Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-19


required to become member of this club
In one of the cosiest corners on the face
of the earth. on the easterly side of the
Narragansett bay. you find the villas and
cottages where the members meet for
social enjoyment Two rocky promonto-
ries. nearly surrounded by water. with
ravines. groves, walks, shades. flowers
and shubbery, planned and wrought out
with exquisite "art to conceal art" 1t is
certainly a place where one may retire
from the cares and turmoil of busy life for
season of quiet rest.
Summer houses look out from the top
of the rocky bluffs. Between them there
is little shelving beach with bathing
houses just above the reach of the highest
tides. A large cannon is placed on the
rock to salute passing steamers. The
world is entirely shut out. No member
is allowed even to invite friend. unless
it be some person not living in the state,
And as I was not resident of Rhode
Island gladly accepted an invitation to
enter this sylvan retreat.
General Burnside, while he lived, and
other prominent and wealthy men are the
leading spirits of this club. On Wednes-
day of each week the members may bring
their ladies.
One mile further south is a brick dwell
ing one hundred and twenty five years old
called "Alanthus Villa" Shaded by giant
alanthus trees, cool sea breeze sweeps
over the lawn on the front side like great
fan in hot summers day. Here we have
pleasan: sojourn by the seaside. From
our window we can watch the steamers
and other boats that are necessarily passing
up and down the hay. A very agreeable
company of ten, from New York, Hart
ford and Providence. share with us this
pleasant home. And Mrs. Knowlton is !
model housekeeper. Not only does she
"give meat to her household" but she is
pillar in the church, and the president o.
a temperance union-the banner union OF
the church. Mr.. Knowlton leads the choir
with his cornet and keeps his neiShbOrs
cool with hundreds of tons of ice. MOI
shall we forget the young man Elmir. who
with Captain Paul took the whole house in
his yacht for delightful sail over to the
light house, where big dog and an ugly
old salt refused to let us in.
This old homestead is surrounded by a
multitude of cottages that have sprung VI
like mushrooms within few years. 1t
fact, from Providence to Newport, thirty
miles, it is almost continuous line Of
cottages, from the cozy handbook that cos
one hundred collars to the Queen Ann tina
cost one hundred thousand dollars. Hotel
there are none. Even in the city of New
port there is but one large hotel, Severa
others have been torn down for kindlin!
wood or used to build cottages,
In the forenoon we enjoy the salt water
bath. Exhilarating. almost intoxicating
is this plunging under the blue waves @
the sea. And the warm water of the gul
stream coming into this bay, there is hard
ly chill in the water. The boys entertain
us with stories of sharks, and how ma
had been chased by one of these animal
on TO the wharf with his overalls torn OH
Que shark fifteen inches long was actual
caught at the pier. Some of the ladit
are frightened for few minutes, but the
soon plunge in again, and forget all abou
the sharks in their enjoyment of the bath
In the afternoon we walk in the wind
ing ways" among the cottages surrounde
by groves OF red cedar, and are reminde
If Bunyan's Pilgrim, as many of the col
tages have notices over the door-"llom
Delights" " Pilgrim Retreat" "Etrthl
Bliss" Saints Rest" Columbia,
Friendly Welcome" and mpny others
Or we can take one of the steamboats, thu
is constantly plying up and down, loade
with crowds of people, many of whor
come down to the famous shore dinner.
Piles of stone and sea weed, and an on
door fire on every hand shows how WE
the clam bake is patronized. All kinds {
hsh fresh from the water, with CLAIMS AN
quohaugs are served in every conceivabI
/, style.
Here also are pleasant drives along til
"shell road" Oyster and clam shell
eighteen inches deep make a road tn;
rolls like pavement winter and summe
But the shells are now sold for eight cen
II bushel for planting oyster beds.
Not drunken man did we see anon
these crowds Of people. Every man
promptly arrested who appears the lea
intoxicated. The temperance people
Rhode Island are doing noble work. W
accepted an invitation to address the W.
mans Christian temperance union at til
Sunday evening gospel temperance NEE
ing, and fine audience in their beautlf
chapel listened with close attention.
, GEORGE w. KENNEDY.