The Republican journal., 1885-07-30
Letter from Newport, R. I.
SOME OF THE SIGHTS AND SCENES OF THIs
FAIR CITY BY THE SEA.
CnrroupnpJapo no Of tho TonrnoI


NEWPORT, r. l. July, 1885. TO one accus.
toned to the deep blue tints and ever changing
hues of our modern Bay of Naples, otherwise
known as the Penobscot Bay, the attention is
more likely to be drawn to the novelty of the
architecture, the dress, the fashion and the
style Of this wonderful city than to the boats
or boating, the bathing or bathers.
The sail down Narragansett Bay from Provl-
dence to Newport, is beautiful and varied, re-
minding one somewhat of the sail down our
own Penobscot, with its islands and cottages
that dot the shore on either side. Summer ho-
tells with their broad verandas, gay flags and
awnings, suggest peace and solid comfort to the
summer tourist, who is now abroad in large
numbers.
Rocky Point, upon the western shore, is an at
tractive spot and celebrated for its famous
clambakes-saidt to be the best in Rhode Island
but whether they equal In flavor this luscious
bivalve so abundant In Maine, am unable to
say, as the steamer City of Newport only halted
long enough to land an excursion party. and
then resumed her course to this city, the Mecca
of our pilgrimage.
W piiSStu StN tl lSlhiluS-dulDUg ltltlll
the islands known rs Prudence, Patience, Hope,
ETC., illustrating the practical application made
of the virtues most held in high esteem by the
descendants of that sturdy, pious preacher and
lawgiver, Roger Williams. We also passed
near the schoolshp New Hampshire, and I'M
der the guns of Fort Adams, the second largest
fortress in the United States. Several well
known steam yachts were lying at anchor in the
harbor while others We're moving swiftly
about with their two or three occupants, sup
posabIy mHitoaai,rs, for only such can afford
the expensive toy.
The wharf or pier, the old Newport on the
commercial side of the city, is not unlike any
other New England city of similar size and
proportion. Here the streets are narrow, the
business houses and residences small and I'M
pretenlouS, in fact there is but little to suggest
the wealth and grandeur, the Old world magniti-
cence engrafted on this new world that lies but
short distance away, hidden behind a wealth
of flowers and foliage of vines and shubbery that
is as wonderful in its way as the architecture it
conceals.
If ones time is limited, or the purse not
equal to a long continued strain of four dollars
day the proper thing to do upon arrival, is
to take a carriage for the beach, where from
ten o'clock A. NJ. to one p. NJ. Old and young,
rich and poor, men and women disport them
selves in the water with wild rollicking fun,
nowhere else permissible on this dainty island.
The surf bathing here is comparatively safe,
and the water, by reason of the Gulf stream,
warmer than at any other beach on the north
Atlantic coast After the rare enjoyment of a
bath at Newport, one is ready for good sub
stantial dinner. And if the tourist has wisely
chosen The Aquuneck' his wants in this e.
rection will be abundantly met. | should like,
for the benefit of those who enjoy good din
ner, (and who does notJ to enclose the menu
from which we ordered our dinner yesterday,
after having taken the "clitf walk" Every az
ticle of food brought to the tables of this fam
Gus hotel is perfectly cooked the best of its
kind, and very abundant in quantity. Try it,
and you who live in Belfast will say at once,
that if your fair city by the sea could have q
large commodOus hotel AS skfuly managed
as The AqudEeck' is by its present pro-
PliSIoI- IfFNlS -AtllFtDls ~ "bulu III pant
solve the problem of how 10 make Belfast
pop@iar as Il summer resort.
A brief rest after dinner, and one is ready
for the famous Bellevue Avenue and ocean
drive, said to be the finest in the world. Start
ing at Touro Park-self perfect gem of
beauty and containing the famous stone mill
(the only thing, ii is said, in America that has
had time to forget its birthday we proceed
due south, nearly three miles, past the finest
residences that art can devise. or money and
extravaganza devise. On this ayenue-for a
few months in the year-reside many of the
realLg rich Nabobs of America Here in aristo-
cratic seclusioD they contrive TO wear away an
existence. under an income of million year
Some of the establishments are said to require
as many as forty servants to take care of the
grounds, the stables and the villa.
A sharp turn west from Bellevue, leads into
Ocean avenue, which curves in and out along
the shore, some seven miles past Bailey 5
beach, Brenton's point, Fort Adams and in
sight of the Dumplings IAN Old fortJ Lime
Rock Light House, the home of IDA Lewis,
Americas Grace Daring, the Torpedo station
on Goat Island, and many other points of in
terest. Here on this long drive of nearly ten
miles, may be seen the most elegant turnouts
with their gaily dressed ladies' making an ever
changing panorama of wealth, beauty and
fashion. Such magnificent horses and car.
riages with their wealth of gold ana silver
mountings, that would set up in business any
ordinary mortal and keep his family for lifey
The lieried footmen and drivers 10 channels
skim knee-breeches, top-boots and bright but
tons, with arms folded a-kim-bo, and attitude
nlzng according to the regulation code, re-
mind one that no FEATHER Abraham" has vet
arisen strong enough to emancipate some kinds
of slavedom north Of Mason and DiAou's
line"
For the benefit Of my lady friends would
say that lap and carriage robes are here largely
discarded by the ultra fashionable The most
elegant toilets of silk and velvet with costly
trimmings of lace and embroidery, and with
parasols to match, are worn on these drives,
the ladies reclining in gracefully studied at
tltudes-the feet resting on embroidered cusll-
ions-eXposing public view of the most eX-
4uiSitc anu toolis lOul veal. HIS WITH tne
inevitable gold-colored and much fondled lap
dog, complete Il picture that, for vain show
and ostentatious display can hardly be eXcelled
by royalty itself
A redeemins feature is the frequent sight Of
village cart. with its happy maidens in their
teens, the pony pheton with IA bevy of merry
children, or the family coupe not too grand
for all, both old and young, to have an outing,
The four-in-hand Tally-ho coach of August
Belmont, driven by its owner, was among the
sights of the avenue; also the venerable George
Bancroft on horseback with his attendant
groom Julia Ward Howe is also In the itv.
with friends, and many other people Of note,
to whom | have not now the time to even
refer, as we are to take the afternoon boat to
Providence and thence by railroad back to
UXbrdge. E. C. u. b.
FISH AND FISHING. The State Fish Com
mssioners have been laboring diligently the
past season TO improve the fisheries, and stock
the rivers of the State with fry. Three hundred
thousand young salmon have been placed in the
head waters of the Penobscot river; 200, 900, of
the Kennebec 100000, Saco; 10000, Denny's.
One hundred thousand land locked salmon were
liberated in MOosehead lake, and 10000 In
Rangley lakes. ----- Salmon have not been so