Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-08
LETTER FROM LONG BRANCH.
Another Fourth GOne-The RailroaS
Accident - The New Villas The
Branch at Nighs-The Climate an6
the TOiIettes-Personal ssossip-Etc.


the TOiIettes-Personal Gossip-Etc.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
LONG BRANCH, July 7TH, 1882.
Again the Fourth of July celebration was
spoiled at this place, so it has known no really
glorious" Fourth for two years Last year.
when the weather was fine, except for short
time in the afternoon, the anxiety about the
President was too great to admit of much gay
ETY.. This time the weather was foul, and
many were feeling gloomy on account of the
railroad accident last week, by which Mr.. VIII
liam Garrison, who was so popular, lost his life
Some of those who had known him, went to his
funeral, on Monday, while others attended the
inquest held in consequence of the deaths by
that accident.
This year. as last a shock came lust as resi-
dents of Long Branch were preparing for a sea
son Of gayety. Mrs. Grant and Commodore Gar
rison's wife and others had planned that each
should have a reception day, and give in
formal afternoon teas" and in other
ways make it gay for each other and
their friends who came during the season.
Now no one feels disposed to entertain
and Of course Commodore GarrisOn's family
will be very secluded. They had opened their
cottage here less than a we before the acct
dent by which his son lost his life, and expected
TO enjoy their summer very much, for there was
to be a reunion at his residence of Commodore
GarrisOns brothers. He has four and sister
living. His parents never lost but one child-a
little girl-whO was accidentally drowned over
sixty years ago. There is another sister now
living in Pittsburg- One of the commodore s
brothers, who is a sufferer with rheumatism.
came here with him last week. and two others
have arrived since; but it is probable that Com
mOdOre Garrison and his wife, who never leaves
him, lay be detained in New York, whittier
they went on Sunday, for some time. They
have again opened their town house, which they
had so recently closed. COnant. the artist. is to
Paint the portraits of the five Garrison brothers
in group.
HOW THE NEWS CAME.
In some families the news of the railroad dis
aster fortunately was first heard from the men,
beers of the family who returned unhurt save
for few scratches and wet clothing. This was
the case with Mr.. Victor Newcomb's wife and
her sister, Mrs. Smith, both of whose husbands
were on the wrecked train. Mr. Newcomb. who
was in the drawing-rOom car, did not get wet
even. while his brOther-in-law who went down
In the smoker" into the water came home
muddy and bruised. Both Mr.. Newcomb and
Gen. Grant were on the boat which last summer
had collision with another steamer between
here and New York, so now they scarcely
know which to prefer as the safer,
the all rail route or the boat to New
York Both of them go there to at
ttnu 10 BUSINESS nearly every Qay.
Colonel Fred Grant has always been his mothers
idol, and her anxiety about him the day of the
accident even exceeded that of his wife. who
after time made up her mind that he had gone
by the other route. especially his father said
he had not seen him on the train. and that he
knew II Fred" had been on it he would have
come to sit with him in the same seat. as was
his habit His mothers anxiety. however pic
tured her favOrite as locked up on the train
and going down in the water thus, and strug-
glin9 IN VAIN to get out So persuaded was
Mrs. Grant of this being the case that she be-
came so nervous as finally to cause her husband
TO share meaSurably her uneasinesS He had
Deen perfectly composed. despite his own duck
Ing, until his wife made him think there was
serious cause for alarm about their eldest child.
Despite the widely circulated report that his
collar bone was broken by the railroad disaster
last week, Mr.. John I. Raymond Colonel
Seliers) was not even on the train on which lit
occurred. nor on any other train that day.
THE NEW VILLAS.
1t seems to be the same with owners of hand
some houses here as with so many in Washing
ton. who, as soon as they move into dwellings,
which they have built to suit them exactly, are
too restless to remain in them, so wander off to
the ends of the earth. Mr.. and Mrs Victor
NewcOmb will soon give up their magnificent
home here for the primitive accommodations of
Mt Desert. where they have engaged rooms for
Mrs. Garrison will probably spend several weeks
at Saratoga.
EX-NEW JERSEY SENATORS.
Ex-senator Stockton and his wife, son and
daughter are here. Mrs. Stockton, who has been
seriously i'll for some time, was brought from
New York on bed IN a special car, and carried
on the bed to the West End Hotel. where she
has spent so many seasons: She has a room on
the first floor, next to the parlor. where. with
the door open. she can see much Of the gayety
Her husband and children devote themselves
constantly to her.
Ex-senator Randolph has been here this week
to make arrangements to bring his family to
spend a part OF the summer. Perhaps they
may visit White Sulphur Springs West Vir-
gina. during the season.
NIGHT AT THE BRANCH
In spite of the storm on Tuesday we have had
Fourth OF July illuminatiOns here nearly every
night without any being specially planned for
the purpose The sunsets for many successive
evenings were more gorgeous in color than any
limitations of art could possibly be. Before thew
faded the moon was shining its brightest, and
the electric lights were beaming at both ends of
Ocean Avenue. while Venus has glttered i'm the
western heavens. At the Ocean House. in adj
dition TO the electric lights about the hotel.
there are hundred of gas jets on the pier oppo-
H..
rainbow cOlOrs are thrown on a fountain in the
front garden of the Ocean House.
The hotels do their share fully in making
Long Branch bright after night but the cottap ore
residents very justly complain that the local
authorities donOt light the roads which lead to
their residences. These drives are very dark
except near the hotels. They say that tiey (the
cottage owners) pay very high taxes so should
have the drives approaching their dwell
ings lighted, as Long Branch village is lighted.
whose reSld hts do not pay an equivalent pro-
portion of the taxes. From the settlement at
the turn in the road. by the West End hotel. all
the way to the Elberon hotel, Ocean avenue is
dark, except when lighted by the moon. al
though most OF the handsOmest villas occupied
by the wealthy summer residents are within the
limits just mentioned.
THE CLIMATE AND TOH.ETTES
Long Branch Is more fortunate than most of
the salt-watering places in having a dry climate.
Except in rainy weather, or just after rain,
starched goods can be worn here without in
jury, and silks are never spotted by the
atmosphere here. The consequence is that the
dressing is far gayer than at most seaside re-
sorts. where wooden goods only can be worn
with impunity- White and colOred lawns are
worn here on all clear days Many of the
dresses worn when driving are of the most brill
liant hues.
Mrs. Fred. Grant wears stylish visiting cos