The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-08-31
Our 0lio.
NEWPORT.

FrNn the fhilAstc4phia LetiEer-
The southwestern extremity Of Aquid
neck. or Rhode Island, broadens into wid'
peninsula Of almost level and quite fertilt
land. which makes plateau elevated abou
fifty feet above the sea. This plateau rest
upon rock, and the rocky layers make cliff,
all about it, with coves worked into them
presenting smooth beaches and intervening
bold promontories. The southeastern bor
der Of this plateau has towards the Atlanti,
an irregular front Of little bays aud projee
lions, With the waves dashing against tn,
bases Of their bordering cliffs and among
the rocks that arc profuseiy strewn beyond
them Brenions Point Is behind the west
orn extremity of the island aud projects il
such way As TO protect the inner haTboI
Of Newport. Aud here are the wharves
and the ancient part Of the town, It's mar.
row streets and older houses covering con
siderable surface. This was charming
Newport Of Aquidueek. as the colonial
ehronieler recorded it, then leading sea
port Of New England Thames street front.
the town. aud in the last century was one
Of the busiest highways in America. Upon
Breuions ; Point, protecting the harbor en-
trance. is built Fort Adams, which was a
formidable work before modern improve
msnts IN guRnery superseded the old sys-
tens. and. next to Fortress Monroe, 1t !,
now the largest defensive work IN the
United States Il was built during the
Presidency Of John Adams, as the other
was during the Administration Of james
Monroe, each being named for the Presi.
dent who directed is construction. Gu.
riously enough, Fora Adams xas hurried
to completion a. a defence against France
then believed to mediate var against the
Republic she had 50 recently assisted IN
creating. Under the guns Of Fort Adams
the graceful yachts now ride * anchor that
represent Newports chief ocean commerce
while tive or three men-of-war moored
beyond give notification thar the United
States has navy. AL laround this ancient
town, and spreading broadly over the pla-
ieau 20 which the land slopes up ia gentlt
ascout from the harb0r, i the modern New
port Of fashionable life aud its most ex-
elusive resort From the older town, south
ward aeross this plateau, stretches Bellevue
avenue through the fashionable section.
Unlike most Of our watering places
Newport Is not city Of hotels, but l. pre-
ominently gathering Of the costliest sub
urban homes this country can show. Bull
upon a space about three miles long aud
one or two miles broad, modern Newport
consists Of galaxy of most elaborate coun-
try houses. each 10 au enclosure of lawns
flower gardens and foliage, all highly orna
mental aud exceedingly well kept Many
OF these houses are palaces that have cos
enormous sums. and in front of them tpl
several miles along the winding brow o.
the cliffs that fall of preeipitously 10 III,
oceans edge is laid the noted 'Ciif Walk
This is a narrow foot-path just at the edg,
of the lovely gTeen-sward that has the wave
f dashing against the bases of the rocks sup
porting il, while ON the land side of tn
smooth and well-kept lawns are the cost
/ Hest palaces of Newport, "a broad surface
I intervening between them aud the edges o
the cliffs, while they have a grand ant
unobstrueted outlook over the ocean. Eael
Z building Is a type OF different architecture
aud, no matter how elaborate, each Is calle,
a cottage. The methods of eonstructio ol
T Of these Newport villas are Of every con
ceivablc kind-French, Gothic, Swiss
+ Flemish. Elizabethan-every sort Of ancien
house known 10 Great Britain or Cont
mental Europe being initiated aud improves
upon, while in some remarkable ease
widely varying styles are condensed int
one. In this way. some of these cottages
have become elaborate aggregations 0
buildings. with all kinds of porticoes, door
WAYS. pavilions dormers, oriels bow win
dows, bays and turrets, chimneyS, tower
and gambrel roofs all piled together Il
one noticeable case the villa has been elon
gated into the stable, both making re
markably appearing, but single extendet
house, aud Just where the one ends an'
the other may begin it is hard to deter
mine, as the family, horses and hounds
with the domestics and grooms, are al
practically living under the same rool
Much attention is paid to the flower bed
and grass plots, but out on the lawns 0
the ocean front it is difficult to make tn
trees grow, as the high winds coming with
out a protecting barrier from over the Sc
uproot them, so that the "Cliff Walk,
with its bordering green-sward Is bare q
shade. These level lawns of most deliciou
green spread to the very brink of the cliff
so that they break off abruptly at the top
of the rocky buttresses against whose base
the sea is constantly washing.
NEWPORT GRANDEUR AND NEwNEss.
Upon the palatial mansions of Newpol
have been laviShed, in construction and d.
coration, large portions of the greatest ii
comes of the millionaires of Boston an
New York, and hither they HE to enjoy ii
summer and autumn in u sort of fashion
f able semi-seclusion, for these are the se
side cottage homes of the Vanderbilts, A
tors, Goelets, Lorillards, Bennetts, Osgood
Belmonts, Hamiltons, Stewarts, Haveme.
ers, Stevens, Brewers, Wetmores, Sche
merhorns and others, whose desire an