The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-17
Letter from Massachusetts,.
MARTHA's VINEYARD, Aug. s.
Elizab -th Islands.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Aug. s.
Elizab tn Islands.
Pertinent to the econsecutivenessc cf these
rambling sketches will be hasty note OF
the notably picturesque thirteen Eliza
beth Islands" They were named "after'
(not for good Queen Bess, who died
1902, the year of their discovery by Bar
tholomew Gosnold, eighteen years before
the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth
in 1920, and before the institution of
Plymouth Rock as the great "blarney-
stone y of Yankeedom. Wisely have the
aboriginal names been preserved in most
of the interesting and notable points, har-
bors and islands, viz. Nonamessett, I'm
catena, Weepeckets, Nashawena, Guilty.
hunk, Penikese Massasoit, and so on. At
the time of their discovery, the Indians
numbered about 5000. King Philip ruled
over the tribes in the Elizabeth islands
and Kapawack (Martha's Vineyard, and
King Massasoit, his father, over the tribes
OF Nantucket, and waged frightful wars
in 1880. 1t is, to some minds, yet de-
batable question if the Norseman's foot
trod this soil in the eleventh century.
Whatever may be said upon this point,
it is certain that an intrepid English ma
riner first landed, May 18th, 1902, and
sunk the first English spade eighteen
years earlier than the Puritans did. 1t
was one of these Elizabeth Islands, viz,
Pe'aakese, that Mr.. John Anderson, of New
York, with munifcent liberality, pur-
chased, and endowed with $4,000, for
the use of the eminent Agassiz in the in
auguration of his "School of Science. -
The 'lamented and too early death of the
great teacher effected an entire change in
the order of the school.
From our present perfectly charming
summer home, with its cool, health Civ
ing, soul-inspiring breezes, and surround
lngs, :" water, water everywhere" conve-
nlent, cheap excursions daily tempt one
to run into numerous coves and bays and
towns. We cannot take you to all, and
| will mention only few of such places
as will interest your readers, though their
name is legion, for they are many.
Katama-Ol Fashioned Clam-Bake.
To such as we, not "to the manor born, u
the first thing to be done" if one wishes
to start at the beginning, is to "do" Ka-
tama. Now what is Katama? Only one
of the numerous seaside hotels and ham
lets where every day, on the arrival of
the train, genuine Indian "clam- bake -
is temptingly served to the uninitiated.
Messrs. editors, did you ever feast your
selves ab ouo od NAHUM, a.sqa1e ad ,aaIseon,
at genuine Indian clam-b of the orr
glnal simon pure Rhode, Island soft-shell
little neck clans? If lot, go, see, eat
one and die For, believe me, there is
nothing of all natures cuisinerie that be-
gins to compare with one. For all that
is grandly, gloriously, gluttonly, german
dlzlngly gorgeous may be euphoniously
expressed in one short word, VOLTA
"CIana-6ake" " II and a Rhode Island
clam-bake par excellence Hundreds
OF your readers have never seen clam
bake, and have no idea of one. There is
only one good, old-fashioned, but fear
nearly obsolete, Virginia institution, viz,
the squirrel stew, barbecue and sh-fry.
which at all approximates the clam-b bake !;
good IN its place, but compared with the
clam bake is like Othello with Othello
left out. | said l fear the barbecue and
fish fry are becoming obsolete. Tempe
rately and properly conducted, as they
should be, believe in national outdoor.
manly sports, and every people should
proudly perpetuate their peculiar inno-
cent customs-such as the barbecue used
to be-was eminently manly and promo
tive OF social enjoyments, when innocently
and harmlessly conducted. What the
clam bake is to New England, the barba-
cue used to be to Virginia. 1 think the
Puritan is more careful to preserve and
perpetuate traditional sports and customs
than the Cavalier, thus keeping alive a
spirit of nationality and good neighbor-
hood. Oh for one more real Brunswick
stew Reuenons ou mouto7as. A clam
bake is thus: A hole is dug in the earth
OF size and depth proper to the necessity
layers of wood and stone are placed in
this hole, the wood set afire SO as to heat
the stones thoroughly then the hot Goals
are removed. On the heated stones il
laid wet sea-weed; on this bushels Of
these delicious clans are placed, with
alive and kicking" lobster by the dozen
In separate tray over the clans then
the green corn, with the shuck on. with
potatoes, in another tray. Over all these
IS laid wet tarpaulin or sail cloth. and
all covered with wet sea-weed about q
foot thick. Then they who are i'm at
the death, and have witnessed the whole
performance, retire in regular order to an
open shed, in which are arranged tables