New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01
LIFE ON GOVERNORS ISLAND.
AN ENvlABLE PLACE TO SPEND HOT DAYS.
THE DELIGHTS oFAsUMmEI RESORT NEAR THE CITY

the noise, the dust OF the city, WIN" 10 h''
may be fully enjoyed There are mosquitoes yes
I, ,ha wind f. blowing from the Jersey shore, but no
malaria 1t is quiet and the families living on inc
Island arc soclablc so that II Is pretty comior'aoc
here
such was the test mony OF a colonel OF some years
residence on Governors Island, who was asked wnat
charms the post possessed as place oil aooos' ~.
cxprc.s ed conciscly what probably fully appreoa
bv those who live on this grassy bit Of mother
washed by the waves Of New-York Bay INC socia
lie at an army post Is usually Of a gay and brilliant
order at least for the officers Falls, hops, pco',
drives and the various amenities by which cNh|c"
people seek TO diversity 70, concur 10 drive away
ennui from the gallant hearts covered with the 'F
tons livery arG from the goner ones OF their WIVES
aud daughters.
Governors Island Is very delightful place ior
paacefu sociability. II has rcpose but not uuo'''
When one crosses tho gang ank from tn' HUE eo'o
mcnt steamer which plies between the isia'd ana
tbo Battery he walks up the sone-psved roai from
the wooden pier and AT once encounters Shilling
stretcbcs of green sward sklrted by modest but com
Portable houses Children mounted on velocipedes
~ Gus descriptions scurryins about, full OF
actIvify or Oh a smooth bit of lawn tennis net
indicates another outlet Cor the spirit Of gaycty ana
snort where children OF a larger growth thah inc We
locipedis:s amilse themelvcs over and around
circle cool currents of ar from the sea, and tho
scent OF ncwmown hay swee;ens the brlny perfume
Of the waves
Keep straight ahead and you will come to tho
Identified sallyport OF Fort Columbus. 1t is crowned
bv quite a respectable BIT OF carving, in which the
national emblems and insignia of warfare stand IN
rich brown stone gnawed by time. Pass over the
smam draw-brldge and through tho tagged passage
way VIII Oh leads between whltcwashed walls 10 mo
Interior OF the fort and you will find quadrangle
IS peaceful monastery cloister, and mol UNI NC
one A row of connected buildings are on each sde
al Of the same character architccturally They are
painted warm ochre have ycranda running along
the side facing the parade ground, and hn;ei columns
Icnd touch OF Creek dignity to these quarters OF
the warriors. For thCso arc the homes oil The ON
cc-s of the garrison On the veranda in the cool OF
tho afternoon sit the wives of the officers, cnSconced
I'm vermnon rocnngchars, reading, or engaged In
some piece of feminine handcraft. WIN TWO OF
three exceptions the officers are married, ana COM
munlty OF feeling and environment fuses tho iamios
of the garrison into the most aGable relations OF
social fc
When new officer and his family come to the
most two calls OF ceremony arc demanded by army
etiauetic The General and the commanding OIL
Ger ara to be VISITED by the newcomer, once oclaiy
and once socially Then tho residents pay their re-
spects to the arrivals, and In short time 'hcy
are fully at home in this charming community,
where everybody knows everybody else The three
houses The fourth sdc, which presents the same
sort Of front as the other thrco is where the soldiers
have thclr barracks The whole interior OF tho
quadrangle is piece OF lcvc sward ln'orsected by
two pathways which cross 1t in the middle
moro deIichtful sccluson could hardly be de-
sired. II is even Quoter than the homes OF inc oh
Gers Of the aosi. which run in line on inc east suD
of the Island These occupied by General scho
fold and HIS aidesde-camp Leutcnants I. T. Sawyer,
John PicEcr and Taslcr IL Bliss; and tbs heads Oi
staff departments. These General Tomphlhs,
Ouarterlna,icI- General Colonel Jones, Inspector
general Of Division; Adjntant-GeDoral Whifpe ;
General Burns Commissary-Gcncral; Coiohel su'Aef-
land Medical Director; Major Randolph Inspector
Of rife Practice: Major Minis, Post CommiSs oner
and Post Adjutsnt; Lieutenant II H. Post Surgeon; ;
Doctor Uarcr; Lieutenant Sharp, Post C0HlhIssafy ;
and Ileu.cnant Carter Judge Advocate.
The duties of the officers not specially burden
SOHO. Those OF MaJor-Gcneral schoicld have much
responsibility connected with them but arc no. 100
taxing After comfortable breakfast and quiet
per.sal OF lie morning paper, he bciakes himself to
ms airy Office about 10 o'clock and grds himself ior
his onlcial duties But these seldom detain him
beyond midday, or an early hour OF the afternoon
when he IS free. lie has plenty of time for run
over to town to see scmc of his numerous friends
I'm the CITY, or can drop in socially on some military
fcnls on tho Island. All applications for leave OF
absence for more than Elk. the reports OF court
martlals and OF Boards Of Survey oil all Boards N
fact in the Division OF the Atlantic, must DO SUD
,itted 70 him and rcqul.e his senaure before beng
NJ avail The captains have 10 s.gn tho morning
reports, and each Of tho leutenants has week Oh
command in rotation
The officers Of tho garrison are brought together
every morning a; the time of guard mounting ior inc
officers CALI learn the Orers for the day But
this meeting serves occasion OF social inter
course and helps to main.a n the fnendieSt f'ia-
lions between them. It IS an hour for pleasant chat
in the fcshcst part OF the day There not much en-
tertaining OF a formal kind done on the Island
dinner viii sometimes be given. like lhat oil Leu
Tenant Iorls not lonr ago. to celebrate the cngag'
ment OF General SchOlcd's daughter to MI. An
drews. Two or three times year ball Is given
largo room in o2e OF the stosckousos serves as
ball-roorn and IL Is duly decorated with bunting
arms end plants. The officers who have IL IN chaFge
SEQ that Justice Is done and the affair Is generally
p.cat success. as a military bal must needs be- Tho
ladies' often come to town. Nearly every day thc
boat has 4 contingent OF fair passengers who are
rent on shopping in NcwiOrh or on visiting friends.
Caus on the Island rather Informal and the Sc
vcrost social ciquette Is not morb.dly insisted on.
Their, IS hne club on the Island, gotten up by
tlo ogcers at tho + own expense. "Unclc sam does
not foot any OF the bills here. The entrance ico Is
500 and there are monthly dues. Thore are Dill ara
and pool tables, a caid-room aad reading room Cen
eral Schofed often drops in hcrc TO see the olhccrs
There Is cafe in connection with the cluo. thhhe
most clubs the evening attendance IS rather light
A b-oad yeranda twenty feet in width. protected by
an awning. gives fine view OF the Bay, looking
toward the Narrows.
Between the officers and privates there Is no 60
cal intercourse Military discipline and the spirit
Of proper su.ordlnatoa make the propriety OF this
obvious Tho life OF the private IS more taken up
with duties but here too. there arc intervals enough
OF leisure during the day. There arc three bataiohs
Of the 9th Rc.mcnt Of Artillery making rouna nun
ared of soldiers who occupy the barracks. the
reycile sounds al D. and the boys In blue tumble ont
OF their COTS wash and head downstairs for breakfast
for VIII ch the signal Il given at o 30. The morning
meal Is simple but makes up in quantity what 1t lacks
I'm variety. Hash, coffee, VIII ch is served In stout
bowls, and bread. Bread. not bread and butter
eyce,,t for those who provide It for themselves All
In, larr nd have TO walt