist Tabernacle is practically fin
| ished, and is really beautiful and appropriate