New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-25
SUMMER LEISURE.
AN ARTISTS RETREAT ON LONG ISLAND

DAY AND AN EVENING WITH THE ARTISTS.
IrRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TEIBuNE'l
LONG ISLAND, Aug 10.-The wall from MI
Desert, which was uttered few days since by
correspondent in that vicinity, has doubtless found
its echo i'm many another wilderness where one goes
TO be reciuse ard finds the priineyal soltuues a.
ready overcrowded with " the worlds people buO
there is at least happy hunting-eround when
the Philistnes of fashion have not yet invaded
Somewhere on the eastern end of Long Island is a
little settlement to which shall presently give
name 1t is quaint, lovely town of one long street
an avenue so broad that over its green eXpanse
meander two three unprecedented roadways
made Mt different times to suit the varying conven-
fence of the inhabitants On either side is walk
bordered by big elms and sycamOres; and these
same great trees shelter the picturesque little houses
that stand in their uncaculating simplicity. close
upon the road. They are two hundred and more
years old. these shngle cottages whose roofs take
so steep slant and whose color is so delicious
gray that it is wonder that the artists have set
tied down upon the place aud claimed it for their
own The fiat country is full of a subtle interest.
On one hand are the farms and grass-ands by which
the simple folk live; upon the other. shut out by
low hills of sand forever rolls the There is
mellow haz mess in the atmosphere, harmony i'll
form and color which make the penSiye painter
fancy himself once more among the sea-was and
dunes of Holland; while the happy coorst' who
wanders inland among the ancient homesteads. and
comes back with bits of gray wall ilecked with the
soft light and shade that filter greenly through
willow trees, declares the landscape piece taken
out of the heart of Brittany.
The Holland man has the best of it when at twi-
light he stands gazing upon one of the antiquated
windms that still lift their uneasy arms in grim
silhouette against the melancholy sky. But he of
the French school has his themes thrust upon him.
when into the simplicity of the uncrowded land
scape comes leisurey group of dun-coored cows;
or when clumsy hay-wagon. piled high with It's
luscious ochre-tnted load, his point of view.
Then they two shake hands and gasp, each from his
different outlook "What exquisite harmonics"
" What wonderful graysw Presently comes along
an impressonist who has splendid possibilities that
are not quite within his grasp. He meant well by
the scenery when he created that sketch his
easel but at present the blending is a little too
vOlent blue and yellow Struggle nightly in
chaos of green transparency. There is a lightning
flash of genius which, alas has not revealed the
thing necessary to a common soui-the subject. Bat
they all shake hands again and thank God they
not like each other. All, WELL it is a wise picture
that knows IFS subject, in these impresSional
days; although there never was one yet which
could not tell its OWE school.
And still the artists and their harmonies arc not
all of this charming town. From Boston and New
York. from here and from there, come few oilers
who have no fancy for driving the beach at Long
Branch, or for going to hops at Cape May, still
less for joining the promiscuous throngs at Man
haitian. They are tired of Nanasket, and it is too
formal at Newport. Did it ever strike you that
sometimes the very best people may tire of going to
few prescribed places, and rejoice to hide them
selves from their oppressivey inquirng friends who
seek their upon that book OF life-thc fash
ionable hotel regsterY If you down here in
this quaint town by tho sea, You might meet q
handful of such, who have left their fornalitcs aud
conventionalites behind. and stolen hither to bask
upon that sunny plane forbidden to socety-a
natural life. The coast may not be fine for driving
like that of Long Branch; the surf not so good for
bathing at Cape May. But the beach is a safe
one, and many the picturesque little tents uu-
furled each morning which the owners fold at night
like the Arabs Every days sees-battling with the
most compromising of breakers-half hundred
o more bathers, who vanish back into the village
and lost in its hotelless shelter. Oh the free
dom, the unrestrant. the impotence of this little
town! Not the winged birds carolling in these old
trees are rcer tan in A~tist-haven of the social
fctiOns OF balls, and dressing, aud music by the
band. Why, there was "A party the other night,
got up by the artists and attended by select score
or two of their admirers-n large barn. DO YOU
think missed hOt-hOuse flowers with that
delicious scent of hay Or a supper when that
homemade ice cream was handedP Or the pound
ing of drums and trumpetng of horns. when that
innocent old countIyman sat upon a corn bin and
made his ancient fiddle squeal? Who were the
dancers A tai slim figure in white gown of
the dim past, with pulled sleeves Of long abandoned
rote, easped demurely under the bosom with an
old silver buckle; quaint little body in a close
clnging gray dress, with Puritan handkerchief
crossed mcckly over the breast and an Old-tash-
ioned poke big enough for her TO curl up and 90
to sleep in sweet tiower-iace looking ont OF an
oldItmo trIied cap above straight black gown
with its waist IN the same ong-forgotten place a
youth in Old colonial suit of white knee
breeches black silk stockings, lowered vest. with
the GETAWAY, lOng-tailed scarlet coat great
grandfathcrS used to know. No. the inhabitants
do not wear these former things to-day. though
they well might In their seqnrstered hamlet; but
they treasure them as relics whose faded anthem
ITCHY glance will establish.
Aud whore is this ArcadiaY Precaution steps in
and warns me to leave unwrittcn its mystic name,
lest the untalnted atmosphere should be invaded by
those hellgerents of style who wreste each season
with the world and the flesh in gay summer resorts
struggle and ready TO drop down wherever is wills
pered the magic wOrd-rest Perhaps it was to
defend their little citadel from these invaders that
the inhabitants of Artist haven fought down tie
approach of the Long Island Railway and had its
threatened course diverted to another terminus.
However that may be, this seaside haunt is still
unspOied for the artists. In aboriginal little
hotel ut would be an inn if this not so late in
the nineteenth century, there are eight profess
sOnal painters and a few dilcttanti; which fact So
permeatcs the environment with the aesthetic that
the eplemeral outsiders who down, not to
sketch but to battle, carry away with them an i'm
preston OF having CHANGED upon an art-school I'M
awaIes. Morning and afternoon these embryo
Raphaels are OH at work. You eau them start.
ing each upon his own inspiration bent. in hap
hazard costumes that would do credit to Scilian
brigands Bedouins of the desert Their color
boxes slunV their shoulders are strongly snO-
gestive OF wallets of prey; while their folded stools
aud easeS awiully resemble my sterOus weapons of
offence. But they are peaceablc bandtti, and only
seek to rob nature of some of her ireXhaustible
charms which they wrest away with bold strokes
OF the brush. At the noon dinner at O'clock tea
rendezvous. where they discover their own and
each others studies and exchange amiable cnti.
cisms.
But the evenings crown the days for originality
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