Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-31

"htht "sou street., BfOiu street, aud RiCh-
mond street, to the Fifth Ward building,
where tue line halted. The visiting nlemen
and their guests were summoned TO the upper
room and were welcomed by Captain Ira
Winsor, and Chief Engineer Greene. Ex-
Mayor Thomas A. Doyle was introduced by
Captain Winsor, and said:
VI have been called upon, gentlemen, to
asy To you that the people of Providence, not
only OF the Old Water Witch Company but
all our Citizens are glad to meet any organiza-
ton that comes from anywhere 10 this broad
land. The Old Water Witch still lives and
always will live in the hearts of the people
Tor The faithful service rendered In times
past. We could not allow you to pass through
the city withoutc xiending our hospitality, and
although THIS table is not loaded as we would
wish, yet you have II welcome from our in.
most hearts. We would he glad to extend
TO you other Inequalities, as the people of
Providence have something to interest every
DodY, ana come when you will, you will al
ways lind some one who la, left his latch
string ont and will be glad to welcome you. -
Capt. Van Sicklen thanked the members of
the Old Water Witch for the kind reception,
and introduced the Hon. Henry Ballard Mr..
Ballard said:
AT the request of Captain Van Sicklen, !
tender you our thanks for this agreeable and
kindly welcome. | can assure you 1t has al
ready done much TO gladden. the hearts of
our somewhat tired excursion party. 1t has
made us feel that, although three hundred
miles away from home, we are still among
friends. Following the advice of Mark
Twain at Montreal, | will explain that we are
members OF the fire company that has adopt
ca the honored and historic name of Ethan
| Allen. We did not expect, on coming tn
your CITY, any such spread us this, or Ia a
Western phrase, such Racket can as
SURF. you TINT this kindly welcome touches
our hearts, and although we eau not tdrry
with You II long time, rs the programme OF
our excursion will take us away shortly, We
snail take away in our memories aud in Our
hearts, sweet rccollections of the Providence
IRE department, that will ever keep green
and bright"
The Ethans and their guests were then
treated TO substantial collation. which was
ilieiy spread when the party arrived at the
hall. Aft,r the repa.t three cheers were
given Tor tho Providence tiremcn, the line
| reformei and marched to the Continent 4
steamboat company's wharf, where the Bur.
Ilngtoulans embarked for Rocky Point to
enjoy clam dinner. The steamer was
| crowded with pleasure seekers who got off a,
the various resorts along the shore Arrived
al Rocky Point, the last resort ou the ute,
The cxcursionists marched up to the grand
pavilion for dinner
AS many of the party were utterly
ignorant OF the approved methods Of
handling the seductive baked clam, sew.
eral Rhode Islanders acc Jmpinicd
them to give instructions. The clans,
after being taken from the weeds and stone
and lire and things among which they are
baked, are brought to the tables in pals and
shoVcled out into capaciOus platter by
| walter with grocers tin scoop. To the
unlnitiated the method of getting at the eat
able part OF this mass OF shells was a pro-
found mystery. The approved method seems
to be this: First take half clam shell tip
up the back Of your plate and stick it under
Then pour lot of melted butter or oil, or
some oleaaiuous compound into your plate
| and tile angle of inclination of the plate will
bring II all to one point in the front. Dash a
lot OF pepper into it, and then grasp-y )ur
knife and fork, do you say? Not so fast.
There is II knife aud fork at your plate, but
they are put there for purely ornamental put
poses. You have no use for them at clam
| bake. Now grasp handful of clans from
The platter and deposit them at the side Of
your plate. Seize the first one you can get,
draw the shells violently apart, seize by the
neck the little piece of shrivellod India
rubber you find in the shell and draw 1t oui.
Turn it inside out and draw the skin over its
head. Grasp the head firmly between the
thumb and foretinger dip it into the ole
aginous liquid and lift it up with the grease
dripping from it. Keep firm hold of the
head, shut your eyes, swing it into your
mouth, close your teeth over the neck and
sever it. Throw the outside end away and
you are surprised and gratitied to find that
you have actually eaten your first clam,
accompanied of course, by more or less of
the soil of Rhode Island. Then you keep
| on gratifying yourself not knowing the con.
sequence of over-lndugence in Raodc Is
| land clam take. CLANS are so very seduct-
I've that they would deceive a dyspeptic.
They slip down like creased electricity, but
the gastric juice rclires from an attack on
them as itNbud from an old rubber shoe.
Next to the clam, probably the greatest
difficulty the excursionists had to labor with
was the Indian names. Que can not CON
verse with Rhode Islander ten minutes with
out running foul of half dozen of these
awful names. What with Caronicu', Canon
chet, and Cowesett,; Weybosset and Moosup,
Pawtucket, Pawtuxct, Poquonnuck and
Puchawisit, Noank, Quidnick and Appo.
naug the Vermonters had more use for the
alphabet than ever before in their lives.
After dinner the company strolled around
the grounds, visiting the different places of
amusement, while few went in bathing, re-
CARELESS of the shark that was seen in the
bay that forenoon. After pleasant sail up
the bay the party arrived back at Providence
AMI were escorted to the Narragansett House,
ole OF the largest and finest hotels in New
England.
They were met here by several Vermont and
Providence friends, who exerted themselves to
the utmost for their pleasure. Mr.. Chas A. |
Catliu, former Burlington boy, now chem |
list of the Rumford chemical works, Mr.. j. |
Ii. Bowdltch, a former Vermont journalist. |
now of the Pawtuxet Valley Cleaner, A. n. |
Merchant, Mr.. Lewis of the Rhode Island
Democrat and Judge Jenckes of Providence
each took section Of the party ir carriages
aud on foot and showed them the interesting
features OF an nerorising and beautiful
city. MIR. Catlin and Judge Jenckcs were
especially kind in placing their carriages at
the disposal of the eXcursionists The party |
also met at this hotel DIR. l.. NJ Bingham
of Burlington and &. F. Spaulding of
Boston. DIR. Bingham aud. his family
had been spending their vacation in Provi-
dence and, ON the invitation of the eXcur.
Sionists, accompanied them to Boston.
In the evening the 'ribbits corps of Troy,
very soldierly appearing body of men ar
rived at the Narragansett and divided the
honors with the Ethans The Burlington
boys had no reason to fear comparison, how
ever, either in general appearance or in
marching-on the contrary they were much
he finer appearing body. The next MORN
ng three special cars on the fast New York
and Boston express were assigned to the ex-
and the party reached
Boston
At II o'clock. They had been accompanied
10 Providence by w. &. Lee, pleasant gen.
leman from Hook and Ladder No. 3
If Boston and were again met at
he depot by Engineer Cunningham and
he escort from the fire department
The line was formed ia the depot and the