The Republican journal., 1888-08-02
Glimpses Of Newport.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Journal

"DAME COTTAGE" NEWPORT, Il. l., July
Is. 1888. This morning Delphine and made
a little pilgrimage to a shrine of wisdom and
roses-"Rose Cliff" the fascinating summer
home of George Bancroft, the veteran histor-
ian. We had not the honor of personal ac-
quaintance with the great American Savant,
but the public is always graciously permitted
to visit the grounds Of ''Rose Cliff during the
hcyday of the roscs-perhaps throughout the
season, that l do not know. From Bellevue
Avenue the only access to this paradise of
lofty elms, which at first view seems to lead to
nowhere. but to be its own excuse. A few
steps more, however, aud one is in full sight,
not hundred yards away, of the Bancroft
William unpretentious, square, wooden struc-
ture, of no especial architecture and painted a
iightish brown, yet withal attractive-and fair
ly within the charmed circle of rich aromas
and glowing hues. To be perfectly frank |
must admit that the first splendor of the roses
Is over. June Is the ''mOnth of roses at
Rose Cliff as elsewhere. They begin to look
a little, Gerry little passe. Yet l hate to say
it as recall the wealth of lovely blossoms our
senses rejocel in this morning. Beds and
beds and beds of them! Of every shade and
size and degrce. The modest little Scotch rose;
hybrids, handsome, arrogant and parvenu; the
beautiful ''La France" paely pink and per-
fectly aristocratic. We learned from sub
gardener that the gardens boosted about three
hundred varieties of roses in all. As we pass
ell the house our eyes sought eagerly, but vain
ly. for glimpse of the aged historian. The
wide piazza, encompassiny the house on three
sides, was beautifully furnished with rugs,
steamerchairs, and cushioned hammocks; in IA
cosy corner, half hidden by vines, we spied
bevy of little girls playing with their dolls. A
pretty picture surely, but not at all what we
enthusiastic ''lion-hunters' deemed our due!
AS one crosses the broad lawn, which lies to
the east of the house, the ocean, sparkling,
alive and blue as neither sky, bursts on the
sight through setting of green. ''Ah,'' cried
Delphine rapturously, ''it is Il huge, priceless.
Branicki sapphire. Isn't it beautitM"' At
the foot of the rose gardens is the kitchen-gar-
den. separated from the ''citl walk by tall
hedge, scrupulOusly clipped. This spot would
at once become sacred ground in the esteem of
the most eNacting gourmand, and to more
ascetic mortals it is by no means dsagrceably
suggestive! The artichoke bed is its chief
show" feature-an unusually fine and plenti-
full display. Ones gaze really cannot help
lingering rather arishtuAy on the suceuent
things! The stimulated Imagination positively
shifts the dainty as it SINNERS by and by
beneath of the autocratic eye of the chef at
"Rose Cliff villa! Many of the vegetable
beds are bordered with nasturtiuns, forget
mc-nOtS, mignOnette, and sweet-peas, giving a
pretty touch of elegance.
Delphine and stepped through the gateway
of the hedge into the cliff walk for complete
view of the water. On either hand. here and
| there, a pedestrian sauntercd along the wind
ing path presumably like ourselves. "strany-
crs,; lcisureIy taking in the giories of cliffs
| and bay. In a second or two Il lovely little
foXterrier bounded out of the grounds of
handsome villa adjacent to the Bancroft place.
She flourished up 10 Delphne and put her
small silky muZzle into Delphine's outstretch-
q rDll1r. An
gust Belmont" Presently the master of the
little dog appeared, and the two swiftly passed
down the walk and out of sight. Not Il >ug-
question OF the ">auntering of the "stran2er
| in a movement of either In retracing our
steps through the grounds of Rose Cliff We
encountered Herr Mann, the head gardner, who
benevolently presented us each with IA rosa
Charles DarwinS of deepest carmine. A bright
little story is told of the said Herr Mann Short
| ly after the death of Mrs. Bancroft Herr Mann
who had acquired a snug little fortune dur
| ing his years of service with the Bancroft>-
begged Mr.. Bancroft to let him return to the
''father!and." This the historian decidedly OBJ
| jected to dc and furthermore expressed some
what peremptory wish that master and servant
never, revcr part until the death of the former.
Whereupon Herr Mann. with a charming dis
| play of ingenuousnesS-h is really deeply al
tached to Mr.. Bancroft-as the condition OF
| longer term of service and exile. eXacted
promise from Mr.. Bancroft that he would
| that the day is near at hand when this promise
must BIT redeemed. The Old man is very
feeble. although not confined to the house, and
| apparently little the worse for his recent fall
from the steps of his piazza. \ gentleman,
who is intimate at Rose Cliff, said to-day in my
| hearing. in speaking of Mr.. Bancroft: 'Poor
old gentleman, he looks frail enough to blow
away. lie seems mere shell. He will go soon"
SUNDAY the 22nd. There are but two ways
of amusing oneself at Newport on sunday
| nj Sf, ole fJ1n
would verge on sacrilege / fear to include
''church' under the head of advertisements"
though had the hardihood to do this should
| indulge in classification not devoid of several
grains of truth! Society turns out in full
| force on bright Sunday mornings. presenting a
truly impressive pageant it flocks in elegant,
rarely heterogeneous, turnouts to "Trinity,"
| "All Saints, ''St. Johns and other places of
fashionable worship. But to-day there has
been no display of fine carriages and handsome
all the morning in sheets. The beautiful me-
mortal windows designed by John La Fargo
draw visitors daily to the Claiming Memorial
Church. The church is open to sightseers on
weekdays for Il couple of hours at noon. and
on Sunday directly after services. DeIphne
and fingered in the church this morning for
some time after the congregation had left to
enjoy the La Farges. which are seen at their
best on dark days - at least, this is the judy
ment Of Mrs La Fargo and other connoi>>curs
|
way. the La Fargo STAINED glass" is not
''st0ined" at all but Venetian glass. The vari-
Gus color> and shades are obtained by melting
glasses of the elemental colors and mixing
while in fluent state. The larger La Fargo.
| placed at the back of the church. directly fac
ing the pulpit, illustrates the text: ''lea,
though pass through the valley of the Sha,l-
ow of Death. will fear no evil" An angel
with strong, wonderful face, is leading a
young girl into the valley of the Shadow"
th1,f of
ICES evil" The smaller La Fargo, however. is
| considered a chet-HRcre, quite the best
piece of work La Fargo has ever done. The
| window is in two panels-a figure Of the Virgin
on one, and on the other st. Barnabas. The
| face of the Virgin is eXquiSitely beautiful and
| ideal, and not married by that heavy placiditv
| nearly universal in the Madonna faces. The
La Farges are brilliant in colorng. and in that
| respect complete contrasts to the window at
the back of the pulpit by Donald Mcdonald,
| representing the parable of ''the Sower'.
which needs a fair day and Il flood of sunlight
| pouring through it to bring out its real merit.
| The central piece of this window is an exact
reproduction Of MiIlet'S ''Sowcr,' its LETT panel
and OH the opposite panel is the Tree of Life"
A favorite anecdote of Newport Unitara1s
suggests itself. A visitor to the church made
this electrifying comment on the Mcdonald
window: VERY interesting! Claiming. doubt
less. when boy on his fathers farm!'
Yesterday was the ''redetter'' day of our
brief and quiet soJourn here. A charming lit
| tie woman, who, in spite of a fragile, flower
like prettiness and the slenderest of waists. is
an accomplished whip, and manages her ponies
in mastery fashion, drove Us to the polo
game in the afternoon. 1t was the formal
opening of the polo season. although several
games have already been played on the grounds
this year. and heavy fog proved powerle>S to
| ddmpen the ardor of spectators. Soon after
five the grounds were lined with carriages, and
"Dead-llcad Iill,'-Levi J.. Morton's recent
gift to the city for public park-was covered
with "natves." The notable society people
present at the game included Colonel jerome
n. Ronaparte, the VanderbiltS, John J. Astor
jr., the kernochans, Mrs. o. ii. L. Belmont.
and Mrs. Carley's very beautiful daughter.
The ponies entered enthusiastically into the
spirit of the game, whrling and pirouctting
| about in marvellous evolutions. But those
cruel spurs, bringing, again and again. the red
blood pricking out upon the glossy sides of the
| handsome little creatures made one have secret
misgivings regarding the ethics of the game.
The game was hOt|y contested and ''blues'' and
'yellows" vigorously appauded in turn. Mr..
Eliot Zbarowksi, who has not been in Newport
since the famous games with the birmingham
! men, played with positive fervor.
The fox hunts are to be revived this season.
The hounds are here already. and the first hunt
is set down for August sixth. Mr.. F. Gray
Griswold is to be master of the hounds. The
Newport newspaper correspondent with lofty
disregard Of fact, covers his feuilleton with
dazzling accounts of the social ''vorteX!' The
''vortex" has not yet begun, and never does IN
til August, as everyone knows. "Society,"
however, apparently endures the present state