Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-26
LETTER FROM NEWPORT.
English Manners-Fox Hunting and Polo-The
Heroine of Lime R0ck-Millions at Polo
Fort Adams-The Casino-Personal Men.
ton, Etc.
pecial Correspondence Of The Eyrxrsa sran.

this staid and solid and yet highly fashionable
place Is as decisive In all Of its appearances as IL
you had landed after ten days voyage In the
charming summer town OF bennington In England.
Nothing can remind one more OF English manners
and English habits even to an absurd degree, than
this "ancient and honorable seaside resort I'm
1.-THE Providence Plantations" From the moment
that you land at the Ocean House $50 called be-
cause 1t is more than mile from the sea, you not
ohs hS 6 To 9 than you do at any
who have villas here affecting the manners and
dress and even the worst mannerisms OF our English
cousins. In only one thing do / notice that they
are not thoroughly un-Americsn, and that is when
the inevitable discussion arises over contrasting
~ In IN tne od country and this they general
ant TO see one young American step up to another
and inquire: Il say, me boy, do you think Gov.
night?'-referrfng to the reception which was
given to President Arthur On Wednesday evening
just what ''bloomthink Old crowd" means can
not say; but it probably refers to "sweli" at
tendance or a ''crush," and is a specimen OF the
slang that you hear on every hand. Even the
motel Is conducted on the solemn plan OF its Eng
l1sh namesake. The Office is in a room OF OF the
corridor, just as it is in England. There is no
things ha vow you can sav get dozen ~ little
matter and newspapers. There is no billiard
room, and the bari room only needs a BARNARD to
render Its service the same as its foreign proto-
type.
FOX HUNTING AND POLO.
one or the English sports initiated here is fox
hunting-and such hunttngi That intelligent
men and women can be amused by such farcical
attempt Is more than passes my comprehension;
and yet 1t empties the hotels and cottages of their
Inhabitants On Monday there was a "meet" with
a"master OF houndsnwith all the solemn pomposity
ina could be got up for the occasion. poor feeble
half-dead fox was turned loose down e1Straight
road, followed by pack Of yelling hounds and
IOG or young men and one or two young ladies on
horseback, who stock the fence" with their horses
quite DriSkly. In few moments Mr.. Fox shot
into field OF wheat stubble, followed by the yelp-
ing dogs and horses and riders and that was all
Chere was or 1t. The fox after long search could
not be found! The bugle was sounded the dogs
were called In, the horses came galloping back
over the low stone fences that divide the fields
near tne town, and the great fox hunt was over.
The carriages-and here Is where a laugh comes
1n-Were soon rolling back in long lines to Belle
an American addenda to the English sport! Last
week the fox was caught In about twenty min
utes, which shows how silly and cruel this form OF
nunIlng" Is. me foxes are originally caught
somewhere in Pennsylvania, and are brought here
ana Kept In cages till used for "hunt"
THE GAME OF POLO.
Newport Is the only place in this country that
has been able to maintain game of polo the sea-
son through. The same parties who play it here
occasionally have game near New York in the
fall, out the real home OF polo Is here where James
Gordon Bennett first introduced it. Polo as q
game Is about the simplest OF outdoor sports 1t
Is nothing but .bandy" played by men sitting on
ponies with matlet in their hand, who knock a
wooden ball from the center of a turf-covered
neld 10 one side or the other, between two stakes
as the case may be- II the ball is thus driven
home by one side it is called game, and scored
accordingly. The Skill is all In the horsemanship
IL requires great strength to stick on the ponies
packs. They are mostly Mexican ponies, and
they are SO quick in their movements that it does
not seem possible that one can remain on them as
tive atfemt to hit the ba 'nSh popes
are, as rule, very handsome animals with their
tails banged" or .'cobbed" as it is called, and
tney spring 10 the game with an alacrity that is
exciting. Their forelegs all wrapped In rubber
and hannels to keep the mallets from bruising or
breaking them. The polo field is level one of
cloSeiy-shaven turf OF some twenty-five acres
ABOUT one-half OF it is marked of On the
grass for the game. outside of this space
A band of music plays during the
1ntermissions. But the real sight is the s.turn0
OUT OUT OF the day. This week IL was unusually
large and, OF course, very fashionable Several
acres were covered by carriages and their occu-
pants, who remain in them to see the game. 1
shall not undertake to describe them or the mag
nfncent toilettes that shown so radiantly in the
bright, fresh air. 1t was great sight There
were for instance. seven taly-ho coaches in varl-
sound OF their bugle horns; 1andaus victorfas and
dragS without number; beautifully caparisoned
the carriage Innings; silver chains dangling from
sllVer-mounted bits and gold-plated harness to
me end The Yanderbilts, the Keenes, the San
lords, the HayermyerS, the Stevens, the Belmonts
and all the millionalres were there. A practical
friend who sat with me figured up five hundred
game OF polo. After it was over the carriag iss
wound out Serpent-lIke into Bellevue avenue and
Ior an hour or more this beautiful street was lined
WIN equipageS and their occupants, that certainly
cannot be eacelled in Hyde Park or the Bots de
Bologne.
THE LIME ROCK LIGHT AND IDA LRwIs
Some years ago we used to hear good deal OF
Ida Lewis, the keeper OF the Lime Rock Light
house In Newport harbor. By her bravery and
daring she had rescued many persons from drown
Ing, and had received medal from the govern
ment, an appointment as keeper OF the light. a
beautiful boat from the Narragansett steamship
company land commentator from various humane
societies. Stepping into a trim little yacht. with
Mr. Porter Morse and Frank Richardson, of Wash
lngton, we sailed away over this beautiful harbor
10 the Lime ROCK Light to see the heroine OF so
many reScueS She saw us coming and chained
up two ferocious looking dogs that had been bark
from the rock Once landed, we were introduced
by our skipper to Miss Lewis. She is woman of
medium height, slender, with dark hair and eyes,
pright ana quick In her movements, and very mod
est withal Her little parlor was picture of neat
ness, as was Miss Lewis herself. She has been
keeper OF the light for twenty years. and will con-
tlnue to the end. She receives from the govern
ment $55O year and supplies. She certainly did
not look, with her slender frame, as if She could
man into boat; but she has rescued thirteen
men, Notwithstanding her looks, and can do it
when she jumped into a boat and rescued a man
VINO mad been capSZed In SQuall. She lives alone
In the lighthouse with her mother who was quite
laxative, and seemed anxious to let us know how
Old her daughter was. At last it came oJIt-forty
"You are quite correct, MOTHER" said Ida very de-
murely.
FORT ADAMS
In former days Fort Adams, on the opposite side
or Newport harbor, was the fashionable resort In
the evening, when the soldiers were on dress pa
rade and the band began to play; but the garrison
now Is quite small, consisting OF two companies of
artillery, and the parade takes place at nine O'Clock
IN the morning, which Is TOO early for visitors
Inc fort is an imposing granite structure, with
parade ground within its walls covering many
acres, but is OF no earthly use in these DAYS OF
1ron-clad ships, as work OF defense. Capt Field
who is so well and pleasantly remembered In
washington, commands one OF the companies and
entertained us very handsomely. Capt, Field it
will be remembered, married one OF the daughters
OF DIT. Noble Young, and more popular hostess
never presided at post The army and navy are
great elements In Newport society, and their Of
ncerS ana their families are always welcomed.
THE CASINO.
This institution, which it was thought would do |
so much for Newport is quite generally patronized
but has not yet proved to be profitable 1t is built
In the Queen Anne style, with an entrance ON the
street like New York theater. Inside is an
with fountain and covered
passageWays fncloSing ii, with cafe at one end
and reading room at the other. Up stairs over
Inc entrance Is club room, open only to members
ana beyond are the theater and ball room There
are also private dining rooms. An admittance fee
Is charged of sc for three days, which gives you